How it works
Required day rate = (target income + annual business costs) ÷ billable days.
A worked example
To cover £50,000 of income and £5,000 of costs across 220 billable days requires £250 a day before tax.
What to keep in mind
This is a revenue target before personal tax and National Insurance. Leave room for non-billable work, gaps between contracts, late payment, pension, insurance and profit where relevant.
A common question
Why use fewer than 260 weekdays?
Freelancers commonly need non-billable time for holidays, illness, administration, marketing and gaps between projects. Enter a realistic billable-day estimate.
For general information and planning, not personalised financial or tax advice. Verify important decisions with a qualified adviser.