Work & Business guide

Work out a sustainable price for your services

Calculate an hourly or day rate that covers your real costs, unpaid time, tax and time off, then test it against the market before quoting.

Time needed: 1–2 hoursUpdated: 28 September 2026

Charging too little is one of the most common reasons small businesses struggle. A sustainable price covers your living costs, business costs, tax and the time you are not paid for. This guide walks you through a practical calculation you can repeat each year.

Step by step

  1. Set your income target

    Decide how much you need to take home each year to cover your living costs, savings and pension contributions. Be realistic rather than optimistic. This is the starting point for your calculation.

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