Hourly Rate
€45.14
Day Rate
€361.11
Total Billable Hours
1,440.00
Rates & sources
UK company rates (Corporation Tax, VAT, payroll NI) as published by HMRC and Companies House.
Source: HMRC — Running a business — figures refreshed at the start of each tax year.
When to use this calculator
- Before pricing a job, setting margin targets, or reviewing hiring costs.
- When you want to test sensitivity around volume, VAT, markup, or overhead changes.
- When you need a practical estimate before committing to a budget or proposal.
- When you are modelling break-even volume and want to see how it shifts as overheads or prices change.
- When you are preparing a quote and need to verify that the margin holds after materials, labour, and VAT are accounted for.
A realistic Ireland planning example
Use these sample inputs as a quick scenario test, then change one variable at a time to compare outcomes.
Desired Annual Income (€)
€45,000
Billable Hours Per Week
40 hours
Working Weeks Per Year
25 years
Annual Expenses (€)
5000
After entering these figures, review hourly rate, day rate and total billable hours together rather than in isolation — each metric tells a different part of the story. Then rerun the tool with one input adjusted to see which variable has the biggest effect on all three outputs before you settle on a plan.
How to read your results
Hourly Rate
Use this metric to compare scenarios side by side and understand how changes in the key inputs drive the final outcome. If the figure surprises you, isolate one variable at a time and rerun the calculation to identify which assumption is responsible.
Day Rate
Use this metric to compare scenarios side by side and understand how changes in the key inputs drive the final outcome. If the figure surprises you, isolate one variable at a time and rerun the calculation to identify which assumption is responsible.
Total Billable Hours
This is the headline outcome of the calculation, but it is most useful when read alongside the supporting metrics below it rather than in isolation. Try changing one input at a time and watching how this total moves to understand which driver has the biggest impact.
Method & assumptionsAuthoritative sources
This calculator converts between hourly rates, day rates, and annual equivalent figures so you can benchmark your freelance or contract pricing. It uses configurable assumptions for hours per day and working days per year — the default of 220 billable days reflects a typical UK working year after holidays and public bank holidays, though your actual billable utilisation may be lower.
All figures are pre-tax. UK sole traders pay income tax and Class 4 National Insurance on net profits; limited company contractors have a more complex picture involving salary, dividends, and Corporation Tax. The calculator does not account for business expenses such as professional indemnity insurance, accountancy fees, or equipment, which will reduce your taxable profit. Use it as a pricing guide and supplement with a proper tax forecast from your accountant.
Common mistakes
- !Using optimistic assumptions without testing a more cautious scenario as well.
- !Comparing outputs from different tools without checking that the inputs match.
- !Treating the result as a final quote instead of a planning estimate.
- !Forgetting to include employer National Insurance contributions when modelling the true cost of a new hire.
- !Using revenue figures in place of gross profit when calculating margin percentage, which produces a misleadingly high result.
What to do next
- Try at least one more scenario with a lower price or higher cost so you can see the margin floor.
- Use the related calculators below to cross-check VAT, payroll, or break-even figures from another angle.
- Open one of the linked guides if you need more context before you finalise a quote or budget.
- If the margin is tighter than expected, identify which single input has the biggest impact and focus any negotiation there first.
- Keep a record of the assumptions behind this estimate so you can revisit and update it when costs or volumes change.
Frequently asked
Use arrow keys to navigate items, Enter or Space to expand/collapse.
End-of-article next steps
Where to go after this calculator
Move to a focused hub instead of restarting your research from scratch.
Best Tools for Small Business
Pick software, validate unit economics, and execute workflows with one connected path.
Open hub →
Startup Resource Center
A startup stack for software decisions, runway math, and practical launch workflows.
Open hub →
Creator Toolkit
Choose creator platforms, calculate revenue targets, and ship assets faster.
Open hub →
Money Management Tools
A practical path for financial product choices, scenario math, and planning utilities.
Open hub →