If you’re just getting started, you’ll almost certainly have a few questions about setting your initial freelance writing rates. Knowing how much to charge, and what clients will accept takes a bit of careful calculation. And, if I’m honest, courage.
But figuring out an appropriate — and a livable —rate isn’t just a guessing game. Calculating rates requires a slightly scientific approach. And while I can’t give you a specific formula that works for your industry, region, and experience, I can lead you through a series of guiding questions.
Plus, I’d like to introduce you to a spreadsheet I created to help track all my clients, projects, and rates. Through this basic spreadsheet (and a LOT of trial and error) I’ve increased my rates 150 percent since 2018 when I launched my business full-time.Â
A quick note on freelance writing rate shaming
I’m a writer, and as I’ve entered into more online writing communities, there often is a dark thread of negativity underlying questions about rate. Some Facebook groups are rife with the rate shaming, while others have banned it entirely.
Rate shaming is putting down a job or another freelancer for accepting said job because of a low rate. In freelance writing, people often talk about the old days, when publications paid a magical $1 per word. Some writers shame new freelancers for bringing down the industry. I’m not here for it.
Whether you are getting paid 0.01 cents a word, 0.10 a word, or $1.00 per word, you have to decide if it’s worth it for you. Maybe you live in an area of the world where your housing costs are minimal. Maybe you are just getting started. Maybe, you have several degrees and a book under your name already.
Who is anyone to judge you and your situation?
A few considerations for setting your freelance writing rates
I’m not here to advise you on a specific magical number. Instead, I offer a few important questions to think about. It took me many years to feel confident in the rates I set, understand when to increase, and accurately track it all.
Use the following guidelines to settle on a rate that works for your position:
1. What’s your living wage?
At the very least you should be making minimum wage in your neck of the woods, and preferably a living wage. A living wage is the realistic per-hour rate required to live a decent, but not decadent lifestyle in your area. If your industry quotes per project, per working day, or per word, you’ll need to do some math, but at the bare minimum, I’d suggest starting with a living wage.
2. What is your experience level?
As with any job, experience pays off. You may have to take some seriously crummy and low-paying jobs to get real-freelancing experience, samples for your portfolio, and a bit of confidence. My first months on Upwork were definitely in this category, but I was on an extended vacation, so anything was just extra beer money.
Initially, you may need to grab a few super-low-paying gigs to earn some experience. Every sector works a bit differently, but you’ll need something on your resume to detail your experience and job skills. Is it fair? Not really. But for many, it’s how the industry works.
3. Do not, under any circumstances, forget about taxes.
Remember, this is freelancing. You are responsible for paying your own taxes at the end of the year, not your employer. I’ve been stung by this, and I was even saving for it! Please speak with a local tax accountant and ask them for the breakdown of self-employment income taxes by income level. Use this information to fluff your base rate a bit, and then carefully set this percentage aside from every gig you get.
4. How much brain power does the task require?
As a writer, I’ve figured out that not all gigs require equal brainpower. I quote higher for challenging pieces and lower for pieces that I classify as ‘filler.’ Because, after I exhaust my brainpower on the hard pieces, I usually still have time left in my day. I will happily fill it with other money-making activities, even if I can’t write anymore. For example, I’ll work on B2B technical reports in the morning, and then I transition to content editing and WordPress work just before dinner. I make my own rules and you can too!
The power of tracking your freelance writing rates
I began tracking my rates by complete accident. I love a good spreadsheet, and naturally, as I began juggling more clients, I started adding deadlines and numbers into a spreadsheet just for clarity. Over time I’ve honed in on this spreadsheet to track deadlines, my upcoming schedule, my rough income, and even invoicing details.
In the writing industry, you’ll find everyone asking for different rate schemes. Some clients will want rates per word, some per piece, and some per hour. Jumping from one to another, in the beginning, is challenging. I’m sure this is the same for video, photography, editing, SEO content writing, and other common freelancer gigs as well.
This tracking sheet for freelance writing rates automatically breaks down every assignment I have into a per piece, per word, and per hour rate using the power of a good formula. Over time, with enough entries, you start to see a pattern form. This becomes an average rate to base all your new quotes on.
Next time you have a client ask you, “What’s your rate?” You’ll have a reference point.
How to increase your freelance writing rates
The tracking sheet is more than a simple average, though. As you see a pattern form, you’ll naturally start earning more. Because instead of shooting a random number into the dark, sometimes high, sometimes low, you end up consistently quoting based on a set number.
Eventually, maybe after a few big projects or a few months of consistent work, it’s time to increase your rate. Over time you’ll get a feel for it. Don’t be afraid to receive a few complaints. It’s an essential aspect of the learning curve.
Even if you stick with the same clients year after year, you should always increase rates on an annual basis based on inflation. Be sure to mention that in the initial consultations, and to give plenty of warning when the rate-raising season comes along.
Set your freelance writing rates with confidence!
There will always be people working for far less than you and always people working for more. Just like any other industry, freelancing is a wide spectrum of rates and experiences. Your rate is essentially based on your specific situation — placed in context with the industry at large.
And remember, if you are just getting started, don’t be ashamed to take low-paying gigs. If it fulfills you in other ways (experience, bylines, training), it can be worth it. Everything is building to the moment when you are making a living wage and can raise your rates with confidence.
Freelance writing rate resources you may find helpful:
- Median rates according to the Editorial Freelancer’s Association
- Freelance Writing Database (900+ records of rates for different writing projects)
- Lynn Wasnak’s comprehensive chart on how much to charge for MANY project types with high, medium, and low rates.
Struggling to generate demand for your content or copywriting services? Check out 25 legit ways to find freelance writing jobs.
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