The Freelance Calculator

The Freelance Pricing Calculator That Tells You What to Charge

The financial gut-check before the conversation. Know your minimum viable price, real profit, owner pay, and tax set-aside before you send a single proposal — built on Profit First principles.

Quick Quote is free forever · Full access $37 one-time · No subscription, ever

Live Summary
Recommended Min.$14,286
Your Proposed Price$15,000
Profit (5%)$750
Owner Pay (45%)$6,750
Tax Set-Aside$1,350
OPEX (18%)$2,700
PASS — all guardrails clear
Sound familiar?

Freelancers Undercharge.
And Most Don't Know It.

Pricing projects shouldn't be a gut feeling. But for most freelancers, it is.

You quote a number that feels right — and hope it works out.

You finish a project and realize you barely broke even.

You want to raise your freelance rates but have no idea where to start.

You're busy but somehow still not paying yourself properly.

You have no idea what you'll owe in taxes until it's too late.

You send the proposal and immediately wonder if you charged enough.

Pricing your freelance projects shouldn't be a guess. It should be a calculation.

The methodology

Built on Profit First — the Cash Method That Changes Everything

Profit First is a cash management methodology by Mike Michalowicz. It flips the standard formula — instead of Revenue − Expenses = Profit, you allocate profit first, then work with what's left.

The Freelance Calculator applies these allocations at the project level. Enter your Profit %, Owner Pay %, and OPEX % — and get the minimum price your project needs to hit for your business to stay healthy.

"Know your floor before you send the proposal."

Old way Revenue − Expenses = Profit
Profit First Revenue − Profit = Expenses

Your allocations per project

Profit %
5%
Owner Pay %
45%
OPEX %
18%
Delivery
32%
How it works

How the Freelance Pricing Calculator Works

Two modes, one goal — the financial gut-check before the conversation.

1

Quick Quote — get a base price in 60 seconds

On a call with a potential client and need a number fast? Enter your project type, estimated hours, subcontractor costs, and target price. The freelance rate calculator shows your base price instantly.

Free · no signup
2

Full Calculator — run your Profit First check

The full calculator runs your numbers against your Profit First allocations and gives you a PASS or FAIL on your proposed price, plus six guardrail checks so nothing falls through the cracks. Tracks subcontractors, software subscriptions, hosting, tools, and your own time.

$37 one-time
3

Price with confidence

Send that proposal knowing your price covers your costs, pays you fairly, protects your profit, and sets aside money for taxes. No more hoping for the best.

Know your floor
What beta testers are saying

Real feedback from real freelancers.

"A wake-up call on what I should be charging!"

Brandie
SEO Expert · New Mexico

"I like that if your proposed budget fails, it gives you a recommended budget."

Andrew
Videographer · New York

"I can definitely see myself using this!"

Karima
Web Designer & Wix Expert · Pennsylvania

"I can definitely use it with my clients — it's a great tool for helping them see the true cost of delivering their services."

Keisha
Business Consultant · Florida

"Tried this tool and man it helped me to assess whether prices quoted for jobs makes sense."

Dr. Maxine Ruddock, Ph.D.
Psychologist & Coach
Who it's for

Built for Anyone Who Prices Their Own Work

If you quote projects independently, this calculator was made for you.

Freelancers & Creatives

Designers, developers, copywriters, photographers, illustrators — anyone tired of undercharging for projects.

Agency Owners

Small agency or studio owners who need to scope and price client projects profitably at every engagement.

Consultants & Coaches

Independent consultants and coaches who want to know the true cost of their programs before pricing them.

Profit First Practitioners

Anyone already using Profit First who wants to apply their allocations at the individual project level.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Enter your Profit First allocations (Profit %, Owner Pay %, OPEX %), your subcontractor costs, direct project costs, and estimated hours. The calculator returns your minimum viable price and tells you whether your proposed price passes all six financial guardrails.
A freelance pricing calculator helps you determine the minimum price you need to charge for a project to cover your costs, pay yourself fairly, and protect your profit. Unlike a simple rate calculator, the Project Pricing Calculator checks your price against Profit First methodology — so you know it works for your business, not just your hours.
Your freelance project price should cover your delivery costs (subcontractors, tools, assets), pay you for your time at your desired hourly rate, and still leave room for profit and operating expenses. This calculator does that math in real time and flags anything that doesn't add up.
The Quick Quote mode is completely free with no signup required — now and always. The Full Calculator, which includes the complete Profit First breakdown, six guardrail checks, project saving, and print summary, is a one-time purchase of $37. No monthly subscription, no recurring fees, ever.
Absolutely. Any independent professional who prices their own projects — including consultants, coaches, and agency owners — can use this calculator to validate pricing against their business allocations. The project types are fully customizable.
No — every field has a plain-English explanation built in. The (i) icons next to each field explain the Profit First terminology so you can learn as you go. Default allocations are pre-filled based on project type, so you can start right away.
The calculator includes a conservative 20% tax hold on your Owner Pay as part of the minimum price calculation — so taxes are factored in from the start, not discovered at the end of the year. Your actual tax obligation will vary based on your business structure (S-Corp, LLC, Sole Proprietor) and location. Use this as a starting point and confirm the right amount with your accountant.

Stop Guessing.
Start Knowing.

Try the free Quick Quote — no signup required. Or get full access to the complete freelance pricing calculator and start pricing every project with confidence.

Get Full Access — $37 → Try the Free Quick Quote ↓

Quick Quote is free forever · Full access $37 one-time · No subscription, ever