How to set a freelance day rate (it's not hourly 8)

Short summary

A practical guide to setting a freelance day rate by anchoring it to genuinely billable hours (5–6), not a naive 8-hour multiplier. Start from your target take-home income, add taxes and expenses, divide by billable hours, then package as a day rate. Day rates work best for dedicated engagements like workshops and strategy days, while hourly suits sporadic work.

• •Day rate = hourly rate × 5–6 genuinely billable hours, not × 8
• •Build from target take-home + taxes + benefits + expenses, not from an old salary
• •Day rates signal seniority and suit on-site, workshop, or strategy engagements

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