The calculation of personnel costs is a crucial aspect for any freelance web and graphic designer. Here, one often sees the actual financial challenges associated with being a freelancer. To set realistic prices for your services, it is essential to consider all relevant costs. The following guide will walk you through the process of determining personnel costs and help you plan your income realistically.
Key insights
The personnel costs for a freelance designer consist of the desired salary, social contributions, additional costs, and special payments. In this example, we assume an annual target salary of €30,000. To achieve this, additional costs of €15,500 must be considered, resulting in a total amount of approximately €46,500 that needs to be earned annually.
Step-by-step guide
1. Determine your desired salary
The first step in calculating your personnel costs is to establish your desired salary. As an example, we will use a salary of €30,000 per year. Keep in mind that your desired salary should align with your life situation and professional goals. So consciously decide how much you actually want to earn.
2. Consider pension and additional costs
After determining your desired salary, you need to consider other costs that come in the form of pension and additional costs. These can amount to between 30% and 35% of the desired salary. In our example, this means you need to earn approximately €10,500 more to cover social contributions.
3. Plan for special payments
Another important aspect is the special payments. These mainly include holiday and Christmas bonuses as well as other company parties or training. On average, you should account for about 20% of your desired salary here. This means you also need to budget for these expenses.
4. Calculate total personnel costs
Now it’s time to calculate the total sum of the personnel costs. By adding your desired salary, pension and additional costs, as well as special payments, you arrive at the total annual personnel costs. For our example, this amounts to a total of €46,500.
5. Plan income
To ensure that you can actually achieve your desired salary of €30,000 per year, you must ensure that you generate the required income. This means you should adjust your prices accordingly and calculate the necessary number of projects to cover the total costs.
6. Consider other cost factors
In addition to personnel costs, office costs and other operating expenses are also significant. They should also be included in your calculations to provide a realistic assessment of your finances. However, these costs are the topic of the next step in your calculation strategy.
Summary – Calculating design: Assess personnel costs correctly
Calculating personnel costs is crucial for freelance designers to be able to work sustainably financially. Through understanding and planning all cost factors, you can set your prices in a well-founded manner, ensuring that your income not only covers your living expenses but also allows for further professional and personal development.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my personnel costs?Calculate your desired salary, add pension and additional costs as well as special payments to determine the total amount.
What additional costs should I consider?Additional costs can include social contributions, training, and travel expenses.
How can I secure my desired salary?Plan your income realistically and set appropriate prices for your services to cover all costs.
Why are office costs also important?Office costs contribute to the overall financing of your business and should be included in your pricing to avoid financial bottlenecks.
