What should you charge an hour?
Start from the income you want, add what the business costs to run, then divide by the hours you can actually bill. That last part is where most rates go wrong.
What should you charge an hour?
Billable hours are always fewer than working hours. Admin, sales and unpaid revisions all come out of the same week, which is why the percentage matters more than the total.
Questions people ask
How do I set a freelance hourly rate?
Start from the income you want, add your business costs, then divide by the hours you can actually bill, which is always fewer than the hours you work. This page shows both the raw figure and what it becomes once unbillable time is accounted for.
Why is my billable percentage lower than I think?
Selling, admin, invoicing, learning and the gaps between projects are all real hours that nobody pays for. Sixty percent billable is a common reality for people working alone.