Guide
How to Price Freelance Work
Good pricing starts with a sustainable rate, then adjusts for scope, risk, speed, expertise, and client value.
Start with your floor rate
Your floor rate is the minimum billable hourly rate needed to cover income, expenses, taxes, and time off. It is not always the rate you quote, but it protects you from taking work that quietly loses money.
Choose the pricing model
- Use hourly pricing when scope is uncertain or the client needs flexible support.
- Use project pricing when the deliverable is clear and you understand the risk.
- Use retainers when the client needs recurring access or ongoing maintenance.
Add a risk buffer
Rush work, unclear stakeholders, legacy systems, slow approvals, and high revision risk should increase the quote. Pricing only the visible task ignores the real delivery cost.