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Consulting Day Rate Calculator

Work out consulting day rate instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Consulting Day Rate Calculator

The day rate must cover income plus overheads, spread over the days actually billed rather than the days available. Because unbilled time and overhead both shrink the base, the required rate is far above income divided by working days.

Formula

Day rate

Rate = [income / (1 - overhead)] / [billable days × (1 - unbilled allowance)]

Worked example

With the default values below, Consulting Day Rate Calculator returns Day Rate To Charge of $40,221.22. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Target Annual Incomeminimum 0
4,800,000
Billable Days Per Yearaccepts 1–300
180
Overhead As Share Of Revenueaccepts 0–60 %
22 %
Allowance For Unbilled Timeaccepts 0–50 %
15 %

Results

Day Rate To Charge
$40,221.22
Revenue Required
$6,153,846.15
Effective Billable Days
153.0 days
Hourly Equivalent
$5,027.65

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Day rate
  3. 3Day Rate To Charge= 40,221.22
  4. 4Revenue Required= 6,153,846.15
  5. 5Effective Billable Days= 153.0 days
  6. 6Hourly Equivalent= 5,027.65

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax or fees or charges into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
  • Figures are estimates based on the inputs given. Marketing performance, platform fees and conversion behaviour vary by audience, channel and season. Use this as a planning guide, not a forecast.
  • This is an estimate for general information and not professional financial, tax or legal advice. See the full disclaimer for the limits that apply to this kind of calculator.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Figures are estimates based on the inputs given. Marketing performance, platform fees and conversion behaviour vary by audience, channel and season. Use this as a planning guide, not a forecast.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the rate so much higher than salary divided by days?

Because employees have paid leave, benefits and no overheads. Independents must price all of that into the rate.

How many billable days are realistic?

Around 180 for most independent consultants once sales, admin and leave are removed.

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Consulting Day Rate Calculator | Calcrivo