How much to charge as a freelancer in South Africa

Most people pick a rate by looking at what others charge and going a bit lower. That feels safe. It often means working full days for less than you need once data, fees and tax come off.

This guide gives you a simple sum instead. It works for any skill you sell by the hour or by the job: coding, design, social media, writing, tutoring, bookkeeping, hair, repairs or cleaning.

Step 1: what do you need each month?

Start with the amount you want to take home.

Then add what the work costs you each month:

• data and airtime
• software and subscriptions
• a share of your phone or laptop
• transport, if you go to clients
• backup power, if you need it

Step 2: how many hours can you actually bill?

Nobody gets paid for every hour they work.

Quotes, messages, revisions, invoicing and finding the next client all take time. Count only the hours a client pays for. If you are new, be honest and start low.

Step 3: add tax

Freelance income is added to any salary you earn, and SARS taxes the total on the same tables.

For the 2026/27 tax year (1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027):

• the first R245,100 of taxable income is taxed at 18%
• everyone gets a primary rebate of R17,820 off the tax
• if you are under 65, you pay no income tax below R99,000 a year

The figures are on the SARS rates page.

Step 4: add platform fees

If clients find you on a marketplace, the platform keeps part of each payment.

• Fiverr keeps 20%. You get 80% of each order.
• Upwork charges a fee of 0% to 15% per contract. You see the exact fee before you send a proposal.

A rate that works for direct clients is too low on a marketplace. Divide your rate by what you keep. On Fiverr that means dividing by 0.8.

A worked example

Lerato designs social media posts for small businesses. She wants to take home R15,000 a month. Data and software cost her about R1,500 a month, and she can bill 60 hours a month.

1. Money needed each month: R15,000 + R1,500 = R16,500. Over a year that is R198,000.
2. Tax on R198,000 (SARS 2026/27 tables): 18% is R35,640. Take off the R17,820 rebate and she owes R17,820 a year. That is about R1,485 a month.
3. Total to earn: R16,500 + R1,485 = R17,985 a month.
4. Divide by 60 billable hours: about R300 an hour for direct clients.
5. On Fiverr she keeps 80%, so R300 ÷ 0.8 = about R375 an hour.

These are example numbers. Your own will be different, and that is the point of doing the sum.

Check your number against real rates

Your sum gives you a floor. Next, see what people already pay for similar work.

• Tutoring. Agency Teach Me 2 says its tutors can expect R130 to R190 an hour. If your sum says much more, independent clients or a specialist subject may be the way to get there.
• Media and creative work. The Southern African Freelancers' Association (Safrea) publishes a rates report. Its 2026 edition is based on more than 400 freelancers in writing, editing, translation, social media, photography, design and video. Safrea calls it a benchmark to guide pricing. Look up your own field in the report.
• Local services. Ask three people who offer the same service near you what they charge, or check their price lists.

If the market pays less than your floor, you have three levers: more paid hours, a more valuable niche, or lower costs.

Price the job as well as the hour

Many clients prefer a fixed price per post, per lesson or per project.

Work it out from your hourly rate and the hours you expect. Then add a buffer for revisions, and write down what the price includes.

Raise your rate as you get proof

Two or three good samples or reviews make the next rate increase much easier. Review your rate every few months, and again when your costs go up.

Where to go next

New to this? Start with how to start freelancing in South Africa and see what freelance writing involves. Set money aside for tax using provisional tax for freelancers, simply explained.

Paid in dollars? Use the payout fee comparison so the transfer doesn't eat your margin.

Not sure which skill to sell? The free test ranks options against what you can already do.

Questions people ask

What is a good hourly rate for a beginner freelancer in South Africa?

There isn't one right number. Work it out from what you need each month, the hours you can bill, tax and any platform fee. Then check it against published rates for similar work.

Should I charge less on Fiverr or Upwork?

Usually you need to charge more, because the platform takes a cut. Fiverr keeps 20% of each order, and Upwork's fee ranges from 0% to 15% per contract.

Do I have to pay tax on freelance income?

Yes, once your total taxable income for the year is above the tax threshold. For 2026/27 that is R99,000 if you are under 65.

Should I charge per hour or per project?

Use your hourly rate to work out the price either way. Many clients find a fixed project price easier to say yes to, as long as you agree what it includes.