Help Centre
Getting started, frequently asked questions, and what to expect from RateFloor.
Getting started
RateFloor is a browser-based calculator that converts your actual costs into a minimum hourly rate. There is nothing to install, nothing to sign up for, and nothing is sent to a server.
- Open the calculator at ratefloor4.agen2ic.ai/app.
- Enter your annual business expenses — software, equipment, insurance, travel, tools, professional fees. Anything you spend to stay in business.
- Enter your desired annual take-home salary — the money you want to pay yourself after covering business costs (and before your personal tax).
- Enter how many hours you can realistically bill per week — the hours you actually invoice, not the hours you sit at your desk. Most freelancers bill 50–70 % of their working week.
- Enter how many weeks off you take per year — vacation, public holidays, sick days, conferences, and any time you aren't billing.
- Click "Calculate" and RateFloor shows your minimum hourly rate and a full breakdown of how each input contributes to it.
Adjust any number and recalculate — the rate updates immediately. The copy button puts your rate on the clipboard.
Frequently asked questions
How exactly is the hourly rate calculated?
RateFloor adds your annual expenses and desired salary together to get your total annual need. It then calculates how many billable hours you have in a year: billable hours per week × (52 − weeks off). The minimum hourly rate is total annual need divided by total billable hours. Everything is shown in the breakdown section below the result.
How many weeks off should I enter?
Be realistic. A typical freelancer takes 4–6 weeks off per year when you add up vacation, public holidays, sick days, and professional development time. The default is 5 weeks. If you enter zero, the calculation assumes you work 52 weeks a year with no breaks — which is probably not accurate and will give you an artificially low rate.
Why does my rate seem too high (or too low)?
The calculation is arithmetic — it can only do what the numbers tell it. A high rate usually means one of these is at play: your expenses are high, your salary target is ambitious, your billable hours are low, or you are taking a lot of time off (or some combination). A very low rate (below $15/hr) triggers a warning because it may not cover basic costs. Try adjusting one input at a time in the breakdown to see which factor is doing the most work.
Where is my data stored? Is it private?
Your numbers stay on your device. RateFloor has no accounts, no servers, and no database. The calculator runs entirely in your browser — nothing you type is sent anywhere. If you allow it, RateFloor saves your last inputs to your browser's localStorage (a small text file on your own computer) so they are still there when you come back. No one else can read that data, and it never leaves your machine.
Can I save multiple rate scenarios?
The free calculator remembers only your most recent inputs (in localStorage). It does not have a save/load system for multiple scenarios. Multi-scenario comparison is planned as a Pro feature but is not yet built. For now, if you want to keep several versions, the best approach is to copy your rate result (use the "Copy rate" button) and paste it into a notes document or spreadsheet alongside your assumptions.
Is this financial advice? Should I use this to set my actual rate?
RateFloor is a calculator, not financial advice. The number it returns is the mathematical minimum you need to charge to cover the numbers you entered. Real-world pricing also depends on your market, your experience, the value you deliver, and what clients will pay. Use RateFloor as your starting point — your floor — then adjust upward based on what you know about your industry and clients. As stated in the Terms of Service, you are solely responsible for any decisions you make based on the calculator's output.
Known limitations
RateFloor is deliberately simple. Here is what it does not do yet, and probably will not do:
Accounts, logins, and syncing
RateFloor has no user accounts. Data stays on the device you used it on. There is no way to log in from another device and retrieve your numbers. We deliberately avoid accounts as a privacy choice — nothing is ever sent to a server.
Pro subscription and payments
The Pro plan (pictured on the pricing page at $12/month) is not yet available. The checkout modal is a front-end-only demonstration. No payment processor is connected, no real subscriptions exist, and no billing data is stored. When and if Pro launches, existing users will be notified on the site.
Multi-scenario comparison
You cannot yet save and compare multiple rate configurations side by side. This is planned for a future Pro tier but has no delivery date.
PDF export
There is no way to export the rate breakdown as a PDF. This is planned for Pro but not yet built.
Tax-aware rate calculation
The calculator does not account for self-employment tax, income tax, or any tax obligations. The result is your pre-tax minimum. Tax-aware calculation is a planned Pro feature.
Currency
The calculator displays results in US dollars ($). There is no multi-currency toggle. You can still enter values in another currency if you treat the symbol as a placeholder — the arithmetic will be the same — but the display formatting assumes USD.
Email, notifications, and reminders
RateFloor does not send emails, alerts, or reminders. There is no backend email service, no notification system, and no way to schedule a follow-up. If you want to revisit your rate, you bookmark the page and come back.
Teams, agencies, and payroll
The calculator is designed for a single solo freelancer or consultant. It does not model teams, sub-contractors, employee payroll, or multi-person overhead.
Contact us
How to reach support
This project does not yet have a dedicated support email address or help desk.
For questions, bug reports, or feature suggestions, please open an issue on GitHub.
Because RateFloor operates entirely on your device, nearly all issues can be resolved by clearing your browser cache or trying a different browser. If the calculator appears to return the wrong number, double-check that you have entered all four fields correctly and that the numbers are in the same currency and period.