Plan your rate around the cost of doing business.
This blank Excel-compatible worksheet helps freelancers, solo consultants, and side-hustlers itemize annual business costs, then combine them with an annual pre-tax income goal and billable hours to estimate an hourly baseline.
Keep your numbers yours
Download the blank rate-planning worksheet.
Inputs start empty. Download it directly without an account; the numbers you enter stay in your spreadsheet.
Download the blank rate-planning worksheet.xlsx file · Excel, Google Sheets, or Numbers
A transparent estimate
Make the annual pieces add up.
Enter annual amounts in USD and use one consistent 12-month period for your income goal, costs, and billable hours.
Set your annual goal
Enter a before-tax income goal and billable hours for the same 12-month period.
Itemize yearly costs
Add annual amounts by category, from software and insurance to supplies and Other. Blank rows count as zero.
Read your baseline
The worksheet totals annual business costs and estimates a sustainable hourly rate when your goal and positive billable hours are entered.
Hourly-rate estimate
(annual income goal + total annual business costs) ÷ annual billable hours
The result stays blank until the income goal and positive billable hours are entered. Blank cost rows count as zero, and an explicit zero is valid.
A different tool for a different job
Plan annual costs here; estimate one project separately.
This planner itemizes yearly business costs and has no project-rate output. The First-Rate Calculator remains available for an hourly baseline and project estimate.
Visit the First-Rate CalculatorThe income goal is before tax. This worksheet does not calculate taxes or account for non-billable time.