Business

What Should You Charge as a Freelancer?

Built by Kevin Glover · @gloverbuilds · Verified formula

Calculate your minimum viable hourly rate based on desired income, taxes, expenses, and billable hours.

📅 Updated April 2026 ✅ Formula verified 📖 4 min read 🆓 Free · No sign-up

In this article

Why Most Freelancers Undercharge
The Utilization Problem
Setting Your Rate

Por Que Cobrar Mais

Se ganhava R$30/h como CLT, seu valor freelance mínimo deveria ser R$50-65/h. A diferença cobre: impostos como MEI/PJ (6-15%), plano de saúde, férias não remuneradas, tempo não faturável (30-40%) e equipamento. Regra: valor freelance = 1,5-2× valor CLT equivalente.

Como MEI no Brasil

MEI: teto R$81.000/ano, imposto fixo de ~R$70/mês. Acima do teto: ME com Simples Nacional (6-15% do faturamento). O MEI é a melhor opção para freelancers com faturamento até R$6.750/mês. Acima: considere ME ou PJ.

⚡ CalcWolf Insight

The Freelancers Union found that the average freelancer spends 33% of their work time on non-billable activities: invoicing, marketing, proposals, admin, and professional development. This is why utilization rate matters more than hourly rate.

Frequently asked questions

Quanto cobrar como freelancer?▾

Mínimo 1,5-2× seu valor CLT. Se ganharia R$35/h em empresa: cobre R$50-70/h freelance.

MEI, ME ou PJ?▾

Até R$81.000/ano: MEI (imposto fixo ~R$70/mês). Acima: ME Simples Nacional (6-15%). Acima de R$360.000: Lucro Presumido ou Real.

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Kevin Glover · @gloverbuilds

Founder, CalcWolf · GLVTS · Blickr

All formulas sourced from primary references — IRS publications, peer-reviewed research, and official standards. Results are tested against independent reference calculators before publishing. Rates and brackets updated when official sources change. Editorial policy →