Rate Card Template for UK Freelancers (with £ Examples)

A prospect emails: "What do you charge?"

You reply with a vague answer — "it depends on the project" — and they vanish. Or you name a day rate on the spot, they go silent, and you wonder if you pitched too high or too low.

Or they say yes, the project starts, and three weeks in they ask for "just one more thing" that doubles your hours because you never clarified what the rate covered.

A rate card solves this. It is a one-page reference sheet showing your prices for common services — day rate, half-day, hourly, or fixed deliverables like a logo or a 1,000-word article. You send it when prospects ask "what do you charge?" and it filters the tyre-kickers, sets expectations, and gives you a document to point to when scope creeps.

This guide explains what a rate card is and how it differs from a quote and a proposal (table included), what to put on a UK freelancer rate card (name, contact, currency, VAT line, services, what is included, minimums, rush uplift, deposit terms, cancellation fee, expenses, validity date, and "final price confirmed in a quote"), VAT wording for UK freelancers (showing prices excluding VAT if registered, verified against GOV.UK guidance), three pasteable rate card templates with realistic £ prices: (a) brand/web designer (Northline Studio), (b) freelance copywriter (Oak & Pixel), (c) day-rate video editor, how to set the numbers (worked £ example turning a £500 day rate into half-day, hourly, and a fixed "from" price), benchmarks you can cite (Bectu's freelance branch rate cards for film/TV crew as recommended going rates — link provided), public vs private rate card decision test (when to publish on your site vs send on request vs quote only), when to update your rate card and how to tell existing clients, common mistakes (tick/cross list), a 5-question FAQ, and a soft SoloPad section mentioning only features verified in this codebase.

What a rate card is (and how it differs from a quote and a proposal)

A rate card is a reference price list for your services. It shows what you typically charge for common deliverables or time blocks (day, half-day, hour, or fixed project).

Example:

• Day rate (8 hours): £450
• Half-day (4 hours): £250
• Logo design (fixed): from £800

A rate card is not a quote. A quote prices a specific job. A rate card shows your general pricing so the client knows whether your rates fit their budget before they brief you on a project.

Rate card vs quote vs proposal — comparison table

When to use each:

✓ Rate card: A marketing agency emails asking what you charge for web design. You send your rate card. They see your day rate is £500 and decide whether to brief you on a project.

✓ Quote: The agency briefs you on a 5-page website. You send a quote: £4,000 for design and build, with a breakdown and payment terms. They accept. You start work.

✓ Proposal: A startup asks you to redesign their product. You send a proposal: the problem (poor UX), your approach (user research, wireframes, design, testing), deliverables, 6-week timeline, £12,000 fee. They accept. You sign a contract.

For quote templates, see quote template UK. For proposals, see one-page freelance proposal template UK and how to write a freelance proposal.

What to put on a UK freelancer rate card — field checklist

A rate card is simpler than a quote or proposal, but it must still be clear enough to prevent misunderstandings.

Required fields

✓ Your name or business name
✓ Contact details (email, phone, or website)
✓ Currency (£ for UK freelancers)
✓ VAT line (if you are VAT registered, state "prices exclude VAT" and show your VAT number; if not registered, write "VAT not applicable" or leave it off)
✓ Services with day rate, half-day rate, hourly rate, or fixed "from" prices
✓ What each price includes (deliverables, revision rounds, turnaround time, file formats)
✓ Minimum booking or minimum fee (e.g. "half-day minimum" or "minimum project £800")
✓ Rush or weekend uplift (e.g. "urgent delivery within 48 hours: +50%")
✓ Deposit and payment terms (e.g. "50% deposit, balance Net 14")
✓ Cancellation or kill fee (e.g. "cancellation after project start: 50% fee")
✓ Expenses or travel (e.g. "travel over 30 miles charged separately")
✓ Valid until date (e.g. "valid until 31 December 2026")
✓ Final price note (e.g. "final price confirmed in a written quote")

Optional helpful fields

✓ Industry or niche (e.g. "rates for brand and web design")
✓ Examples of what you do (e.g. "logos, websites, pitch decks")
✓ Response time (e.g. "quotes sent within 24 hours")
✓ Testimonial or social proof (one-line client quote)

What you do NOT need:

✗ Lengthy case studies (keep the rate card to one page)
✗ Portfolio samples (link to your site instead)
✗ Legal terms (those go in your quote, proposal, or contract)

VAT wording for UK freelancers — how to show prices correctly

If you are VAT registered, you must add VAT to your prices. If you are not registered, you cannot add VAT.

