ChargeWhat is a free set of financial tools built for freelancers and independent workers — people who work for themselves and need clear, honest numbers to make smart business decisions.
The site started with one frustration: every freelance rate calculator I found either buried the answer behind an email signup, ignored self-employment tax entirely, or gave a single number with no explanation of how it got there. None of them accounted for health insurance, slow months, or the reality that not all eight hours of your day are billable.
So I built one that does.
Why this calculator is different
Most rate calculators tell you what to charge based on your desired salary. That’s a good start — but it misses the costs that freelancers carry that traditional employees don’t: the full 15.3% self-employment tax, health insurance premiums, business expenses, and the income gap that comes with vacation, sick days, and slow seasons.
ChargeWhat’s calculator accounts for all of it. The math is transparent, the results update instantly, and the breakdown shows exactly where every dollar of your rate is going. No signup required, no email gate, no upsell.
About the calculator
The freelancer rate calculator uses 2026 federal tax rates, including the 15.3% self-employment tax applied to 92.35% of net profit (per IRS Schedule SE methodology), plus the state income tax rate you select. Results are estimates for planning purposes — not tax advice. We recommend reviewing your specific situation with a CPA before making business structure decisions.
More tools coming
ChargeWhat is just getting started. A calculator to help freelancers evaluate whether to elect S-Corp tax treatment is in the works, along with tools for project quoting and quarterly tax estimation.
Get in touch
Questions, feedback, or spotted an error in the math? Reach out at hello@chargewhat.app.