Pricing Calculator
Stop undercharging. Calculate what you actually need to earn.
Your Goals & Expenses
$
What you want in your pocket after taxes.
$
Insurance, software, vehicle, marketing, etc. Use our monthly expense calculator × 12.
Realistic: 25-30. You won't bill 40 hours/week.
50 weeks minus vacation/sick days. 46-48 is realistic.
Your Minimum Rates
Desired Take-Home
+ Self-Employment Tax (~15.3%)
+ Income Tax Estimate (~15%)
+ Business Expenses
+ Profit Buffer (10%)
Required Gross Revenue
Hourly Rate
minimum
Day Rate
Monthly Rate
retainer
Common questions
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q.01 How do I know if I'm charging enough?
If you are working full-time and not covering your expenses plus a reasonable profit (20-30% above expenses), you are undercharging. Your rate must cover: business expenses, self-employment taxes (15.3%), health insurance, retirement savings, and your desired take-home pay.
Q.02 What's a good utilization rate?
Billable utilization of 60-70% is realistic for most service businesses. Of 40 work hours per week, expect 25-28 to be billable. The rest goes to admin, marketing, travel, and unbilled tasks. Never calculate rates assuming 100% utilization.
Q.03 Should I charge hourly or project-based?
Project-based pricing is almost always better for service businesses. It rewards efficiency, eliminates time-tracking disputes, and lets you raise effective rates as you get faster. Start hourly to learn how long things take, then switch to project pricing once you know your speed.
Q.04 How much should I add for taxes?
Self-employed individuals pay 15.3% self-employment tax (Social Security + Medicare) on top of income tax. Add 25-35% to your desired take-home pay to account for total tax burden. Example: if you want $60,000 take-home, you need to earn $80,000-$92,000 gross.