Freelance day rate target calculator UK
Turn an annual pre-tax income target and business costs into a billable day-rate target. Check the formula, worked example and limits before using your own figures.
Enter your figures
Pre-VAT daily billing target
Inputs changed. Select Calculate result to update your estimate.
Use your actual figures. Any prefilled price, fee, rate or return is an editable illustration, not a current product quote. Owner income is before personal tax and NI, not take-home pay. Use billable rather than employed days; unpaid leave, illness and non-billable work affect available days.
How the freelance day rate target calculator uk works
Required day rate = (pre-tax owner income target + annual overheads) ÷ billable days.
Data basis: mathematical formula using your inputs. Example prices and rates are illustrative, not current market quotes.
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Worked example: freelance day rate target
This illustration uses the calculator’s example inputs. It is not a quote or a recommended financial decision.
- Desired annual pre-tax owner income (£)
- 40,000
- Annual business overheads (£)
- 6,000
- Realistic billable days per year
- 180
Pre-VAT daily billing target: £255.56
Required day rate = (pre-tax owner income target + annual overheads) ÷ billable days.
Freelance day rate target: questions answered
What does the freelance day rate target calculation include?
Required day rate = (pre-tax owner income target + annual overheads) ÷ billable days. Use your actual figures. Any prefilled price, fee, rate or return is an editable illustration, not a current product quote. Owner income is before personal tax and NI, not take-home pay. Use billable rather than employed days; unpaid leave, illness and non-billable work affect available days.
Using your result
Example inputs are a starting point. Replace them with your figures and select Calculate result. Results are rounded for display; calculations use unrounded values.
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