If you are VAT registered

Show prices excluding VAT and state that VAT will be added at the standard rate:

All prices exclude VAT. VAT at 20% (standard rate) will be added to your invoice.
VAT number: GB 234 5678 90

Example with VAT:

• Day rate: £500 (excl. VAT)
• VAT at 20%: £100
• Total: £600

Why show prices excluding VAT:

Most UK business clients expect to see net prices (before VAT) because they can reclaim VAT. If you show VAT-inclusive prices, they may think your rate is higher than it actually is.

Source: GOV.UK — VAT rates confirms the standard rate is 20%.

If you are NOT VAT registered

Show prices without VAT and optionally state:

VAT not applicable (not VAT registered)

Or simply omit any VAT line.

Example:

• Day rate: £500
• Half-day: £275
• No VAT added.

Do not charge VAT if you are not registered. Charging VAT when you are not registered is illegal.

When to register for VAT

You must register if your taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 in a rolling 12-month period.

You can register voluntarily if your turnover is below that (useful if you pay VAT on expenses and want to reclaim it, or if your clients are mostly VAT-registered businesses and expect VAT invoices).

For full guidance on UK VAT registration, read when to register for VAT UK freelancers.

Three pasteable UK rate card templates

These templates are ready to copy and adapt. Swap the names, services, and prices to fit your work. Keep the structure.

Template 1 — Brand/web designer (day rate and fixed prices, not VAT registered)

PROFESSIONAL RATE CARD

Northline Studio
Brand & Web Design
hello@northlinestudio.co.uk
07700 900123

Valid until: 31 December 2026
Currency: GBP (£)
VAT: Not applicable (not VAT registered)

Services & Rates:

Terms:

✓ Minimum booking: Half-day
✓ Rush delivery (within 48 hours): +50%
✓ Weekend work: +30%
✓ Deposit: 50% upfront for projects over £1,000
✓ Payment terms: Net 14 (payment due within 14 days of invoice date)
✓ Cancellation: After project start, 50% cancellation fee applies
✓ Expenses: Stock images, fonts, or third-party services charged separately (quoted in advance)
✓ Travel: Over 30 miles from Bristol charged at 45p per mile

What happens next:

Once you brief me on your project, I will send a detailed quote with a fixed price, timeline, and deliverables. The quote will be based on these rates but adjusted to the specific scope.

Contact: hello@northlinestudio.co.uk

When to use this template:

✓ You are a designer, art director, or creative offering day-rate and fixed-price services
✓ You are not VAT registered
✓ You want to show both time-based rates (day, half-day) and fixed deliverables (logo, website)

Template 2 — Freelance copywriter (per word and per project, VAT registered)

PROFESSIONAL RATE CARD

Sarah Mitchell — Freelance Copywriter
Website copy · Blog posts · Email campaigns
sarah@sarahmitchell.co.uk
www.sarahmitchell.co.uk

Valid until: 30 June 2027
Currency: GBP (£)
VAT: All prices exclude VAT. VAT at 20% will be added to your invoice.
VAT number: GB 234 5678 90

Services & Rates:

Terms:

✓ Minimum project: £200
✓ Rush delivery (within 24 hours): +100%
✓ Additional revisions: Beyond included rounds, £75 per revision
✓ Client interviews: Up to 30 minutes included; longer interviews charged at £50 per 30 minutes
✓ Deposit: 50% upfront for projects over £800
✓ Payment terms: Net 7 (payment due within 7 days of invoice date)
✓ Cancellation: Before work starts, full refund. After first draft delivered, no refund (you keep the deposit)
✓ Research: Light research (checking facts, finding stats) included. Deep research (reading books, attending events) quoted separately

What happens next:

Send me your brief (topic, audience, tone, word count, deadline) and I will reply with a fixed-price quote within 24 hours.

