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Pricing your first freelance project
April 28, 2026 · 1 min read
Photo by William Fortunato on Pexels
Pricing feels personal, but it's a calculation first and a conversation second.
Find your floor
Add your yearly costs and the income you need, divide by the hours you can realistically bill (usually 20 to 25 a week), and you have your minimum hourly rate.
Check the market
Look at what similar freelancers charge in your region and field. Your rate should sit comfortably above your floor and near the middle of that range.
Say it plainly
"The project fee is $1,200." Then stop talking. Silence feels long, but it is where confidence shows.
Scope protects price
Write down what's included, how many revisions, and the timeline. Anything beyond that is a new quote, not a favour.