Question 1

How do I calculate my freelance hourly rate?

Accepted Answer

Add your desired annual salary, business expenses, self-employment taxes, and benefits costs. Divide by your annual billable hours (typically 1,000-1,500 hours). Our calculator handles all this automatically.

Question 2

What is a good freelance hourly rate?

Accepted Answer

It varies by industry and experience. Web developers typically charge $75-200/hr, designers $50-150/hr, writers $40-100/hr, and consultants $100-300/hr. Use our calculator to find your specific rate based on your actual costs.

Question 3

How many billable hours should I plan for?

Accepted Answer

Most freelancers bill 60-70% of their work time. If you work 40 hours/week, expect 24-28 billable hours. The rest goes to marketing, admin, invoicing, and business development. That's roughly 1,100-1,300 billable hours per year.

Question 4

Should I charge hourly or project-based?

Accepted Answer

Knowing your hourly rate is essential even for project pricing. Calculate your hourly rate first, then estimate project hours to set project fees. Project-based pricing is often better as you gain experience since you can earn more per hour as you get faster.

Question 5

How much should I save for taxes as a freelancer?

Accepted Answer

In the US, set aside 25-30% for federal income tax plus 15.3% for self-employment tax (Social Security + Medicare). Total tax burden is typically 30-40% depending on your income level and deductions.

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