Check whether your day rate actually works

Ensure your rate covers the real cost of freelance work

Many freelancers set their rates based on what others charge, without checking whether those numbers actually support their business, tax liabilities, and personal lives.

This downloadable planning tool helps you sense-check your numbers before sending your next proposal. By inputting your target income and costs, it helps you estimate:

• Minimum sustainable day rate: The absolute baseline you need to charge to survive.
• Safer quote range: A day rate range that allows you to build a buffer for quiet times.
• Hourly equivalent: Understand how your day rate translates to an hourly cost.
• Annual turnover target: The total revenue your business needs to generate.
• Estimated take-home pay: What's left after tax, national insurance, and business expenses.
• VAT pressure threshold: See how close you are to the UK VAT registration limit.
• Utilisation & pipeline pressure: How many billable days you actually need to deliver.
• Burnout & quiet month scenarios: Visualise the impact of taking holidays or having dry spells.