Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator
Calculate the billable hourly rate needed to achieve your desired take-home salary after taxes, business software, downtime, and unpaid administrative hours.
Freelance Hourly & Day Rate Calculator
Solve backwards from your personal take-home goal, accounting for unpaid admin hours, software, and self-employment taxes.
Quick Answer: Core Formula & Key Drivers
To take home $80,000 net as a freelancer, you cannot simply divide by 2,000 hours. Accounting for 25% taxes, $10,000 annual overhead, and only 25 billable hours/week (1,200 billable hours across 48 weeks), you must charge a minimum of $98/hr, or a recommended $113/hr with cushion.
Worked Example: $80,000 Net Annual Freelance Target
Scenario: You want $80k in your personal bank account. Business overhead is $10,000/year, tax reserve is 25%, and you target 25 billable hours/week for 48 weeks.
What Is Not Included In This Model
- ✕Health insurance policy choice variations
- ✕State-specific LLC franchise taxes
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are only 20–25 hours per week considered billable?+
Solo freelancers spend 35%–45% of work time on unpaid admin: client proposals, invoicing, bookkeeping, marketing, and skill development.
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