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Instant, private, and free
Freelance & Creator Income Goal Planner.
Calculate required billable hourly rates, project pricing, and annual gross revenue targets after taxes, expenses, and platform fees
Set your values
Results update as you type.
How to Use
The Freelancer Rate Formula: Gross revenue target = (Desired Net Income ÷ Tax Reserve Multiplier + Business Expenses) ÷ Payment Fee Multiplier.
Billable Capacity vs. Total Hours: Freelancers average only 20–30 billable client hours per 40-hour work week due to unbillable sales, admin, accounting, and marketing time.
FAQs
How many billable hours should a freelancer expect per week?
Full-time freelancers typically log 20 to 30 billable hours per week out of a 40-hour work week. The remaining 10-20 hours go toward marketing, invoicing, sales calls, and administrative work.
How much should freelancers set aside for self-employment tax?
In the US, freelancers typically reserve 25% to 35% of gross profits for federal, state, and self-employment taxes (FICA 15.3% plus income tax).
What is the difference between hourly and value-based project rates?
Hourly pricing charges for elapsed billable hours, while value-based project pricing charges based on project scope, deliverables, and business value generated for the client.
Use Cases
Set freelance income goals
Determine the hourly rate and project quotes needed to achieve a specific annual net income, accounting for taxes and expenses.
Example: A freelance designer wants $80,000 net after 25% taxes and $5,000 expenses.
Evaluate pricing for creators
Creators with platform fees can see how much to charge per project or hour to offset payment processing costs.
Example: A YouTuber with 10% platform fee and 30 billable hours per week.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How does the calculator determine my required hourly rate?
- It uses your desired annual net take-home, tax reserve rate, annual business expenses, platform/payment fee, billable weeks per year, and billable hours per week to compute the gross revenue needed and then divides by total billable hours.
- What is the difference between net take-home and gross revenue?
- Net take-home is the amount you want to keep after taxes and expenses. Gross revenue is the total you must invoice before deducting tax reserves, business expenses, and platform fees. The calculator shows both.
- How are project pricing and hourly rate related?
- Project pricing is derived by multiplying your required hourly rate by the average project size in hours. This helps you quote projects that cover your costs and desired income.
Tips & Common Mistakes
Tips
- Be realistic about your billable hours—don't count every hour as billable; include admin and marketing time.
- Set your tax reserve rate based on your actual tax bracket and self-employment tax, not a guess.
- Review your annual business expenses regularly and update them in the calculator to keep your rates accurate.
- Use the project pricing output to quote flat fees that cover your time and costs.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting to include all business expenses, such as software, equipment, and insurance.
- Underestimating the platform/payment fee, which can be 5-15% for some services.
- Assuming you can bill every week of the year—account for holidays, sick days, and vacation.
Last updated: August 13, 2026