The World’s Simplest Freelance Rate Formula

April 7, 2008 by John Hewitt

There are so many ways to determine freelance rates. Most of them are better than this one. This, however, is the simplest way:

Step 1: Start at $20 an hour, $20 a blog post or $.20 a word. This is a fairly low level. Feel free to start higher.

Step 2: Increase your fee by 5 ($25 an hour, $25 a blog post, $.25 a word) with each successful gig.

Step 3: When your prospects start telling you that you charge too much, don’t raise your rates for six months.

Step 4: Try raising it again.

Congratulations! Whatever number you end up with is your rate.

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Contact John Hewitt

Email: hewitt@poewar.com
Phone: (520) 261-6104
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Twitter: @poewar
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5 Responses to “The World’s Simplest Freelance Rate Formula”

Meryl.net » Sometimes the Answer Is Simple on April 17th, 2008 4:36 am

[...] John Hewitt has the answer I wish I had when I started freelancing as a writer. It works for every freelancing career. Well, except the per word part. Just remove that or substitute with “per page,” “per design,” etc. [...]
Freelance programmer on March 16th, 2009 5:51 am

Simple, effective, and constantly increasing – I like it!
cmdweb on April 20th, 2009 9:00 am

I’m sure a little tongue-in-cheek, but good honest advice on rates at last!
Svetainiu kurimas on October 19th, 2009 12:30 am

I did more or less what you are suggesting (before I read this) and it has worked for me. Its a sensible way to go when you are not a known quantity.
Svetainiu kurimas on October 19th, 2009 12:31 am

Now that is a challenge! I will try this out and let everyone know the outcome