# Freelance Rate Builder MCP. AI Agent Connect > Freelance Rate Builder MCP helps you stop guessing what to charge. It calculates the exact hourly rate you need to hit your net income goals after accounting for business overhead, tax obligations, and a profit buffer. Connect it to your AI client to run different financial scenarios in seconds. ## Overview - **Category:** productivity - **Price:** Free - **Endpoint:** https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_np3n5rrPx5I25UOViYFkvyUMOVqoQzJuPEgqereX/ai-agent-connect - **Tags:** freelance, rates, accounting, income, business-planning ## Description Stop undercharging for your work. Most freelancers set rates based on what they think they should make, but they often forget to account for the rising cost of software, health insurance, or the massive chunk taken by taxes. This MCP changes that by turning your financial goals into a concrete hourly number. You can give your agent your target annual income and your total business expenses, and it will work backward to find your required rate. If your rent goes up or you buy a new piece of equipment, you can quickly figure out how much that specific cost adds to your hourly requirement. It also handles the math for different billable hour scenarios, so you can see how working more or fewer hours changes what you need to charge. Instead of using a messy spreadsheet, you just talk to your AI client to model your business finances. ## Tools ### calculate_overhead_impact This tool determines how much you need to raise your hourly rate to cover specific increases in business expenses. ### compare_rates Use this to see how changing your total billable hours affects the hourly rate you must charge. ### estimate_tax_burden This tool calculates the total amount of money you need to set aside for taxes based on your gross revenue. ### get_rate_summary This tool provides a complete breakdown of your calculated hourly rate and all its individual components. ## Prompt Examples **Prompt:** ``` I want to earn $60,000 net per year. I have $5,000 in overhead, 1200 billable hours, and a 25% tax rate. What should my hourly rate be? ``` **Response:** ``` To reach a net income of $60,000 with $5,000 in overhead and a 25% tax rate, your required hourly rate is $73.33. ``` **Prompt:** ``` How much tax will I pay if I invoice $100,000 and my tax rate is 30%? ``` **Response:** ``` At a 30% tax rate, your tax amount will be $30,000, leaving you with a net of $70,000. ``` **Prompt:** ``` My annual overhead is increasing by $2,000. I currently charge $50/hour and work 1,000 billable hours. How much should I increase my rate? ``` **Response:** ``` An increase of $2,000 in annual overhead requires a rate increase of $2.00 per hour, making your new hourly rate $52.00. ``` ## Capabilities ### Income Target Modeling Your agent calculates the rate needed to hit a specific net annual income. ### Expense Adjustment The AI determines how much a specific cost increase impacts your hourly charge. ### Tax Planning Your agent estimates the total tax liability you should set aside from your revenue. ### Capacity Analysis The AI compares different billable hour counts to show how they affect your rate. ### Financial Breakdowns Your agent provides a full summary of how your rate is composed. ## Use Cases ### Annual Rate Setting Calculate your new hourly rate at the start of the year based on your income goals and expected expenses. ### Handling Cost Increases Determine exactly how much to raise your rates when your business expenses go up. ### Tax Budgeting Estimate how much cash to set aside for tax season based on your projected revenue. ### Capacity Planning See how much you need to charge if you decide to work fewer hours next year. ## Benefits - Calculates rates based on net income rather than gross revenue. - Accounts for specific business overhead and tax burdens. - Models the impact of changing billable hours on pricing. - Provides a clear breakdown of all rate components. ## How It Works You connect the MCP to your AI client and start asking questions about your finances. 1. Connect the MCP to your preferred client like Claude or Cursor via Vinkius. 2. Provide your target net income, overhead, and tax rate to your agent. 3. Ask the agent to calculate your required hourly rate. 4. Use specific tools to adjust for changes in expenses or billable hours. 5. Review the full rate summary to understand your pricing structure. ## Frequently Asked Questions **How does this MCP help with freelance pricing?** It calculates a sustainable hourly rate by factoring in your target net income, business overhead, and tax obligations. **Can I use this with Claude or Cursor?** Yes, you can connect this MCP to any MCP-compatible client including Claude, Cursor, and Windsurf. **Does it account for taxes?** Yes, it includes a tool to estimate your tax burden and ensures your rate covers what you owe. **How do I handle rising business costs?** You can use the overhead impact tool to see exactly how much your rate needs to increase to cover new expenses. **What if my billable hours change?** The compare rates tool lets you see how different billable hour scenarios change the rate you need to charge. **How do I calculate my target income?** Define the net amount you need for your lifestyle and personal savings. You can use `get_rate_summary` to see how this target translates into an hourly rate after accounting for taxes and overhead. **Can I see how changing my billable hours affects my rate?** Yes, use the `compare_rates` tool. You can provide multiple annual billable hour scenarios to see how each one impacts the required hourly fee. **How does overhead affect my rate?** Overhead costs like software or rent must be covered by your revenue. You can use `calculate_overhead_impact` to determine exactly how much your rate needs to increase if your expenses go up.