Freelance vs Salary Calculator — Real Take-Home Compared
Going freelance? See whether your day rate actually beats a salary once tax, missing benefits, pension gap, business expenses, and unbilled days are all in the picture.
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What freelancers forget to account for
- Unbilled days — 245 working days minus holidays, admin, training, and gaps between contracts. Most freelancers bill 180–210 days.
- Pension gap— no employer contributions. At 5% of a £65k salary that's £3,250/year you must fund yourself.
- Benefits value — health insurance, life cover, and income protection can easily add £3,000–£8,000/year in equivalent value.