Quick answer
Software/hardware/insurance/accounting/marketing/training/gaps/bad debt all belong in Freelance rate. A freelance rate must cover income, costs, tax, gaps and profit—not just competitors.
Why it matters
Counting only direct costs understates your real survival line.
Billable hours are far below 2080.
Step by step
- Set a target annual income (keep pre/post-tax consistent).
- Add business costs/tax/insurance/gaps/margin.
- Calculate real billable hours per year, then divide to get the floor hourly rate.
- Calibrate with market/peer/closed-deal data; don't reverse-engineer a low price.
- State scope/payment/revision limits/rush fees in the quote.
Common mistakes
- Assuming 40 hours x 52 weeks are billable.
- Omitting tax/software/insurance/gaps/bad debt.
- Copying a competitor's low price without covering costs.
- Letting scope creep go unpaid.
Checklist
- Target income/costs/tax/margin confirmed.
- Billable hours reduced for gaps/admin/sales.
- Hourly/day/project rates use consistent assumptions.
- Market rate cross-checked.
- Quote includes scope/payment/revisions/rush terms.
Key facts
- Billable hours are far below 2080.
- A rate is a floor, not a wish.
FAQ
Which costs should Freelance rate cover?
Software/hardware/insurance/accounting/marketing/training/gaps/bad debt all belong in Freelance rate. A freelance rate must cover income, costs, tax, gaps and profit—not just competitors.
How long does it take?
Usually 1-3 minutes; for intermittent issues, run 30 seconds and retest elsewhere.
Is data uploaded?
Runs locally and does not upload video/audio; extensions may still read the page.
Source: Freelancers Union