AI-assisted
Free Independent Contractor Hourly Rate Calculator
Calculate a sustainable contractor or freelance hourly rate from target salary, tax reserve, benefits, business expenses, billable capacity and profit buffer.
Free marketing tools
Free Freelancer Pricing Tools
Price services, compare compensation and improve freelance operating decisions.
Available now
3 Free Tools
Each tool is clearly labelled by how it works: AI-powered, AI-assisted or browser-based.
Use free tool
AI-assisted
Free Real Estate Photography Pricing Calculator
Build a real estate photography quote from property size, deliverable count, drone and video add-ons, travel, editing and rush delivery.
AI-assisted
Free W2 vs 1099 Hourly Rate Calculator
Compare W2 employee compensation with a 1099 contractor offer after taxes, benefits, paid leave, expenses and realistic billable hours.
Freelancers and agencies leave money on the table by pricing on gut feel. These tools set rates and compare compensation on real numbers instead of hope.
Pick the right tool
Which Tool for Which Task
- Set a sustainable contractor hourly rateIndependent Contractor Hourly Rate Calculator
- Price real estate photography packagesReal Estate Photography Pricing Calculator
- Compare W2 versus 1099 compensationW2 vs 1099 Hourly Rate Calculator
Do it in order
Recommended Workflow
- 1
Know your true costs
Taxes, insurance, tools, downtime and unpaid admin all belong in the rate.
- 2
Price for billable reality
You cannot bill 40 hours a week, so price the hours you can actually invoice.
- 3
Compare offers on equal terms
A 1099 rate is not a W2 salary. Adjust for taxes and benefits before deciding.
- 4
Package instead of hourly where you can
Value pricing beats trading hours for dollars once you know your numbers.
Start where you are
Beginner vs Advanced Tools
Know your numbers
Metrics That Matter
- Billable utilization
- Share of your time you can actually invoice. Usually well under 100 percent once admin and sales are counted.
- Effective hourly rate
- Earnings divided by all hours worked, billable or not. The rate you truly earn.
- Self-employment cost gap
- Extra taxes and benefits a 1099 must cover compared to a W2 role.
- Target annual income
- The number your rate has to produce after costs. Work backward from it.
Avoid these
Common Mistakes
- Setting a rate as if every hour is billable.
- Comparing a 1099 rate directly to a W2 salary.
- Forgetting self-employment tax and benefits when leaving a job to freelance.
- Under-pricing to win work, then resenting the client.
Questions
Category FAQs
Are these pricing tools free?
Yes. Free with no sign up, and the optional AI guidance is free too.
Why is a 1099 rate not the same as a W2 salary?
A 1099 contractor pays self-employment tax and buys their own benefits, so an equivalent 1099 rate has to be meaningfully higher than the matching W2 salary. The tool models the gap.
How many billable hours should I assume?
Fewer than you think. Admin, sales and downtime cut into the week, so most freelancers bill well under 40 hours. Price the realistic number.
Should I charge hourly or by project?
Project or value pricing usually earns more once you understand your costs, because it rewards efficiency instead of penalizing it. Use the hourly rate as your floor.
Can I use these numbers to negotiate?
Yes. They give you a defensible floor and a clear picture of trade-offs, which is exactly what you want going into a rate conversation.