How much to charge for freelance project management

Whether you’re a Gantt chart master or the champion of countering scope creep, your skills are only as good as how in control you are of your pricing strategy.

To help you stay ahead of the biggest project of all (your freelance gig as a PM), we’ve put together this quick guide so you know how much to charge for your service based on some obvious and some not-so-obvious factors.

We’ve also touched on how Wise Business can help you make the most of your earnings and what makes it the business account for freelancers.

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Table of contents

Pricing models Time-based pricing Project-based pricing What's the average going rate for freelance project managers? How to calculate your rate as a freelance project manager Step 1: Decide on a pricing model Step 2: Take your niche into account Step 3: Assess the match between your skills and the client’s resources Step 4: Define the scope of the work Step 5: Factor in your living expenses Finalising Your Freelance Project Manager Rate Card Manage your freelance income effectively with Wise Business FAQs Are freelance project management rates negotiable? How often should I increase my prices as a freelance project manager? Can I charge more as a freelance project manager in London? What type of freelance project management pays the most?

Pricing models

Pricing Model	Best for	Pros ✅	Cons ❌
Hourly/Daily Rate	Smaller jobs, new clients, or projects with undefined scope.	Simple to calculate and track; feels safer for clients on a budget.	Can penalise efficiency; not ideal for large-scale projects.
Fixed Per-Project Fee	Fully briefed projects with clearly defined deliverables.	Allows you to price based on value, not just time; offers budget clarity for the client.	Risk of 'scope creep' eating into your profits if not managed carefully.
Monthly Retainer	Long-term contracts where you are dedicated to a single client.	Provides predictable, stable income; can command a premium rate.	Ties you to one client, which can limit your capacity to take on other work.

Time-based pricing

Time-based pricing is when you bill by the hour or day and is a highly common way of charging for freelance project management in the UK. 

It involves charging either a daily or monthly rate, depending on factors like the length of the project and the personal preferences of the client and freelancer.

The daily or monthly rate would usually be negotiated, agreed upon, and inserted into the work contract from the outset. This rate would then continually be charged until it is subject to revision (such as at the end of the contract).

Why should freelance PMs use time-based pricing?

Project management is an ongoing job that isn’t ‘completed’ in a day like other freelancing gigs.

There’s a psychological advantage to pricing your services in this way, as it can make you seem more affordable to clients.

For small businesses with limited budgets, it can feel safer and more manageable to pay someone per hour compared to shelling out a large amount upfront.

Note: Monthly rates are also called ‘retainers’. A retainer is normally higher than a month’s worth of your usual day rate, as you’re effectively tied to one client and can’t take on other work. 

Project-based pricing

Project-based pricing refers to charging a fixed price for the entire project. The project must be fully briefed and have clearly defined deliverables.

This provides clarity and convenience for the client, as they know exactly what they’ll be paying for. 

It also ensures the freelancer knows exactly what they are entitled to do for what they’re being paid.

Why should freelance PMs use project-based pricing?

While it’s a matter of personal preference, many freelance PMs don’t opt for project-based pricing unless they are supremely confident of the value of the project for the client.

For example, if you’re working on a digital transformation project that will bring tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds in savings and/or increased revenue for a client, this added value should be reflected in your pricing. 

Note: Project-based pricing increases the chance that there will be unexpected complications or extra time-consuming work, which can eat into your earnings. 

This makes it important to gather information, define the scope of the project and have in-depth discussions with the client about their expectations - before providing a project fee. 

What's the average going rate for freelance project managers?

The average going rate for a freelance project manager is around £51 per hour or around £410 per day¹. These rates can vary considerably depending on niche, experience and the type of project.  

Generally, project managers with a proven track record and skills in project delivery and Agile project management and frameworks tend to command the highest day rates.

How to calculate your rate as a freelance project manager

1. Decide on a pricing model
2. Take your niche into account
3. Assess the match between your skills and the client’s resources
4. Define the scope of the work
5. Factor in your living expenses

Step 1: Decide on a pricing model

First off, decide whether you want to charge by the hour/day or for the whole project. 

As we mentioned earlier, time-based pricing is more common among freelance PMs in the UK. 

However, you could use a mix of day rate and per-project pricing, where you charge a flat base rate for the project, then a time-based rate on top of that.

The choice depends on your experience level, because a less experienced project manager may struggle to accurately estimate the total time needed, making hourly rates a safer bet.

It also depends on the client’s preferences - some clients have a strict budget and need to know the total project cost upfront, so you may not be left with a choice to charge per hour or day.

Step 2: Take your niche into account

Knowing what other professionals in your niche and with your level of experience are charging for the same kinds of projects is essential information to know how much to charge yourself.

You must take the time to evaluate the niche you work in. Ask yourself - how many other freelance PMs are in your niche? What budget does your target clients have for project management and development within this niche? If the niche is competitive, do you have a unique advantage?

The answers to these questions will help you evaluate how much to charge for your own service.

An example of niche dictating rates:

A project manager specialising in freelance consultations for multi-million-pound construction projects is operating in a high-stakes, complex business environment.

The demand for proven experts in these fields is likely to be far higher than the supply of PMs, allowing the freelancer to charge a significantly higher rate.

Step 3: Assess the match between your skills and the client’s resources

It's crucial to evaluate how your specific skills and experience align with a client's actual resources. 

There's no point in being a world-class expert in complex, large-scale project delivery if your prospective client has a team of two and a shoestring budget. 

Your ability to command a high rate is directly tied to the client's ability to afford and implement the level of service you provide.

So before you even calculate a price, assess the client's capacity.

