Consulting Rate Builder

What should you charge?

Enter income goal, billable hours, overhead, and tax rate. Get defensible hourly, day, and retainer rates.

$186

recommended hourly rate

1,150 billable hrs/yr

Income & schedule

Rate card

Target revenue

$214,400

Billable hrs

1,150

Hourly

$186

Day rate

$1,491

Week rate

$4,661

Retainer / mo

$18,643

Freedom Coach™

Charge $186/hr to earn $120,000/yr.

Day rate: $1,491 · Retainer: $18,643/mo. Based on 1,150 billable hours.

  • Realistic billable target.
  • Price by value delivered, not hours worked, whenever possible. Fixed-fee projects scale your income beyond hours.
  • Add 15–25% for rush jobs, weekends, and non-refundable retainers.

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Save scenarios & unlock all tools

Save multiple rate scenarios and compare hourly vs project vs retainer income paths.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I set my consulting rate?

Reverse-engineer from desired income. Add taxes, overhead, and profit margin, then divide by realistic billable hours (usually 20–25/week, not 40).

Hourly vs project vs retainer?

Hourly limits income and rewards slow work. Project pricing rewards efficiency. Retainers give stability. Most senior consultants blend — retainer base + project overflow.

Why is my hourly rate so high?

You only bill part of your work. Sales, admin, and skill development are unpaid. A $150/hr rate typically nets $60–80/hr against total hours worked.

When should I raise rates?

Every 12 months, and whenever you're fully booked. If you have zero available slots, your rate is too low. Raise 15–25% and let churn reveal the ceiling.

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