Contact: sarah@sarahmitchell.co.uk

When to use this template:

✓ You are a writer, copywriter, or content creator offering per-word or per-project rates
✓ You are VAT registered
✓ You want to show fixed "from" prices for common deliverables

Template 3 — Day-rate freelancer (video editor, developer, consultant — VAT registered)

PROFESSIONAL RATE CARD

Alex Carter — Freelance Video Editor
Corporate videos · Social media content · Event highlights
alex@alexcartermedia.co.uk
07700 900456

Valid until: 31 March 2027
Currency: GBP (£)
VAT: All prices exclude VAT. VAT at 20% will be added to your invoice.
VAT number: GB 345 6789 01

Services & Rates:

Terms:

✓ Minimum booking: Half-day
✓ Rush delivery (within 24 hours): +80%
✓ Weekend work: By arrangement, +40%
✓ Additional revisions: Beyond included rounds, £100 per revision round
✓ Footage preparation: Client provides organised footage (labelled files). Sorting/syncing raw footage charged at £50 per hour
✓ Deposit: 50% upfront for projects over £1,500
✓ Payment terms: Net 14 (payment due within 14 days of invoice date)
✓ Cancellation: Less than 24 hours before scheduled day, 50% fee applies. After editing starts, 100% fee applies
✓ Stock footage/music: Client provides or I source from stock libraries (licensed at cost, quoted in advance)

What happens next:

Share your brief (video length, deadline, footage details) and I will confirm availability and send a quote based on these rates.

Contact: alex@alexcartermedia.co.uk

When to use this template:

✓ You are a video editor, developer, motion designer, or other day-rate freelancer
✓ You are VAT registered
✓ You offer day and half-day rates plus fixed-price packages

How to set the numbers — worked £ example

Here is how to turn your target day rate into half-day, hourly, and fixed "from" prices.

Scenario:

You are a web designer. You want to earn £500 per day (8 hours). You need to calculate:

1. Half-day rate (4 hours)
2. Hourly rate (for small add-ons or revisions)
3. Fixed "from" price for a 5-page website

Step 1: Start with your day rate

Day rate: £500 (8 hours)

This is your baseline. If a client books you for a full day, they pay £500.

Step 2: Calculate half-day rate (not just half)

Wrong: £500 ÷ 2 = £250

Why wrong: A half-day (4 hours) requires the same setup, context-switching, and availability blocking as a full day. If you charge exactly half, you lose money because you cannot fill the other half-day with another client.

Right: Half-day = 55–60% of day rate

Calculation:

£500 × 0.60 = £300 per half-day

Or slightly lower if you want to be competitive:

£500 × 0.55 = £275 per half-day

Use £275–£300 as your half-day rate.

Step 3: Calculate hourly rate (for small tasks, not for full projects)

Wrong: £500 ÷ 8 = £62.50 per hour

Why wrong: Hourly pricing for full projects invites scope creep. Clients think "one more hour won't hurt" and your £500 day turns into 12 hours for £750 (£62.50/hour × 12 = £750 — but you worked 50% more for only 50% more pay).

Right: Hourly rate = 125–150% of (day rate ÷ 8)

Calculation:

£500 ÷ 8 = £62.50 baseline hourly
£62.50 × 1.30 (30% markup) = £81 per hour

Or round up to £85 per hour.

Use £80–£85 as your hourly rate, but only for:

• Small add-ons after a project is complete (e.g. "can you add one more page?")
• Revision rounds beyond what was included
• Client requests outside the original scope

Do not offer hourly rates for full projects. Use day/half-day or fixed prices instead.

Step 4: Calculate fixed "from" price for a deliverable

Example: 5-page website design and build.

Estimate your time:

• Design: 2 days
• Build: 2 days
• Revisions, testing, handover: 1 day
• Total: 5 days

Base price:

5 days × £500 = £2,500

Add a buffer for revisions and unknowns:

£2,500 × 1.20 (20% buffer) = £3,000

Or add a fixed buffer:

£2,500 + £500 = £3,000

Fixed price: from £3,000

Why "from" £3,000?

The word "from" protects you if the client asks for features beyond the standard 5-page website (e.g. e-commerce, booking system, custom integrations). Your rate card shows the baseline. Your quote adjusts for complexity.

Summary of your rate card pricing:

For full guidance on setting your rates, read how to set freelance rates UK.

Benchmarks — UK industry rate cards you can cite

Some UK freelance fields publish recommended rate cards. These are not legally binding, but they give you a benchmark to cite when a client pushes back on your rates.

