Why is my rate so much higher than my old salary per hour?
A salaried employee is paid for every working day, including leave, and the employer covers equipment, PF, insurance, and idle time between projects. As a freelancer you pay for all of that yourself, and only billable hours earn money — so dividing your old CTC by 2,000 hours badly underestimates what you need to charge.
What is a realistic billable percentage?
Most freelancers bill somewhere between 50% and 75% of their working hours. The rest goes on proposals, client calls, revisions you don't bill for, invoicing and accounts, learning, and finding the next project. If you're just starting out, assume the lower end.
Should I quote hourly, daily, or per project?
Use the hourly figure as your internal floor even if you don't quote hourly. For a fixed-price project, estimate the hours, multiply by this rate, and add a buffer for revisions and scope creep. Clients in India often prefer project or monthly retainer pricing — the monthly revenue figure above is a useful anchor for retainers.