Freelancer Rate Calculator
Calculate realistic hourly rates for South African freelancers based on income goals, expenses, and SARS tax rates.
Current Situation
Total working hours, including admin, meetings, marketing, and client work.
Most freelancers can only bill 50–65% of their working time due to admin, sales, and client communication.
Required Hourly Rate
Gross Revenue Target
Estimated Tax
Annual Expenses
Net Profit Target
How this hourly rate is calculated
Your hourly rate is calculated by taking your target annual income (R 0), adding estimated tax (R 0), business expenses (R 0), and a safety buffer (R 0), then dividing the total revenue target (R 0) by your actual billable hours per year (1,152).
This reflects the reality that not all working hours are billable and helps ensure your rate supports your income goals sustainably.
Industry Rate Comparison
Select a job title above to see how your calculated rate compares to industry benchmarks for South African freelancers.
Rate Breakdown Summary
| Item | Annual | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Target Net Income | R 0 | R 0 |
| Annual Expenses | R 0 | R 0 |
| Estimated Tax | R 0 | R 0 |
| Safety Buffer | R 0 | R 0 |
| Gross Revenue Target | R 0 | R 0 |
| Annual Billable Hours | 1,152 | 96 |
| Required Hourly Rate | R 0 | — |
| Daily Rate | R 0 | — |
Your Time Reality
Not all working hours generate income. Freelancers typically spend significant time on admin, marketing, proposals, meetings, and unpaid client work.
Only billable hours are used to calculate your rate. This ensures unpaid work does not reduce your income.
What if you charged less?
Underpricing often leads to income gaps even when working full-time.
This estimate is based on current SARS tax brackets and represents your average tax rate, not the highest bracket.
The safety buffer helps cover slow months, late payments, and gaps between projects — common realities in freelance work.
Tax calculations are based on SARS 2026 estimates. Consult a tax professional for exact advice.