Here's examples on HN of others using the rule of thumb I shared, which is definitely conservative: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2185782 https://news.y

Here's examples on HN of others using the rule of thumb I shared, which is definitely conservative: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2185782 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2185782 (Feb 2011) > zipdog: $40/hr contract is about $40k/yr permanent https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2438980 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2438980 (Apr 2011) > techiferous: But remember that there is non-billable work (accounting, etc.) and a 15.3% self-employment tax. [...] Working as a consultant for $175/hour is similar to being employed at $175K/year. > danssig: Calling that pay rate $175K/yr is beyond conservative. NOTE: two users here also recommended your equation > slashcom: $x/hour * 40 hr/wk * 50 wk/yr = 2n1000 The general rule is always "times 2, add 3 zeros" > jurjenh: yes, this is generally the rule I use as well, take the hourly rate and double it and add a K (eg $30/hr = $60K) [...] Personally I use an estimate of about 75% efficiency > rapind: For 75% efficiency I assume you mean 3/4 * 2 * $175 * 1000 = $262,500 / year. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5299009 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5299009 (May 2013) > artumi-richard: The rule of thumb I was told is 1000 billed hours per year. -- To try to be genuinely helpful: a discussion documenting that hourly rates are a bad idea vs. charging per day: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5714930 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5714930 (May 2013) > gknoy: If you're doing freelance, you also have to cover downtime, business development, benefits Here's the article since the discussion's link 404's: https://web.archive.org/web/20161210162901/https://alanhollis.com/my-first-year-freelancing/ https://web.archive.org/web/20161210162901/https://alanholli... > Charge More: > · Take the salary you’d want to earn as a full time employee. > · Double it. > · Divide your doubled salary by the amount of days you’d work as a regular employee. > · This is the minimum rate you should charge per day. And this seemed helpful too (mostly connecting for my own future reference at this point): Poll: long-term contractors, what is your hourly rate? | https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5769348 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5769348 (May 2013)