Bectu rate cards (film, TV, and live events crew)

Bectu is the UK broadcasting union. Their freelance branches publish recommended going rates for film, TV, and live events crew.

What they cover:

• Camera operators, grips, sound, lighting, costume, props, runners, riggers, production accountants, assistant directors, editors, VFX, art department, location managers, and more.

Example rates (from Bectu 2026 rate cards):

These are illustrative examples. Always check the live Bectu rate card for your grade and region.

• Camera operator (drama): £400–£550 per day (depending on grade and budget)
• Sound recordist (drama): £450–£600 per day
• Runner (film): £100–£150 per day
• Production accountant (TV drama): £350–£500 per day

How to use Bectu rate cards:

If you work in film, TV, or live events, check whether Bectu publishes a rate card for your role:

Bectu rate cards

Bectu describes these as "recommended going rates set by the relevant freelance branch(es), after consultation with members."

When a client says your rate is too high:

Cite the Bectu rate card:

"My day rate of £450 is in line with Bectu's recommended rate card for [your grade], which is £400–£550 per day for drama productions. This is the industry standard for experienced freelancers in the UK."

Other UK industry rate bodies

APA (Association of Photographers' Agents): Publishes recommended rates for commercial photography assistants and crew.

Gravy for the Brain: A freelance TV and film production community that shares rate benchmarks in their Slack/Discord.

NUJ (National Union of Journalists): Publishes recommended minimum rates for journalists and writers (freelance article rates, day rates for shifts).

SFIA (Skills Framework for the Information Age): Not a rate card, but a skills framework used by some UK public sector and tech organisations to benchmark day rates for IT freelancers and contractors (e.g. "SFIA level 5 = £450–£600 per day").

Method:

Only cite a rate body if you have checked their current rates on their live website. Do not quote rates from outdated articles or forums. Bectu updates their rate cards annually, so check the date.

If your field does not have a published rate card, cite your own experience:

"My day rate of £500 is based on 8 years' experience in brand and web design, and reflects the going rate for senior freelance designers in the UK. I consulted peers and checked industry surveys before setting this rate."

Public vs private rate card — when to publish and when to keep it private

Should you publish your rate card on your website, or send it only when prospects ask?

Publish your rate card on your website if:

✓ You want to filter unqualified leads. If your day rate is £500 and a prospect has a £200 budget, they will not contact you — saving you both time.

✓ You work in a transparent pricing field. Coaching, consulting, video editing, and some design niches are moving towards transparent pricing. Prospects expect to see rates before contacting you.

✓ You have a clear value ladder. E.g. Logo £800, brand identity £2,400, full rebrand £8,000. Publishing this helps prospects self-select into the right tier.

✓ You are in demand and turning work away. Publishing rates stops low-budget enquiries from filling your inbox.

Where to publish:

• A "Pricing" or "Rates" page on your website
• Your portfolio site (Behance, Dribble, or personal site)
• Your LinkedIn About section or Featured section

Example wording:

What I charge
Day rate: £500 (8 hours, 2 revisions)
Half-day: £275 (4 hours, 1 revision)
Logo design: from £800
All prices exclude VAT.
Final price confirmed in a written quote.

Keep your rate card private (send on request) if:

✓ You price by project complexity, not time. If your rates vary widely (a £1,200 project for a startup vs £12,000 for an enterprise client), a rate card may confuse or scare prospects.

✓ Your rates depend on the client's budget. Some freelancers adjust pricing based on client size (startup vs corporate). Publishing a rate card locks you into one price.

✓ You compete on value, not price. If your differentiator is "I solve complex problems", leading with price may attract price shoppers instead of value buyers.

✓ You are building your portfolio and rates are still flexible. Early-career freelancers often price projects individually until they establish a consistent rate.

When to send your rate card:

• A prospect emails: "What do you charge?"
• A lead asks for a "ballpark figure" before they brief you
• A recruiter asks for your day rate for a contract role

How to send it:

Attach as PDF or paste into the email:

Hi [Name],

Thanks for asking. Here are my current rates:

• Day rate: £500 (8 hours)
• Half-day: £275 (4 hours)
• Logo design: from £800

These are reference rates. Once you brief me on your project, I will send a detailed quote with a fixed price.

