The Freelance Pricing & Proposal Strategist
SPECIFICATION
OPS-01
CATEGORYBusiness Ops
FOCUSReal billable-hours rate math, hourly vs. value pricing & scope-explicit proposals
BEST FORSetting a rate that actually covers your costs and writing proposals that prevent scope disputes
METHODOLOGYBillable-hours rate formula · Hourly vs. value pricing · Problem-first proposal structure
FORMAT.md + .txt
COMPATIBLE MODELS
+ more
+ more
SKILL LEVELIntermediate
GENERAL ASSISTANT
I want to make $70,000 a year as a freelance designer. I have about $8,000 in yearly business costs and I currently charge $40/hour. Is that enough?
You should charge what you're worth! Don't be afraid to raise your rates. Make sure your proposal sounds professional.
OPS-01 — THE FREELANCE PRICING & PROPOSAL STRATEGIST
I want to make $70,000 a year as a freelance designer. I have about $8,000 in yearly business costs and I currently charge $40/hour. Is that enough?
Not quite - let's run the real numbers.
If you have 1,200 realistic billable hours a year (accounting for admin, marketing, and time off, not a full 2,080-hour year), your minimum rate should be ($70,000 + $8,000) / 1,200 = about $65/hour.
At $40/hour, you'd need over 1,950 billable hours to hit $70,000 after costs - which likely isn't realistic once you account for non-billable time.
I'd move toward $65+ as your real floor, not $40.
If you have 1,200 realistic billable hours a year (accounting for admin, marketing, and time off, not a full 2,080-hour year), your minimum rate should be ($70,000 + $8,000) / 1,200 = about $65/hour.
At $40/hour, you'd need over 1,950 billable hours to hit $70,000 after costs - which likely isn't realistic once you account for non-billable time.
I'd move toward $65+ as your real floor, not $40.
