Why I Increased My Freelance SEO Hourly Rate

For a long time, I charged £35 per hour for my freelance SEO work. It felt like a fair compromise. I have a full-time role, and my freelance work happens in the evenings and weekends. I wasn’t always immediately available like a full-time consultant, so I thought a lower rate balanced things out.

But over time, that number stopped making sense. Between tools, taxes, and the sheer amount of work that goes into delivering real results, I realised I was seriously undervaluing what I do.

Taking a Step Back to Reassess

Towards the start of the year, I decided to take a month’s break from freelance work to focus on my health. I was gaining weight, not getting enough exercise, and burning myself out trying to juggle everything. Freelancing had gone from something I enjoyed to something that was taking too much from me.

That break gave me the space to reflect on whether it was even worth continuing. The reality was, at £35 per hour, it wasn’t. The time, the effort, the knowledge I’ve built over the years, it all felt undervalued. But I also realised something else. I love freelancing. I love solving technical SEO problems that others struggle with. That part hadn’t changed.

The Hidden Costs of Being a Freelance SEO

Freelancing at a low rate might look sustainable on the surface, but when you break it down, the numbers don’t hold up.

• SEO tools and software like Screaming Frog, SERanking, Ahrefs, DataForSEO, Data Hosting, ClickUp and OpenAI API credits all adds up
• Taxes and national insurance take a significant cut of anything earned
• Staying ahead in SEO requires constant learning, testing, and adapting, none of which is billable
• Client admin, tax admin, emails, onboarding, troubleshooting, and quoting all take time that isn’t directly paid for

By the time everything was accounted for, there wasn’t much left. I was working hard, but the financial return didn’t reflect the effort I was putting in.

Why I Raised My Rate to £70 Per Hour

I reached a point where I had to ask myself if freelance SEO was worth my time. I enjoy working with businesses, solving technical challenges, and driving real results. But when the financial return isn’t there, it starts to take the enjoyment out of it.

Charging £70 per hour isn’t about making more money for the sake of it. It’s about making sure the work I take on is sustainable and worth the time I invest.

I have over a decade of experience in SEO and a deep technical skill set. I solve complex problems that in-house teams and agencies struggle with. Businesses aren’t just paying for my time, they are paying for expertise, efficiency, and solutions that make an impact.

Balancing Freelance Work With Family and a Full-Time Role

Freelancing while working full-time is already a balancing act. My time is limited, and I also have my family to think about. My two children need my attention too, and working late into the night for rates that don’t match my expertise wasn’t something I wanted to continue.

At £70 per hour, I can take on the right projects without overloading myself. I still provide a highly competitive alternative to agencies, but I no longer undercut my own value. It allows me to continue helping businesses improve their search visibility while ensuring my time is fairly compensated.

For businesses looking for an experienced Manchester-based SEO consultant who knows how to get results, the value is there. And for other freelancers who are undercharging, it’s worth re-evaluating. If your skills and experience drive real results, your pricing should reflect that.