How to Price Your Time
Your price has to pay for the task, the email thread, the revision, the invoice chase, the software, the tax reserve, and the week you were sick. Clients only see the task. You have to price the whole machine.
Work backward from a monthly target
Pick a realistic side profit goal per month, not annual fantasy income. List billable hours you can actually sell after a day job. Subtract non-billable hours (proposals, admin, learning). Divide. That is the floor before market adjustments.
The freelance rate and side hustle hourly rate calculators do this arithmetic so you can argue with the number instead of guessing.
Add costs clients do not see
- Software and subscriptions prorated monthly.
- Payment processing and platform fees.
- Insurance or licenses if required.
- Equipment wear and replacement.
- Tax reserve as a line item, not an afterthought.
Package instead of bleeding hours
Hourly is honest for unknown scope. Fixed packages protect you when clients expand work. Example: social media management at $900/month for defined posts and one revision round, not unlimited DMs.
If every client haggles you down, the market is telling you something. Either refine the niche, improve the portfolio, or accept that this offer is a hobby rate.
Raise on schedule
New clients get new rates. Existing clients get a dated email with 30 to 60 days notice. Inflation is not rude; undercharging until you resent the work is.
Common questions
Should I publish my rate?
Transparency saves time. Ranges on a simple page filter mismatched clients. You can still quote custom projects.
What if competitors charge half?
They may have lower costs, less experience, or bad math. Compete on reliability and scope clarity, not race to the bottom.
Is Sidequity tax or financial advice?
No. Calculators and guides are educational planning tools. Confirm tax, legal, and investment decisions with qualified professionals.
How should I use the numbers on this page?
Enter your own deposits, costs, and hours from a normal week or month. Treat outputs as planning estimates, not guarantees.
This guide was last updated June 9, 2026. Back to all guides.