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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why "billable hours" and not total working hours?

Freelancers spend real time on admin, marketing, invoicing, and finding clients that can't be billed to anyone. The share of working hours you can actually bill varies a lot by field and by how much time you spend finding clients — we don't have a verified figure, so track your own last few months and use that. Using your full working hours here would underprice your rate.

Q: What tax rate should I use?

Use your effective combined rate, including any self-employment tax or social contributions specific to freelancers in your country — this is usually higher than an employee's tax rate for the same income. Check with a local accountant for your exact number.

Q: This rate seems high compared to what others charge.

That's common — many freelancers underprice by comparing to an employee's hourly-equivalent salary, without accounting for the taxes, benefits, and downtime an employer normally absorbs. Use this as a floor, then adjust for your market and experience level.