A full working week is rarely a full week of billable work. Quoting, chasing files, learning and bookkeeping need a place in the plan too. This calculator makes that space visible.
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Free tool · no signup
Let’s work it out.
The starting figures are illustrations, not industry benchmarks. Replace them with your own costs and assumptions. Calculations happen in your browser; figures are not saved to your account or sent as analytics properties.
Changes the display label only. It does not convert amounts. Use a consistent basis for tax-inclusive or tax-exclusive figures.
Your planning estimate
- Hourly-rate baseline
- AUD 69.75
- Equivalent day rate
- AUD 418.48
- Annual revenue needed
- AUD 77,000.00
- Annual billable hours
- 1,104 hours
How this calculation works
Add your annual income goal before personal tax to annual business expenses. Divide by working weeks × billable hours per week. Multiply the hourly result by your chosen day length for a day-rate equivalent. This is a planning baseline; it does not include a separate profit or contingency allowance.
A little more context: Start with the invisible hours.
How the calculation works
Add your annual income goal before personal tax to annual business expenses. Divide by working weeks × billable hours per week. Multiply the hourly result by your chosen day length for a day-rate equivalent. This is a planning baseline; it does not include a separate profit or contingency allowance.
A worked example you can change
The tool starts with the illustrative figures below. They demonstrate the calculation; they are not industry averages, recommended rates or promises about what you will earn. All monetary figures in this example are AUD.
Annual income goal before personal tax: 65000 AUD Annual business expenses: 12000 AUD Working weeks per year: 46 Billable hours per week: 24 Hours in your billable day: 6 Hourly-rate baseline: 69.75 AUD Equivalent day rate: 418.48 AUD Annual revenue needed: 77,000 AUD Annual billable hours: 1,104 hours
Make the estimate fit your freelancing work
The most useful estimate is one you can explain. Check these details against the actual job or business arrangement before you rely on the result.
- Enter the amount you want the business to provide before personal tax, rather than take-home pay.
- Reduce working weeks for holidays, illness and quiet periods. Keep weekly hours to time you realistically expect to invoice.
- Include software, insurance and other running costs in annual expenses. Account for savings and benefits in your own planning; this is not a tax calculation.
What this tool does and does not include
The calculation uses the figures you enter and the method above. It does not fetch market rates, convert currencies, assess demand or calculate tax, payroll or legal obligations. Choose a consistent tax basis for the amounts you enter. Changing display currency changes the label only.
Your inputs stay in this browser page and reset when you leave or reload. You can copy or download a text estimate with its assumptions. If you choose to use Lufu, you can then prepare an actual quote or invoice with the details you have agreed.