Freelance Rate Calculator & Consulting Proposal Template

This freelance rate calculator and consulting proposal template helps you find the rate your business actually needs, price projects as three clear options, and keep scope creep in check.

Who it's for: Freelancers, independent consultants, coaches and one-person agencies in the US who set rates by gut feel, quote projects as a single number, or keep doing 'quick extras' for free.

The problem it solves: A rate copied from a job board ignores taxes, benefits, expenses and the hours you can't bill. This kit works out your floor and target rates from the income you need and your honest billable hours, prices each project from its phases with a contingency buffer, presents three options on a one-page proposal, prices every scope change, and checks your effective hourly rate after each project.

What's inside

• Rate & Proposal Workbook (EXAMPLE + BLANK, .xlsx)
• Freelance Pricing Playbook (PDF)
• Client Services Agreement and Statement of Work templates (DOCX + PDF)
• Discovery Call Questionnaire, Change Request Form, Project Kickoff and Wrap-Up Checklist (DOCX + PDF)
• AI Prompt Pack: 25 prompts (PDF + TXT)
• Start Here guide and license

How it works

1. On My Rate, enter the pay you want, allowances, business expenses, time off, hours and billable share.
2. On Project Pricer, list the phases with estimated hours and mark which option includes each.
3. Print the Proposal, then turn the chosen option into a Statement of Work under the Client Services Agreement.
4. Log and price out-of-scope requests on Scope Changes.
5. Track leads, follow-ups and actual hours on Pipeline; review win rate and effective rate on the Dashboard.

Good to know

• Every number in the EXAMPLE file belongs to a made-up business; it isn't a market rate or a recommendation.
• Templates aren't legal advice; tax lines are placeholders. Have your own professionals review them.
• The tools help you run your business; they don't guarantee income or results.
• Excel .xlsx workbook, no macros; formulas tested in LibreOffice (Google Sheets and Excel open-tests pending).
• If your work is a licensed profession (for example accounting, legal, financial, engineering or health services), extra licensing, engagement-letter and disclosure rules may apply. These templates don't cover them.

Need a website? Bought any kit from the Archive? You get a $39 credit toward any website package from The Collective if you request it within 60 days of your purchase (one credit per website project). The credit applies only to website services, not to kits or other products. To request it, email ryanviabusiness@gmail.com with your order number.

Refunds: All sales are final. This kit is an instant digital download, so we don't offer refunds once your order is placed. If a file is broken, missing or not as described, email ryanviabusiness@gmail.com with your order number and we'll send you a working replacement file; if we can't provide a working file that matches this description, we'll refund your order. If you bought the same kit twice by mistake, email us within 14 days of the second order and we'll refund the duplicate order. Nothing in this policy limits any rights you have under law that can't be waived.

License: one business; no resale, redistribution or sharing.

Cover images are illustrations created with AI. The people shown are fictional, not customers.