Let me know if you would like to discuss your project.

Best,
[Your name]

Only quote (no rate card at all) if:

✓ Every project is custom. If no two projects are the same (e.g. software architecture consulting, complex integrations), a rate card may not be useful.

✓ You price by value, not time or deliverables. Some freelancers charge based on the client's expected ROI (e.g. "I will increase your conversion rate by 20%, which is worth £50,000 to you, so my fee is £10,000").

In this case:

Skip the rate card. When a prospect asks "what do you charge?", reply:

"My pricing depends on the scope and complexity. If you brief me on your project, I will send a quote within 24 hours."

Then send a quote or proposal with a fixed price for that specific job.

Decision checklist:

✓ Publish on your site if you want to filter leads and you work in a transparent field
✓ Send on request if you price by project and want to qualify leads before sharing rates
✓ Only quote if every project is custom and value-based

Most UK freelancers send rate cards on request rather than publishing openly. This lets you qualify the lead first (Do they have a real project? What is their budget?) before sharing your rates.

When to update your rate card (and how to tell existing clients)

Your rates should increase as your experience, demand, and costs increase. But when should you update your rate card, and how do you handle existing clients?

When to update your rate card:

✓ Once a year (January is common — gives you a fresh start and aligns with business planning)

✓ After a run of projects where clients said yes immediately without negotiation or pushback (a sign your rates are too low)

✓ When you add a new service or retire an old one

✓ When your costs increase significantly (software subscriptions, equipment, studio rent, childcare, inflation)

✓ When you upskill (e.g. you complete a course, get a certification, or add a valuable skill that commands higher rates)

✓ When you are fully booked and turning away work (increase rates to filter lower-value projects and free up time for higher-value clients)

How much to increase:

Small annual increase: 3–5% per year to keep pace with inflation.

Example:

• Current day rate: £450
• 5% increase: £450 × 1.05 = £472.50
• Round to £475

Significant increase: 10–20% if you have added skills, built a strong portfolio, or moved from junior to mid-level or mid to senior.

Example:

• Current day rate: £350 (mid-level)
• Move to senior: £350 × 1.20 = £420
• Round to £425

Do not double your rates overnight unless you are pivoting to a different market (e.g. moving from startups to enterprise clients). Gradual increases are easier for existing clients to accept.

How to tell existing clients about a rate increase:

Rule: New rates apply to new projects only, not to projects already quoted or in progress.

When to tell them:

✓ 30–60 days before the new rates take effect (gives them time to book you at the old rate if they have a project in the pipeline)

✓ When they ask for a new quote (mention the rate increase in the quote email)

✓ In your end-of-year update email (December or January — a good time to remind clients you exist and mention new rates)

Email template:

Hi [Client name],

I wanted to give you advance notice that my rates are increasing from 1 January 2027.

New rates:

• Day rate: £500 (currently £450)
• Half-day: £275 (currently £250)
• Logo design: from £850 (currently from £800)

These rates apply to new projects starting on or after 1 January 2027. Any projects I quote before then will honour the current rates.

If you have a project coming up, let me know by [date] and I will quote at the current rate.

Thank you for your continued support. I look forward to working with you again.

Best,
[Your name]

Why this works:

✓ You give them notice (not a surprise)
✓ You offer a grace period (book before the deadline at the old rate)
✓ You explain that current projects are unaffected (no mid-project surprises)
✓ You frame it positively ("continued support", "looking forward")

What if a long-term client pushes back?

Offer to hold the old rate for them for one more project or for 6 months, then move to the new rate after that. This rewards loyalty without locking you into old rates forever.

Example:

"I understand you have been a long-term client. I am happy to hold the current rate of £450/day for your next project, and then move to the new rate of £500/day for projects after that."

Do not apologise for increasing your rates

Your rates reflect your value. As you gain experience, your work improves and your time becomes more valuable. Clients who respect your work will accept a reasonable increase. Clients who balk at a 5–10% rise after a year are price shoppers who will leave eventually anyway.

Common mistakes that turn rate cards into disputes

No validity date. A prospect from 2024 digs up your old rate card and expects you to honour it in 2026. Always state "valid until [date]".

