How to price a freelance project

List every task, including meetings, revisions, project management and handover. Estimate the hours for each. Writing it down reveals work clients forget to mention.

If a task is uncertain, estimate a range and use the upper half of it.

Add 10–25% to the total hours for revisions, delays and communication. A 40-hour estimate with a 15% buffer becomes 46 hours.

A buffer is not padding; it is the cost of the risk you take on with a fixed price.

Multiply the hours by your hourly rate and add project expenses. At 60 an hour, 46 hours is 2,760, and with 150 of software and stock costs the quote is 2,910.

Add sales tax or VAT separately if it applies to your invoice.

Define what is included, how many rounds of revisions are covered and what extra changes cost. Ask for a deposit before you start and agree payment milestones.

Track your real hours afterwards. If a project regularly takes longer than quoted, raise your rate or your buffer.