Freelance rates for designer & developer in Berlin

[thepgb 5]

Hey guys,

 

I'm looking in to freelancing here in Berlin after 5+ years working for an agency in UK and 7 months here in a start-up environment as a UI/UX designer and front-end developer.

 

I was wondering if anyone had any tips for getting started, mainly:

 

 

• 
  
  
• What is an appropriate day rate to charge in Berlin?
  
• Would you advise i get an accountant to deal with tax etc?
  
• Any other potential hurdles
  

 

 

Thanks

 

Paul

[8420PR 170]

The biggest hurdle will be finding customers.

 

What you charge is a mixture of (1) what customers will pay - the cheaper you are the easier it is to find customers - and (2) what you need to live. My guess to calculate maintaining your current lifestyle is your current gross pay, plus 20% for additional social contributions (that your employer pays today) plus another 20% as you'll have to pay your own holidays, and maybe another 19% mehrwertsteuer... (just made up numbers)

 

Have a look at this website: http://www.existenzgruender.de/englisch/self_employment/index.php

 

And see if you can find something comparable (from Germany) on a freelance website like odesk.com, to see what the current market rates are.