Hourly rate only, no minimum. A client books you for "one hour" to tweak a logo. You spend 20 minutes on the task and 40 minutes on setup, file prep, and sending the revised file. Your £80 hourly rate just became £80 for an hour of admin and 20 minutes of real work. Always add a minimum: "half-day minimum" or "minimum fee £200".

No "what's included" line. A client books your day rate and expects unlimited revisions, same-day delivery, and a Zoom call to walk them through the files. Your rate card said "£500 per day" but not what that day includes. State: "8 hours work, 2 revisions, delivered within 5 days".

Rush work not priced separately. A client emails Friday afternoon asking for delivery Monday morning. You work the weekend. Your rate card did not mention rush fees. Add: "urgent delivery within 48 hours: +50%" or "weekend work: +30%".

VAT confusion. You are VAT registered but your rate card shows £500 without saying "excl. VAT". Client thinks £500 is the total. You invoice £600 (£500 + £100 VAT). Client is confused and delays payment. Always state: "prices exclude VAT" or "plus VAT at 20%".

Expenses not clarified. You design a brand identity. Client assumes stock fonts are included. You buy a £200 font licence and add it to the invoice. Client refuses to pay because it was not in the rate card. State: "stock images, fonts, and third-party services charged separately (quoted in advance)".

No "final price confirmed in a quote" note. A client treats your rate card as a binding quote. They book you for a 5-page website at "from £3,000" and expect that exact price, even though their brief now includes e-commerce, a blog, and a booking system. Add: "final price confirmed in a written quote" or "rates are subject to project scope".

Copying someone else's rate card without adjusting for your experience or location. You find a rate card online for a "senior brand designer — £600/day" and copy it. You are mid-level with 3 years' experience. Clients sense the mismatch and push back. Set rates based on your experience, location, niche, and market research (ask peers, check Bectu or other benchmarks, survey past clients).

Mistake checklist (what NOT to do):

✗ No validity date
✗ Hourly rate with no minimum
✗ No "what's included" details
✗ Rush/weekend work not priced
✗ VAT unclear (registered but not stated)
✗ Expenses not mentioned
✗ No "final price in a quote" note
✗ Copied from someone else without adapting

FAQ

What is a rate card for freelancers?

A rate card is a one-page reference sheet showing your prices for common services — day rate, half-day, hourly, or fixed deliverables. It is sent to prospects who ask "what do you charge?" before you quote a specific project. It differs from a quote (which prices one job) and a proposal (which includes scope, approach, and price).

Should I publish my rate card on my website?

It depends. Publish if: you want to filter unqualified leads, you work in a transparent field (coaching, video editing), or you have a clear value ladder. Keep it private if: you price by project complexity, your rates vary by client budget, or you compete on value not price. Most UK freelancers send rate cards on request rather than publishing openly.

How do I show VAT on a UK rate card?

If you are VAT registered, show prices excluding VAT and state "plus VAT at 20%" or list your VAT number. If you are not VAT registered, show prices without VAT and write "VAT not applicable" or "Not VAT registered". You must register for VAT if your taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 in 12 months.

What should I include on a freelance rate card?

Include: your name and contact details, currency (£ for UK), services with day/half-day/hourly/fixed rates, what each price includes (deliverables, revisions, turnaround), minimum booking or fee, rush/weekend uplift, deposit and payment terms, cancellation or kill fee, expenses policy, valid-until date, and a note that final prices are confirmed in a written quote.

How often should I update my rate card?

Update once a year (January is common), after a run of projects where clients said yes without negotiation (a sign your prices are too low), when you add a new service, or when your costs increase significantly. Tell existing clients about increases 30–60 days in advance and only apply new rates to new projects.

What is the difference between a rate card, a quote, and a proposal?

A rate card shows reference prices for many services. A quote prices one specific job with a fixed total. A proposal includes the problem, your approach, deliverables, timeline, and price. Send a rate card when a prospect asks "what do you charge generally". Send a quote when they ask "how much for this project". Send a proposal when they need to see how you will solve their problem.

Where SoloPad fits — managing services, quotes, and pricing

Once you have a rate card, you need a system to:

✓ Store your services and default rates (so you do not retype them every time)
✓ Turn an accepted rate card enquiry into a detailed quote or proposal
✓ Track which clients accepted your rates and which negotiated
✓ Invoice based on your quoted prices

SoloPad helps UK freelancers manage services, pricing, and the quote-to-invoice flow in one place.