During initial discussions, you should aim to understand:

• Their budget - for instance, a FinTech startup in London that has plenty of financial backing will have a vastly different budget for project management than a local non-profit organisation.
• Their people - do they have a team that is willing and able to execute the projects you might come up with?
• Their tech - do they have the necessary software and infrastructure to execute the projects you might come up with?

This step is all about finding clients that fit what you’re offering.

It allows you to set a rate that is both fair to you and, most importantly, realistic for them, ensuring the project is set up for success from the start.

Step 4: Define the scope of the work

The scope of the work is arguably the most important factor to consider when pricing freelance project management work on a per-project basis. 

A vague scope is a recipe for unpaid work, while a detailed one is your best defence against scope creep and ensures you’re paid fairly for everything you do. 

Before providing a fee, work with your client to build a proposal that breaks the project into clear phases, each with its own deliverables.

Phase 1: Initiation & Planning. This covers initial discovery sessions, stakeholder interviews, goal setting, risk assessment, and creating the detailed project plan and timeline.

Phase 2: Execution. This is the core project work, including managing resources, tracking progress against milestones, leading team meetings, and handling stakeholder communications.

Phase 3: Handoff & Closure. This includes final delivery, user acceptance testing (UAT), creating handover documentation, and post-project reporting.

Step 5: Factor in your living expenses

Last but not least, you must charge in a way that covers your personal needs.

This isn’t to say you should let ‘wants’ dictate your rate - rather, you should know of your core fixed costs (like rent, groceries, taxes owed) and let that inform your rate.

Expenses to consider:

Personal living expenses, which lie at the heart of your budget. Include your mortgage or rent, Council Tax, utilities (gas, electricity, water, broadband), transportation costs, groceries, and any other regular personal spending.

Overheads (fixed costs) you incur as a freelance PM. This includes things like SaaS subscriptions (project management tools, accounting software, etc) that are crucial for you to deliver high-quality work.

Tax and National Insurance, which you will owe based on your Self Assessment tax return.

Pension Contributions (optional)

Paid time off, which you must organise yourself seeing sa you don't get paid for holidays or sick days like employees of companies do.

Finalising Your Freelance Project Manager Rate Card

Your final rate card as a freelance project manager should look something like this (it may not be as detailed - this is just a guide and prices are illustrative):

Service	Ideal use case	Rate
Standard hourly rate	Small-scale projects	£55 per hour
Standard day rate	Standard projects	£410 per day
Monthly retainer	Large-scale projects with long-term support	From £3,000 per month
Package rate	Charging for individual aspects of project management. This allows the client to select which services they want (discovery, goal setting, risk assessment, and/or the creation of a full project plan/timeline)	From £1,250
Per-project rate (end to end)	Charging for full-scale project management. The client pays for all services (not a selection of what they want).	Custom quote based on scope, value, and complexity
Consultation	Reviewing a client’s existing project management practices to identify issues and provide actionable recommendations	From £950

Manage your freelance income effectively with Wise Business

Wise Business has a ton of features to help freelance PMs with clients all over the globe manage their earnings with ease.

Once you’ve opened an account, you can instantly get local account details for 8+ currencies. 

Simply include these on your invoices - or use the free Wise invoice generator to save time - and your clients can pay you in their own currency.

You can even use Wise payment links or QR codes for quick, easy and secure ways to get paid. How good is that?

But it's not just about getting paid. You can also manage your outgoings by sending money to contractors or suppliers in 140+ countries.

For your day-to-day business spending, order a Wise Business card to spend in 150+ countries and earn 0.5% cashback on eligible purchases. 

Best of all, your money is converted at the mid-market exchange rate (the one you see on Google) on all currency conversions.

Be Smart, Get Wise.

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"I’ve been with Wise Business for five or six years now. I manage multiple currencies, and when I was searching for a business account, Wise stood out. It was the quickest, easiest, and probably the best one to use.”

-- Tye Bate, 230 Media (freelancer turned agency owner)

FAQs

Are freelance project management rates negotiable?

Yes - negotiation is common and often expected when quoting as a freelance project manager. You should definitely be open to discussions on price with your clients, especially if you’re pricing per project.

However, this isn’t to say you should undervalue or shortchange yourself. It’s important to set yourself a minimum rate (based on what you need to cover your expenses and earn a living) and know your value. 

Developing a detailed proposal with clearly defined deliverables is also crucial. 

How often should I increase my prices as a freelance project manager?

A mistake many freelancers make is to keep their prices the same, year after year. It’s actually common practice to review prices annually, and you may also want to increase them if:

• You improve your skills or develop a specialism
• You gain experience, build a portfolio of successfully completed projects and/or work with high-profile clients
• Your cost of living increases due to inflation

Can I charge more as a freelance project manager in London?

Yes, you may be able to charge more if you live in an expensive part of the country.

Location is likely to play a part in how much to charge for freelance project management, simply because prices and the general cost of living are higher in some parts of the UK - London being a prime example

Just bear in mind that clients may not necessarily want to pay London prices if they themselves are based in a cheaper part of the country.

What type of freelance project management pays the most?

The highest earners tend to be seasoned programme managers who are adept at using advanced tools to track a range of project completion metrics. If you’re in this position, you’re more likely to earn around £740 per day. This is followed by IT project managers earning around £583 per day².

Note: The prices above are based on project managers working at companies. Freelancers may earn a different amount commensurate on their skill level.

Sources:

1. YunoJuno, Freelancer Rates Report - Project Management
2. Coron Projects, How much does a project manager cost?

Sources last checked on October 14th, 2025