Business & self-employment
Freelancer Hourly Rate Calculator
Plan realistic available and billable time, revenue targets, minimum and target hourly rates.
Working capacity
Plan realistic available and billable time, revenue targets, minimum and target hourly rates.
Additional assumptions
Result
Target hourly rate
71.76 €/h
including 10% safety/profit reserve
Target hourly-rate breakdown
Working-time breakdown
What if
| Assumption | Billable hours per year | Minimum hourly rate | Target hourly rate | Required annual revenue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 65.0 % | 1,180.4 h | 64.21 €/h | 71.76 €/h | 84,705.88 € |
| Scenario A | 50.0 % | 908.0 h | 83.47 €/h | 93.29 €/h | 84,705.88 € |
| Scenario B | 80.0 % | 1,452.8 h | 52.17 €/h | 58.31 €/h | 84,705.88 € |
Model assumptions and limits
This is a deterministic business-planning model. Required rates can differ because of taxation, social contributions, VAT treatment, payment defaults, client acquisition, unpaid overtime, seasonal utilization, pricing power, subcontractors and unexpected expenses. It does not replace tax, legal or accounting advice.
Of 1,816.00 available working hours, about 1,180.40 are billable at a 65.0% share.
To cover the income target and business costs, the modelled minimum hourly rate is 64.21 €/h.
With a 10.0% safety/profit reserve, the modelled target hourly rate is 71.76 €/h.
A lower billable share spreads the same annual targets across fewer client hours and increases the required hourly rate.
Frequently asked questions
Why are not all working hours billable?
Client acquisition, administration, communication, planning and internal work take time without directly creating client hours.
What is the difference between minimum and target hourly rate?
The minimum rate covers income target, fixed costs and variable costs. The target rate also includes the entered reserve.
Does the calculator calculate taxes?
No. Personal taxes, social contributions and country-specific obligations are deliberately outside this model.