Features verified in this codebase:

✓ Saved services with rates — store your day rate, half-day, hourly, or fixed prices, and pull them into quotes and invoices (source: lib/services.js — supports flat, hour, day, word units; active/archived status)
✓ Proposals — turn a rate card enquiry into a detailed proposal with scope, pricing, and acceptance tracking (source: app/api/proposals — proposals can be sent, accepted, declined; convert to invoice or contract)
✓ Quotes and invoices — generate quotes with line items based on your saved services, send them, track acceptance, and convert to invoices (source: app/api/invoices)
✓ Client management — track which clients accepted your rate card, which negotiated, and their project history (source: app/api/contacts)
✓ Currency and VAT — set your currency (GBP) and VAT status (registered or not), and invoices show VAT correctly (source: lib/business-currency.js)

Pricing: Starter £5/month, Solo £12/month, Pro £29/month. 30-day free trial.

Try SoloPad free for 30 days.

Questions? info@solopad.io

Summary

A rate card is a one-page reference price list for your freelance services. It shows your day rate, half-day, hourly, or fixed prices so prospects know whether your rates fit their budget before they brief you on a project.

The process is simple:

1. List your services with rates (day, half-day, hourly, fixed)
2. State what each price includes (deliverables, revisions, turnaround)
3. Add minimums, rush fees, VAT line, deposit terms, and a valid-until date
4. Send it when prospects ask "what do you charge?"
5. Follow up with a detailed quote once they brief you on a specific project

Use the templates in this guide. Adapt them to your niche. Update them once a year. And always state "final price confirmed in a written quote" so prospects know the rate card is a reference, not a binding quote.

Try SoloPad free for 30 days to store your services, generate quotes, and manage the rate-card-to-invoice flow in one place.

Related guides

A rate card is one step in the pricing and winning work process. Once a prospect accepts your rates, turn the enquiry into a detailed quote or proposal:

• Quote template UK — Free copy-paste quote with GBP pricing, VAT guidance, and email scripts
• One-page freelance proposal template UK — Proposal structure for pitching projects over £5,000
• How to write a freelance proposal — Step-by-step guide to winning proposals
• How to set freelance rates UK — Calculate your day rate, hourly rate, and project pricing
• When to register for VAT UK freelancers — VAT threshold, registration process, and when to charge VAT
• Deposit invoice template UK — How to invoice upfront payments and show balance remaining
• Invoice payment terms UK — Net 7, Net 14, Net 30 wording and when to use each
• Kill fee clause template UK — Cancellation compensation wording for quotes and contracts

Sources and references

This guide was written using the following official sources, UK guidance, and industry research:

1. GOV.UK — VAT rates — Standard rate 20%, reduced rate 5%, zero rate 0% (verified 20 October 2026)
2. Bectu rate cards — Recommended going rates for UK freelance film, TV, and live events crew, described by Bectu as "recommended going rates set by the relevant freelance branch(es), after consultation with members"
3. GOV.UK — Register for VAT — VAT registration threshold £90,000 taxable turnover (as of 1 September 2026)
4. SoloPad product code — Services feature verified in lib/services.js (supports flat, hour, day, word units); proposals in app/api/proposals; invoices in app/api/invoices; contacts in app/api/contacts; currency settings in lib/business-currency.js

Method note:

SERP competitors reviewed (not copied): ManyRequests "Agency rate cards" (US agency/staff-rate angle, 2024, USD, no UK freelancer context); Notion marketplace freelance rate card (bare template listing, no UK guidance); Corcava design rate card (US$ agency, Excel download); FunctionFox (agency); influenceflow (influencer). None written for UK sole-trader freelancers in £. None explain UK VAT wording, Bectu benchmarks, or the rate card vs quote vs proposal distinction for UK freelancers.

All templates (Northline Studio, Sarah Mitchell, Alex Carter), worked £ example (£500 day rate to half-day, hourly, and fixed), public vs private decision checklist, update timing and client communication email, common mistakes list, and SoloPad feature verification are original SoloPad editorial content.

This article is for general education. It is not legal, tax, or accounting advice. Pricing, VAT, and contract terms may vary by business structure, industry, and client. When in doubt, consult a solicitor or accountant.