#freelance-rate-calculator-wrapper {
font-family: 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
max-width: 800px;
margin: 0 auto;
background: #ffffff;
border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;
border-radius: 8px;
padding: 20px;
box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
}
.frc-header {
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 30px;
}
.frc-header h2 {
margin: 0;
color: #2c3e50;
font-size: 28px;
}
.frc-grid {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
gap: 20px;
}
@media (max-width: 600px) {
.frc-grid {
grid-template-columns: 1fr;
}
}
.frc-input-group {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.frc-input-group label {
display: block;
margin-bottom: 5px;
font-weight: 600;
color: #444;
font-size: 14px;
}
.frc-input-group input {
width: 100%;
padding: 10px;
border: 1px solid #ddd;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 16px;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
.frc-input-group input:focus {
border-color: #3498db;
outline: none;
box-shadow: 0 0 5px rgba(52, 152, 219, 0.3);
}
.frc-button-container {
text-align: center;
margin-top: 20px;
margin-bottom: 30px;
}
button.frc-btn {
background-color: #3498db;
color: white;
border: none;
padding: 12px 30px;
font-size: 18px;
border-radius: 4px;
cursor: pointer;
transition: background-color 0.3s;
font-weight: bold;
}
button.frc-btn:hover {
background-color: #2980b9;
}
#frc-results {
background-color: #f8f9fa;
border-left: 5px solid #3498db;
padding: 20px;
display: none;
margin-bottom: 30px;
}
.frc-result-item {
margin-bottom: 10px;
display: flex;
justify-content: space-between;
align-items: center;
border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;
padding-bottom: 10px;
}
.frc-result-item:last-child {
border-bottom: none;
}
.frc-result-label {
font-weight: 600;
color: #555;
}
.frc-result-value {
font-size: 20px;
font-weight: bold;
color: #2c3e50;
}
.frc-highlight {
color: #27ae60;
font-size: 24px;
}
.frc-content {
margin-top: 40px;
line-height: 1.6;
color: #333;
}
.frc-content h3 {
color: #2c3e50;
border-bottom: 2px solid #eee;
padding-bottom: 10px;
margin-top: 30px;
}
.frc-content ul {
padding-left: 20px;
}
.frc-content li {
margin-bottom: 8px;
}
.frc-tooltip {
font-size: 12px;
color: #777;
margin-top: 3px;
}
function calculateFreelanceRate() {
// Get input values
var desiredSalary = parseFloat(document.getElementById('desiredSalary').value);
var monthlyOverhead = parseFloat(document.getElementById('monthlyOverhead').value);
var billableHours = parseFloat(document.getElementById('billableHours').value);
var weeksOff = parseFloat(document.getElementById('weeksOff').value);
var taxRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('taxRate').value);
var profitMargin = parseFloat(document.getElementById('profitMargin').value);
// Validation
if (isNaN(desiredSalary) || isNaN(monthlyOverhead) || isNaN(billableHours) ||
isNaN(weeksOff) || isNaN(taxRate) || isNaN(profitMargin)) {
alert("Please fill in all fields with valid numbers.");
return;
}
if (weeksOff >= 52) {
alert("Weeks off must be less than 52.");
return;
}
if (billableHours <= 0) {
alert("Billable hours must be greater than 0.");
return;
}
// Calculation Logic
// 1. Calculate Expenses
var annualOverhead = monthlyOverhead * 12;
// 2. Determine Gross Revenue needed BEFORE Tax and Profit
// We need: (Net Salary + Overhead)
var baseNeed = desiredSalary + annualOverhead;
// 3. Account for Taxes
// Formula: Revenue = Base / (1 – TaxRate)
// Example: If need 70k and tax is 30%, Revenue = 70k / 0.7 = 100k
var revenueWithTax = baseNeed / (1 – (taxRate / 100));
// 4. Add Profit Margin
// Profit is added on top of the revenue required for salary/tax/expenses
var totalAnnualRevenue = revenueWithTax * (1 + (profitMargin / 100));
// 5. Calculate Billable Time
var workingWeeks = 52 – weeksOff;
var totalBillableHours = billableHours * workingWeeks;
// 6. Calculate Rates
var hourlyRate = totalAnnualRevenue / totalBillableHours;
var dailyRate = hourlyRate * 8; // Assuming an 8 hour day for day-rate comparison
// Display Results
document.getElementById('hourlyRateResult').innerText = "$" + hourlyRate.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('dailyRateResult').innerText = "$" + dailyRate.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('grossRevenueResult').innerText = "$" + totalAnnualRevenue.toLocaleString('en-US', {maximumFractionDigits: 2});
document.getElementById('billableWeeksResult').innerText = workingWeeks;
// Show results div
document.getElementById('frc-results').style.display = 'block';
}
Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator
Determine exactly what you need to charge to meet your income goals.
Take-home pay you want for your lifestyle.
Software, internet, insurance, etc.
Realistic hours spent actually working for clients.
Vacation, sick days, and holidays.
Include self-employment tax buffer.
Buffer for savings or business growth.
Minimum Hourly Rate:
$0.00
Daily Rate (8h equivalent):
$0.00
Total Annual Revenue Goal:
$0.00
Billable Weeks per Year:
0
How to Calculate Your Freelance Hourly Rate
Many new freelancers make the mistake of simply dividing their desired annual salary by 2,080 (a standard 40-hour work week for 52 weeks). However, this calculation fails to account for three critical factors: unbillable time, business overhead, and self-employment taxes.
To calculate a sustainable freelance rate, you must use a "bottom-up" approach:
- Total Costs: Add your desired personal income to your annual business expenses.
- Taxes: Adjust this total to account for taxes, ensuring your net pay matches your target.
- Billable Time: Divide the gross revenue requirement by the actual number of hours you can bill clients, not the total hours you sit at your desk.
The "Billable Hours" Trap
As a freelancer, you cannot bill 40 hours a week consistently. You need time for:
- Marketing and business development
- Invoicing and accounting
- Skill development and training
- Email management and administrative tasks
Most successful freelancers aim for 20 to 30 billable hours per week. Calculating your rate based on 40 hours will likely lead to burnout or under-earning.
Why Factor in Profit Margin?
Your "salary" pays for your personal life. Your "profit" allows the business to sustain itself during lean months, invest in new equipment, or expand. Always add a 10-20% margin on top of your base costs to ensure business stability.