Free tool for freelancers who price by outcome
Value-based price calculator for freelancers
Value-based price = client's yearly gain × share you charge. In the example, a project expected to bring the client $60,000 a year, priced at 10%, is $6,000. For 40 hours of work that is $150.00 an hour, $2,600 more than the $3,400 at $85 an hour. The client keeps $54,000 in year one and earns the fee back in 1.2 months.
Last updated 2026-11-12.
- Value-based price
- Effective hourly rate
- Same work priced by the hour
- Above the hourly price
- Client keeps in year one
- Client pays it back in
Check the inputs: gain and hours above 0, share between 0% and 100%, hourly rate not negative.
Take it with you
Example scenarios
Three sets of example inputs worked through the same formulas as the calculator above. They are illustrations, not averages or statistics.
| Scenario | Inputs | Value-based price | Effective hourly | Above hourly price | Client payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | $20,000 gain a year, 8% charged, 30 h, usual rate $75 | $1,600 | $53.33 | -$650 | 0.96 months |
| Typical | $60,000 gain a year, 10% charged, 40 h, usual rate $85 | $6,000 | $150.00 | $2,600 | 1.2 months |
| High | $150,000 gain a year, 15% charged, 80 h, usual rate $110 | $22,500 | $281.25 | $13,700 | 1.8 months |
Method: Price = client's yearly gain × share charged; effective hourly = price ÷ estimated hours; hourly price = hours × your hourly rate; client return = (gain − price) ÷ price; payback = price ÷ (gain ÷ 12) months. Figures checked against the same formulas on 2026-11-12.
How the calculator works
Value-based pricing sets the fee from what the work is worth to the client rather than from your hours. Agree with the client on the gain they expect in the first year, such as extra sales or cost saved, then charge a share of it. The calculator multiplies the gain by your share.
It then divides the price by your estimated hours to show your effective hourly rate, compares it with the same hours at your usual rate, and shows what the client keeps and how many months of the gain pay for the fee.
Worked example
A checkout redesign is expected to bring a shop $60,000 more a year. At a 10% share the price is $6,000. You expect 40 hours, so the effective rate is $150.00 an hour. At your usual $85 an hour the same work would be $3,400, $2,600 less.
For the client, $6,000 leaves $54,000 of the first year's gain, and the fee is paid back by the gain in 1.2 months ($6,000 ÷ $5,000 a month).
Choosing the gain and the share
The gain is the weak point: use the client's own numbers, such as current conversion and order value, and keep the estimate conservative. Pricing guides often mention 10 to 20 percent of the first year's value, but that is a starting point to discuss, not a rule. If the effective rate comes out below your usual rate, price by the hour or change the scope.
This is an estimate, not financial or legal advice. Write the scope and what happens if the gain does not appear into the proposal.
What this tool does not do
It prices one project and keeps nothing after you close the page. It cannot tell you what the gain will really be or whether the client will accept the price. Clientsroster, linked below, keeps client and project records; it does not price work.
Questions
How do you calculate a value-based price?
Multiply the client's expected yearly gain by the share you charge. 10% of $60,000 is $6,000.
What share of the value should I charge?
There is no fixed number. Check that the client still keeps most of the gain and that your effective hourly rate is above what you would charge by the hour.
Does this page store my numbers?
No. The math runs in your browser; nothing is sent or saved.
Made by Bardach Technologies. We also make Clientsroster, a separate Notion template for solo freelancers that keeps leads, clients, projects, invoices and notes in six linked databases and tracks which invoices are due, paid or overdue (USD 59.99, one-time purchase on Gumroad). It does not send invoices or price work. This calculator is free and needs no sign-up; nothing is charged on this page. Get Clientsroster on Gumroad (USD 59.99)