The rate that pays you, and covers your business costs.

Most owners set their hourly rate by guessing, or by matching what someone else charges. This calculator works it out properly. Enter what you want to earn in a year, your yearly business costs, the hours customers actually pay for each week, and the weeks you'll work. It tells you the minimum hourly rate to charge.

It also shows why your real rate needs to be higher than a simple 40-hour-week calculation suggests: nobody bills every hour they work.

You enter: your target pay, yearly business costs, paid hours per week, and weeks worked per year.You get: the minimum hourly rate to charge, your paid hours per year, and the total you need to bring in.

Best for: owners who bill by the hour, and anyone setting or reviewing their rates.

Format: Microsoft Excel (.xlsx), one sheet. Fully editable, no macros.