Freelance
How to calculate your daily rate as a Belgian freelancer
Setting your day rate is one of the most important decisions as a freelancer. Too low, you work at a loss. Too high, you lose clients. Here is the complete calculation method.
Why is your day rate so crucial?
As a freelancer, you have no fixed salary. You have gross turnover, from which you must deduct social contributions, taxes, professional expenses and non-billable time (illness, holidays, business development). Your day rate is the only figure that guarantees your financial viability.
The 5-step calculation formula
1. Define your target net income
Start with the monthly net income you want after taxes. Example: 4,000 euros/month net.
2. Calculate the required gross income
In Belgium, the marginal tax rate can reach 50% plus local surcharges (~7%). Roughly, expect a tax pressure of 45-55%. For 4,000 euros net, you need about 7,500 euros/month gross taxable income.
3. Add social contributions
Social contributions represent ~20.5% of net taxable income. On 7,500 euros, that is approximately 1,540 euros/month. Your target monthly turnover is 7,500 + 1,540 = 9,040 euros/month.
4. Add professional expenses
Accountant, software, equipment, training, insurance: allow 5-15% of turnover. Adding 1,000 euros/month: target turnover = 10,040 euros/month.
5. Divide by billable days
A year has 230 working days. Subtract 25 holiday days, 10 sick/training days, 15 business development days = approximately 180 billable days/year, or 15 days/month.
Minimum day rate = 10,040 / 15 = 670 euros/day excl. VAT
Belgian sector benchmarks
| Sector | Junior rate | Senior rate |
|---|---|---|
| IT / Cloud development | 500-650 euros | 750-1,200 euros |
| Data / BI / AI | 600-750 euros | 900-1,400 euros |
| Strategy consulting | 700-900 euros | 1,100-1,800 euros |
| Design / UX | 400-550 euros | 650-950 euros |
| Digital marketing | 350-500 euros | 600-850 euros |
| Project management | 550-700 euros | 800-1,100 euros |
Always quote excl. VAT in B2B
In the B2B freelancing world, always quote excl. VAT. Your business clients reclaim VAT — the VAT-inclusive amount is meaningless to them. Say "700 euros/day excl. VAT", not "847 euros incl. VAT".