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Last Updated on February 13, 2023 by Daniella
When youāre starting out freelancing it can be really tricky to figure out how much to charge. Especially if you donāt have much experience! Thankfully thereās a few tried and true methods for how to set your rates as a freelancer that you can use as a starting point.
These tips will work whether youāre moving to freelancing full time or just starting a remote side hustle.
Table of Contents
Check the Going Rate for Freelance Services
This is the most popular method to set your rates as a freelancer. Do some research and find out what the going rate is for your services.
If youāre not sure where to start, search on social media for folks advertising similar services. Facebook groups are especially handy for this; look for buy and sell groups or ones where your ideal customers might discuss service options.
Be sure to surf these places too for researching freelancer pay data:
- FreelancingFemales Rate DB
- Get access to crowdsourced freelance pricing data on Wethos.
- You can also use Upwork for average pricing data as well as look at what other freelancer’s are charging by surfing on the platform.
- The Freelancer’s Union also has some great community resources.
Setting Competitive Rates as a Local Freelancer
If youāre catering to local businesses, make sure you do a SWOT analysis of your competitors to identify whether your services are in-line with them or if you need a different fee structure.
Finding the going rate for some specialities can be a challenge. Many industries, especially web design, donāt list their rates openly. That can make it difficult to see what others are doing.
If you feel comfortable, identify a few similar businesses and call them for a quote. You can also ask around to see if anyone in your network has worked with your competitors in the past.
Determine Rates Via an Hourly Wage Method
This works for any rate model you choose. If youāre just starting out, completely unsure about what the going rate is for your services, or want to pick up some side work, having a goal hourly wage in mind is incredibly helpful for setting and accepting rates.
Your hourly wage isnāt just the amount you make per hour working for clients, though. Freelancers have additional expenses (like freelance tools and services) and admin time to account for too.
Consider your abilities and goals with freelancing, then come up with an hourly wage that you feel comfortable with. This doesnāt mean you canāt strive to earn more; itās just a starting point.
How to Set Your Rates Using an Hourly Wage
Next, determine how many hours of billable and unpaid time you do on average. If you havenāt been tracking your hours, itās time to start. In the meantime, you can estimate that 60-80% of hours worked are billable.
Take your goal wage and multiply it by the amount of hours you work each month. Then add all your expenses like tools and bank fees to the total. Finally, divide that number by the amount of billable hours you usually work.
This is how much you need to charge per hour of work to make your goal wage. Use that number as a base to set your freelance rates.
Freelance Hourly Rate Calculators
Freelance hourly rate calculators can help you easily determine your rates for your services and there happens to be a ton of them available for free use online.
A few of these include:
- Freelance Rate Calculator Google Sheet
- Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator
- Freelance Hourly Rate & Fixed-Price Project Budget Calculator
Why You Need an Hourly Wage in Mind
There are plenty of opportunities out there for freelancers to take on additional work from clients with fixed budgets or consulting for agencies. If you have a minimum wage in mind, you can quickly decide if consulting work is worth your time.
Another reason to know your wage is to help you increase your rates in the future. If your expenses go up or you feel youāre not earning enough, repeat the formula with your new numbers and increase your rates accordingly.
Other Factors to Determine How to Set Your Rates as a Freelancer
Knowing how much other folks charge and what your base rate should be is a good place to start, but there are other factors that determine how to set your rates as a freelancer.
Your Experience
How does your experience stack up against the competition? If youāre completely new, you might want to consider offering introductory rates to help establish your reputation.
On the other hand, if youāre an industry veteran moving into freelancing or consulting you may be able to charge above average and cater to clients looking for experienced professionals.
How Quickly You Work
If you charge for your skills by the hour but work twice as quickly as your competitors youāre effectively giving twice as much value for the same price. While this might be a great way to wow your clients, itās also a serious indication that you should charge a higher hourly rate.
This is why Iām a big advocate of flat rates; youāre not limited to how much you can earn per hour, and if you happen to be slower you wonāt hurt your reputation either.
Availability
Are you constantly booked up or do clients run when you send your rates? These can be indications that your pricing is too low or high.
Keep in mind that low rates can help your business at the start, but eventually it makes sense to work fewer hours for higher paying clients and earn the same amount. Then you can spend the rest of your time finding new customers who will pay your increased rates.
Discounts For Reliable Work
The most stressful part of freelancing, in my opinion, is not always knowing where your next meal will come from. Having a couple steady clients can create a huge sense of security and reduce your unpaid time spent looking for work.
If it makes sense, consider offering discounted monthly or bulk rates for clients who commission your services consistently.
Final Tips for Setting Your Rates as a Freelancer
As someone whoās been freelancing for over 10 years I have a lot of experience trying to set my rates effectively. Itās not always easy, especially when youāre starting out and still building confidence in your work. Hereās some final tips to make it easier:
- Donāt focus too much on what other people are doing; set your rates based on what you feel is appropriate.
- Let your work from your portfolio speak for itself.
- There will always be clients that baulk at the price even if your rates are reasonable.
- Reputation matters as a freelancer and clients will pay more (and offer consistent work more often) when youāre reliable.
- Consider factoring in some vacation time into your rates so you can comfortably take time off.
Hopefully this guide helped you set your rates as a freelancer! And just remember: you can always adjust your rates later if your initial structure isnāt working so donāt stress out too much with your initial pricing. Sometimes you have to learn as you go.
Related:
- How to Get Started Freelance Writing
- How to Start a Web Design Side Hustle
- 7 Tech Side Hustles That Pay Well ($50 an hour or more)
- What is a Portfolio Career & How to Build One
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Everett is a professional content creator and marketer with a serious passion for writing. When not juggling their businessĀ or raising five kids, you’ll likely find them playing video games, blogging, or exploring.