PROJECT PRICING GUIDE
How to Estimate a Freelance Project
A useful project estimate combines scope, expected time, direct costs, uncertainty and profit instead of relying on a quick guess.
Define the deliverables
Write down exactly what the client will receive. Clear deliverables make it easier to estimate the work and reduce disagreements later.
Break the project into tasks
Estimate major activities separately, such as research, production, meetings, testing and revisions.
Add direct expenses
Include project-specific costs such as licensed assets, contractors, travel or specialist software.
Include revisions and communication
Client communication and feedback rounds require time. Include a realistic allowance instead of estimating only production work.
Add contingency
Projects rarely go exactly as planned. A contingency percentage gives your estimate room for reasonable uncertainty.
Check profitability
Your final quote should cover the estimated cost of delivering the work while leaving enough profit for the project to make business sense.