Freelance Rate Calculator
Enter your goals and we'll tell you exactly what to charge per hour to hit them.
What you want to keep after tax
Self-employment + income tax combined
Software, equipment, office, insurance
Not total work hours — just billable hours
Admin, sales, meetings that aren't billed
to hit your income goal after tax and expenses
Now Track Whether You're Actually Hitting It
FlowPulse tracks your revenue, expenses, and billable hours so you can see your real effective rate — not just a target.
Start Free — 14 daysHow to Use This Calculator
Most freelancers undercharge because they only think about what they want to earn — not what they need to earn to cover taxes and expenses. This calculator works backwards from your take-home goal to your required rate.
The key insight: if you want $75k take-home and your tax rate is 25%, you don't need $75k in revenue — you need $100k+. Add expenses on top of that. Then divide by your actual billable hours (not total work hours), and that's your rate.
Why Billable Hours ≠ Hours Worked
Most freelancers spend 20–40% of their week on non-billable work: answering emails, sending proposals, accounting, and business development. If you work 40 hours but only bill 25, your effective capacity is 25 hours — not 40. The overhead field accounts for this so your rate reflects reality.