Question 1

How do I calculate my freelance hourly rate?

Accepted Answer

Add your desired take-home income, business expenses, taxes and savings buffer. Divide the total by your realistic number of billable hours per year (work weeks × billable hours per week). The result is your break-even hourly rate — charge more to make a profit.

Question 2

Why is my freelance rate higher than an employee salary divided by hours?

Accepted Answer

Freelancers pay their own taxes, health insurance, equipment, software, sick days and vacation. They also spend 20–40% of time on non-billable work like marketing and admin. A common rule: freelance hourly rate ≈ 2× the equivalent employee hourly rate.

Question 3

How many billable hours per week should I plan for?

Accepted Answer

Most full-time freelancers bill 20–30 hours per week. The rest goes to admin, sales, learning and breaks. Planning 25 billable hours is a realistic starting point.

Question 4

Does this calculator store my financial data?

Accepted Answer

No. All calculations happen in your browser. The numbers you enter never leave your device.