Time

Your real hourly figure

Longer note · updated October 2026

An hourly figure tells you whether side work is worth the evenings it takes. The honest version is usually lower than people expect.

What goes in

Take what you kept for a month: income minus fees, costs and the tax you set aside.

Count all the hours

• The work itself
• Messages and calls
• Revisions
• Invoicing, records and admin
• Travel, if any

Divide

What you kept divided by all the hours is your real hourly figure. Compare it with what you'd accept for overtime or a weekend shift.

Then decide

A low figure isn't always a reason to stop; some people value learning or variety. But it should be a choice, not a surprise.