Gemini priced my consulting rate and then argued me out of the number
I wanted validation for £450/day. I left with £700 and a much better answer to 'why so much'.
Going freelance as a policy analyst. 9 years in-house, last salary £68k. I'm thinking £450/day. Sanity check me.
Your number is anchored to your salary, and that's the wrong anchor. Let me show you why, then give you a real one. **Why £450 is too low** Start from what you need, not what you earned: - 260 weekdays a year - minus 25 holiday, 8 bank holidays, ~5 sick = 222 - minus admin, marketing, invoicing, the work of finding work — realistically 25–30% of your time - **≈ 155 billable days**, and that's an optimistic first year At £450 that's £69,750 revenue. Then subtract employer pension (~£4k), no sick pay, no paid holiday, your own equipment, insurance, accountant, and the ~£8k of employer NI your ol