Simple Interest Calculator

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Freelance Project Quote Calculator

Quote Breakdown

Base Labor Cost: $0.00
Scope Creep Protection: $0.00
Project Expenses: $0.00
Final Quote Price: $0.00

How to Accurately Price Your Freelance Projects

Calculating a freelance quote is more than just multiplying your hourly rate by a set number of hours. To maintain profitability and account for the "unknowns" of client work, professional freelancers use a systematic approach to project estimation.

Key Factors in Your Project Quote

  • Base Labor: This is the core time spent on research, execution, and communication.
  • Scope Creep Buffer: Most projects take 10-20% longer than expected due to extra revisions or feedback cycles. Adding a buffer protects your effective hourly rate.
  • Fixed Expenses: Include costs for premium assets, software licenses, or contractor fees specifically required for the project.

The Quote Calculation Formula

This calculator utilizes a standard industry formula to ensure you don't undercharge:

Total Quote = (Hourly Rate × Estimated Hours) × (1 + Buffer Percentage) + Fixed Expenses

Example Calculation

Imagine you are designing a website with the following metrics:

  • Hourly Rate: $100
  • Estimated Time: 20 Hours
  • Buffer: 20% (for extra revisions)
  • Expenses: $150 (Theme and Stock Photos)

Your base labor is $2,000. The 20% buffer adds $400 to cover unexpected changes. Adding the $150 in expenses brings the total professional quote to $2,550.

function calculateFreelanceQuote() { // Get values from input fields var rate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('hourlyRate').value); var hours = parseFloat(document.getElementById('estimatedHours').value); var expenses = parseFloat(document.getElementById('expenseCosts').value); var buffer = parseFloat(document.getElementById('bufferPercent').value); // Initial validation if (isNaN(rate) || rate <= 0) { alert("Please enter a valid hourly rate."); return; } if (isNaN(hours) || hours <= 0) { alert("Please enter valid estimated hours."); return; } // Default 0 for optional expenses/buffer if empty if (isNaN(expenses)) { expenses = 0; } if (isNaN(buffer)) { buffer = 0; } // Logic for calculation var baseLabor = rate * hours; var bufferAmount = baseLabor * (buffer / 100); var totalQuote = baseLabor + bufferAmount + expenses; // Format results to currency var formatter = new Intl.NumberFormat('en-US', { style: 'currency', currency: 'USD', }); // Display values in the result div document.getElementById('displayBaseLabor').innerText = formatter.format(baseLabor); document.getElementById('displayBuffer').innerText = formatter.format(bufferAmount); document.getElementById('displayExpenses').innerText = formatter.format(expenses); document.getElementById('displayTotalQuote').innerText = formatter.format(totalQuote); // Show the result section document.getElementById('freelance-result').style.display = 'block'; // Smooth scroll to result document.getElementById('freelance-result').scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth', block: 'nearest' }); }

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