Design Your Ideal Freelance Life
This isn't a rate calculator. It's a lifestyle designer. Tell us the life you want — how much income, how many hours, how much time off — and we'll tell you exactly what to charge to make it real.
Design Your Ideal Lifestyle
Tell us about the life you want — the calculator figures out what you need to charge to make it happen.
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How this calculation works
Formula: (Desired Income + Business Expenses + Benefits) ÷ (1 − Tax Rate) × (1 + Risk Buffer) ÷ Annual Billable Hours
Billable hours ≠ 40: Most freelancers only bill 20–30 hrs/week. The rest is admin, sales, learning, and downtime.
Risk buffer (10–20%): Covers non-billable time, client gaps, scope creep, and rate negotiation room.
Employed equivalent: Adds ~35% for employer payroll tax, benefits, paid leave, and equipment — what a W-2 role would cost.