How I Actually Determine Freelance Rates for Specific Projects

As a long-time freelance writer, one of the freelance FAQs I get asked is how to calculate rates and how to get clients to agree with them. There are tons of tiny–and BIG!–factors to consider when determining rates.?

In a recent LinkedIn poll, I asked my following what factors freelancers forget when quoting projects to potential clients. Responses highlighted that “edits from the client” was the area many forget about when creating a quote, followed by “research time” for the freelance article and project.

To help you make more educated client proposals, I’m sharing some factors to consider when setting freelance rates.

5 Factors I Keep in Mind for My Freelance Rates

Take time before sharing a freelance project quote and consider these components.

1. Experience level

Early on when you’re a beginner freelance writer, you might want to take a lower freelance assignment rate or a lower hourly rate to land an assignment at a coveted, well-known outlet in your niche. That clip will help you obtain future work in other places, which will in turn allow you to raise your rate. (Beginners will also want to take note of these 100+ freelance tips for success.) With a few years of experience, you should be able to negotiate for more pay and earn a higher freelance hourly rate. My clients are paying for the nearly 20 years I’ve been working in the media industry and the skills I’ve learned during that time which help me deliver high-quality work.

2. The value to the client

One of the comments on my poll from Edward Humphries said freelancers should consider “The value of their role/work/project.” He’s right. You contribute value to the client in various ways–you’re lending expertise to their project and they don’t have to hire an employee for those skills. In many cases, you’re also writing copy that converts their readers into customers. There’s value in that. The eBook could become a high-selling product. That product copy could sell hundreds of thousands of products. The newsletter could lead to product or course sales. Factor in the size of the client when quoting your freelance rate, as well as the potential return they’ll get out of their investment into you, the writer.

3. The time spent on research and information gathering

If a client is asking for a 4,000-word article that requires three different interviews, reviewing scientific studies, and conducting SEO research, you should be asking for a higher rate than turning around a quick service piece requiring one interview or no interviews and fewer words.

If it’s a new client, expect to spend a bit more time nailing the brand’s voice, as well as setting up all the paperwork and invoicing, all of which should factor into your freelance rate.?

4. Edits from the client

Make sure your rate proposal outlines the number of rounds of edits included. Two is fair for most projects. Outline additional fees they’ll need to pay at an hourly rate if they have edits beyond that. This will help prevent freelance scope creep and the client will (usually) work harder to streamline feedback.

5. The turnaround time

Quick turnarounds come with a cost. There’s a saying “Fast, Cheap or Good? Pick Two.” If I’m backed up with client work and an editor wants me to deliver an article in two weeks with a few interviews, I’ll let them know that I can prioritize it for the right price–or they’ll have to wait! I might tell them my increased rates for a rush job and rates for a normal turn-around period. If they don’t need it as fast as they originally indicated, they might be willing to wait.

Read this guide on how to set freelance hourly rates.