How to Set Freelance Writing Rates: A Beginner’s Guide

TL;DR

• Factors like experience, niche, and project scope will influence how to set freelance writing rates.
• Three pricing strategies will help you set fair, profitable rates.
• Communicate rates clearly with clients for transparency and confidence.

When talking with new freelance writers, setting rates is almost always their first question. Freelance writing rates can be tricky to navigate. Charge too low, and you risk undervaluing your work; charge too high, and you may get ghosted. Setting your rates starts with understanding your unique value as a writer, assessing industry standards in your niche, and adopting a pricing strategy that works for you. It also helps to know your expenses and understand what you need to earn each month! Here’s how to set competitive and fair freelance writing rates to keep you and your clients happy.

Factors That Influence Freelance Writing Rates

Before you set a freelance writing rate, consider these factors about yourself and the project:

• Experience Level: New freelancers typically charge less while they build experience. Seasoned writers, however, can charge higher rates due to their expertise, portfolio, and client results.
• Niche or Specialty: Writers in high-demand fields like technical writing, finance, or healthcare can charge higher rates due to their specialized knowledge and a smaller pool of qualified writers.
• Project Scope: Pricing is affected by the type and length of work, research requirements, and level of editing required for delivery. For example, blog posts and web content usually have lower rates than white papers or case studies, which require more research and technical skills.
• Client Budget: Knowing your client’s industry can give insight into expected rates. While startups may have limited budgets, established businesses often have more resources available for content. Try looking for job listings for writers in the industry and compare hourly rates. Keep in mind, as a freelancer, your hourly rate should be higher because employees also receive health, retirement, and other benefits.

Pro Tip: Check resources like the Editorial Freelancers Association for rate ballparks and benchmarks by project type and word count. One caveat: some niches will be higher or lower than these numbers.

Pricing Strategies: Choose a Model That Works for You

Choosing a pricing model helps you stay consistent and fair in your rates. Here are the three most common pricing models for freelance writers:

• Hourly Rate: Charging hourly is straightforward and works well for ongoing work or projects with unpredictable timelines. To calculate a fair hourly rate, factor in your monthly expenses and the number of hours you can realistically work.
• Per-Word Rate: This is common for blog posts and article writing, although many people are moving toward flat-rate fees for that content. Rates can range anywhere from $0.08 to $1.00 per word or more, depending on your experience and the project’s complexity. You may start out at the lower end, but keep expanding your skills to graduate to higher rates.
• Flat Project Fee: For large, predictable projects (like an e-book or a website revamp), charging a flat fee provides clarity for you and the client. Estimate the time and resources needed to complete the project to arrive at a fair flat rate.

Example: If you determine that a 1,500-word blog post takes roughly 5 hours, and your hourly rate is $50, the flat rate for this project should be around $250.

How to Factor in Your Expenses

With any business, there’s a minimum amount you need to earn to keep the doors open. Fall below that income, and you won’t be able to pay your bills. To get a sense of how much you need to earn each month (and how much you need to charge per hour or project), do this simple calculation:

1. Add up all your fixed expenses. This includes housing costs, food, insurance, transportation, and things you can’t live without (no, Netflix doesn’t count here!). This number is the bare minimum you need to earn to keep a roof over your head and get your basic needs met.

2. Now, add your flexible expenses. These are the extras you want to cover—streaming subscriptions, food delivery, and non-essential fun things. You can quickly cut these things if you hit financial turbulence, but you still want to include them. The goal is to have enough to cover these extras! Add your fixed and flexible expenses together to get your monthly baseline.

3. Divide that baseline number by the client hours you plan to bill each month, and you’ll have your hourly rate!

Here’s how it works in the real world: Most freelancers bill clients about 30 hours a week and spend the other 10 hours marketing the business, connecting with potential new clients, and doing administrative tasks.

So, if you need $3,000 per month and you’re billing 30 hours, you’d need to charge $100 per hour. Is that reasonable for your niche? It may or may not be! You’ll need to adjust that hourly rate by reducing expenses, increasing the billable hours, or gaining more experience to command higher rates.

Set Freelance Writing Rates With Confidence

When discussing rates, be confident. This is your business, and you’re responsible for covering your expenses. Here are some effective ways to communicate your rates:

• State Your Rate Upfront: Giving clients a range (e.g., $0.20–$0.50 per word) can set expectations early and avoid awkward negotiations later.
• Explain Your Value: Highlight the benefits of your work: SEO expertise, niche experience, or an established track record can justify your rates.
• Be Open to Package Deals: If clients have a limited budget, consider offering a content package that provides them value and secures steady work for you. An example would be an “online content” package where you provide a set number of blog posts, social media posts, and digital ad copy for a flat, discounted rate.

Setting your freelance writing rates can be manageable. You can create a fair and sustainable structure by evaluating pricing norms in your niche, choosing a pricing model that suits your business, and communicating clearly with clients. As you gain experience and skills, revisit your rates to ensure they align with your growing value. Remember, freelance writing is a business—charge like one!