MarginKoala

What should I charge as a freelancer?

Enter your numbers below. Get the answer first, then Koala's next move.

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Numbers to enter
Build the required rate from explicit annual dollar requirements and the billable hours you realistically expect. No default working weeks, utilisation rate or overhead percentage is assumed.
$

Use a pre-personal-tax dollar target. Personal income tax is not calculated here.

$

Software, insurance, equipment, accounting, workspace and other business costs not already billed separately.

$

Your own target amount above compensation and overhead.

Enter the number you genuinely expect to invoice clients for.

Only hours you expect to invoice; admin and non-billable time should not be counted here.

Koala's Calculated Result
Annual revenue required divided by the billable hours entered.

Enter the annual dollar requirements plus the billable weeks and hours you realistically expect.

MarginKoalaKoala's Professional Opinion

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The decision and next steps will appear here.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I set my freelance charge rate?

Charge rate = target annual take-home ÷ (billable weeks × billable hours per week × (1 − overhead %)). The billable rate that covers the four-week billable capacity AND the per-year overhead — overhead and unbillable time both lower how much survives per hour.

Freelancer Charge Rate

How many billable weeks/hrs per year should I plan on?

There is no universal numeric benchmark for this decision. The right comparison depends on the industry, geography, business model, time period and exact metric definition. Use the business’s own history, economics and explicit target unless a verified benchmark matching that scope is available.

Freelancer Charge Rate

What's overhead in freelance charge math?

There is no universal numeric benchmark for this decision. The right comparison depends on the industry, geography, business model, time period and exact metric definition. Use the business’s own history, economics and explicit target unless a verified benchmark matching that scope is available.

Freelancer Charge Rate

Should I include tax in the rate?

Income tax is a separate calculation; bill rate ensures you cover operations and a target take-home, not the tax bill. Plan at least 25–35% buffer on top of take-home to size the tax bracket, then set rate from there.

Freelancer Charge Rate

Educational use, not financial advice. Numbers are estimates for planning; consult a qualified professional before acting on them.