Freelancer Day Rate Calculator

Calculate the freelance day rate you need to hit your annual income goal after taxes, business expenses, planned time off, and realistic billable days.

1. Income target

Target annual take-home

$100,000

Tax rate

30%

2. Business expenses

$14,000 per year before taxes.

Software

Editing, design, review, and admin apps

Gear

Camera, audio, storage, and depreciation

Insurance

Liability, equipment, health, and coverage

Office

Studio, coworking, home office, utilities

Travel

Mileage, lodging, meals, and local transport

Other

Buffer for anything specific to your practice

3. Non-billable days

25 days off leaves 235 available days before utilization.

Vacation

Sick days

Holidays

Personal days

Utilization rate

65%

Percent of available work days that are actually billed.

Day rate

$1,027

153 billable days from 260 working days, 25 days off, and 65% utilization.

Rate cards

Half-day

60% of the full day rate

$616.13

Hourly

Full day divided by eight hours

$128.36

Weekly

Five booked production days

$5,134

Monthly retainer

Twenty reserved work days

$20,538

Income waterfall

Target take-home

after tax income

$100,000

+ Taxes

30% effective model

$42,857

+ Expenses

business costs

$14,000

= Gross revenue

needed annually

$156,857

Availability

Working days

Weekdays before time off

260

Available days

After planned time off

235

Billable days

65% of available days

153