Work out freelancer vs employee cost instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.
A freelancer's day rate looks expensive against a salary until the salary is fully loaded and divided by actual productive days. The break-even day count is the decision rule: below it, contracting is cheaper; above it, employing is cheaper and gives you continuity too.
Fully loaded employee cost
Loaded = Salary x (1 + Benefits load %)
Break-even days
Break-even = Fully loaded employee cost / Freelancer day rate
Because 260 working days less leave, public holidays, sickness and training leaves roughly 220. Using 260 understates the true daily cost of an employee.
Continuity, retained knowledge, availability at short notice, and the employment status risk of engaging a long-term contractor as if they were staff.