SoloRateCalc is a free set of calculators for freelancers, contractors and one-person businesses — the people who have to be their own finance department.
Why it exists
Most freelancers price their work by guesswork, then wonder why the numbers never quite add up. The tools here turn that guesswork into arithmetic: what to charge, what to set aside, what you actually keep. Every calculator shows the formula and a breakdown step by step, so you can see exactly how the result was reached and verify it yourself.
There is no account to create, no paywall, and nothing to install. Every calculator runs directly in your browser — the numbers you type never leave your device.
How the calculators work — pure arithmetic
Every calculator on this site is pure arithmetic. It takes the numbers you enter, applies a mathematical formula, and returns a result. No rates, figures or data are pulled from any government body, official publication, financial institution or external database.
This is a deliberate design decision. Tax rates change. Fee schedules change. A calculator that bakes in today's official rate will silently give wrong answers tomorrow. Our approach is the opposite: you supply every rate that matters, and the calculator does only the multiplication and division. That way the tool never becomes outdated — it is only ever as current as the numbers you bring to it.
Where a calculator shows a default value, that default illustrates the formula. It is a starting point, not an official figure. Replace it with the value that applies to your situation.
What the calculators cover
- Pricing & Rates. Work out what to charge: hourly rate, day rate, project quote, markup, profit margin.
- Taxes. Estimate what to set aside: self-employment tax, quarterly payments, take-home pay after tax. You enter your own rates — the calculator does the arithmetic.
- Invoicing & Payments. Get totals right: invoice amount with discount and tax, payment-processor fees, late-payment fees based on your contract rate.
- Business Health. Step back from individual jobs: break-even point, net profit, billable-hour utilisation.
What we deliberately don't do
We don't build calculators for areas that require a licensed professional to interpret — medical, legal or regulated investment decisions, for example. If a tool would need that expertise to produce a meaningful result, we leave it out.
Every result comes with a clear label: estimate only, not professional advice. If a number matters for a real decision — pricing, taxes, contracts — verify it with a qualified professional before you act on it.
Get in touch
Suggestions for a calculator you wish existed, corrections, or anything else — email contact@soloratecalc.com.