Skip to main content
Gruv.ai logo
Rate Modeling

Free Freelance Rate Calculator

Work backwards from a take-home target, business expenses (Adobe, Figma, coworking), time off, and a quarterly tax set-aside to a minimum and recommended hourly rate.

Take-home targetTax set-asideBillable ratio
Jump to the toolBrowse all tools

Your inputs

Adjust values and watch rates update instantly.

Loading…

Saved in your browser only. No sign-up required.

Rate planning model

Use this calculator to set a defensible floor rate and a buffered quote based on your income targets and workload assumptions. Final tax treatment and take-home still depend on your jurisdiction and business setup.

  • Enter your own estimated tax set-aside % (we do not assume any country tax rates).
  • Review processor fees, VAT/GST, and platform costs separately if they affect your pricing.

Privacy

  • Inputs are calculated in your browser and stored locally for convenience.
  • Analytics events do not include your numeric inputs.
Process

How it works

  1. 01

    Enter take-home goal

    The annual cash you want to keep after expenses and taxes.

  2. 02

    Add expenses and time off

    Include SaaS subscriptions, equipment, insurance, and realistic non-billable weeks.

  3. 03

    Pick a billable ratio

    How much of your week you actually invoice for.

  4. 04

    See your floor + quote rate

    A minimum to never go below and a recommended rate to quote.

Keep going

Related tools

Pricing Calculator

Model fees and take-home before you quote the work.

W-2 vs 1099 Calculator

Compare take-home when weighing W-2 employment vs 1099 independent work.

Home Office Deduction

Size the deduction that lowers your effective rate floor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "estimated tax set-aside %" mean?+
The percentage of gross revenue you set aside for income tax and mandatory contributions. The right number varies by jurisdiction, income level, deductions, and entity type, so the tool asks for your own estimate.
Does this include VAT, GST, or sales tax?+
No. Consumption taxes are collected from clients separately, based on your invoicing setup and local rules. This calculator focuses on your target take-home and estimated income tax set-aside.
What is a "billable ratio" and how do I choose mine?+
Billable ratio is the share of your working time you actually invoice. The rest goes to admin, sales, learning, and breaks. If you are unsure, start conservative (60-70%) and adjust after a few weeks of real tracking.
Should I use the minimum or recommended rate?+
The minimum rate targets your inputs exactly. The recommended rate adds a buffer for downtime, scope creep, and volatility. Many freelancers quote using the recommended rate, then refine based on demand and delivery risk.
Does this include Stripe or PayPal processing fees?+
No. Platform fees reduce your net take-home. Model them separately with the pricing calculator and bake the result into your rate or invoice amount.
How should I use this estimate?+
Use the minimum rate as your floor and the recommended rate as your quote starting point. Your final take-home still depends on your market, deductions, and business setup.
Is my data private?+
Everything runs in your browser and saves to your device. No sign-up, no server calls.

Ready to invoice against the rate you just modeled?

Use Gruv to turn this number into a clean invoice, clear client follow-up, and month-end records you can trust.

Book a demoRead the docs

Many teams start with a narrow launch in weeks.