When to raise your freelance rates — and how better time data makes the conversation easier
Most freelancers raise rates on instinct. There's a better trigger: when your tracked data shows a consistent pattern of under-billing relative to your effective hourly rate.
The question "should I raise my rates?" usually gets answered with feelings. The market is strong. I've been at this price too long. All of these are valid — but none of them are data.
The data signal for a rate increase is simpler: your effective hourly rate is meaningfully below your stated rate. If you quote $100/hr and your Analyse dashboard shows your effective rate is $72/hr, you have three options: track more hours, scope tighter, or raise rates.
What Trakby shows you
The billable hours report in Trakby Pro shows you, per project and per client, your stated rate versus your implied rate. A project quoted at $5,000 fixed with 62 hours logged is an effective rate of $80/hr. If your stated rate is $120/hr and this is typical, your fixed-price scoping is systematically wrong by 33%.
Experience the loop yourself
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