{"calculator":{"slug":"freelancer-vs-agency-vs-in-house-calculator","name":"Freelancer vs agency vs in-house calculator","url":"https://infikeytechnologies.com/tools/freelancer-vs-agency-vs-in-house-calculator"},"inputs":{"currency":"USD","hours":160,"months":6,"freelancer_rate":45,"freelancer_overhead":20,"agency_rate":40,"salary":90000,"employer_overhead":30,"recruitment":12000,"hiring_months":3},"inputs_readable":{"Currency":"USD ($)","Development hours needed per month":"160","Project length":"6 months","Freelancer hourly rate":"45","Your extra management & rework for freelancers":"20%","Agency blended hourly rate":"40","In-house annual salary per developer":"90,000","Employer overheads on salary":"30%","Recruitment cost per hire":"12,000","Time to hire":"3 months"},"result":{"headline":{"label":"Lowest total cost","value":"Agency — $38,400"},"summary":"Over 6 months at 160 hours a month, a freelancer costs about $51,840, an agency $38,400 and an in-house team $141,000. Cheapest: agency.","verdict":{"tone":"good","text":"An agency is cheapest here once management time and hiring costs are included, and it can usually start within weeks with project management and QA built in."},"metrics":[{"label":"Freelancer total","value":"$51,840"},{"label":"Agency total","value":"$38,400"},{"label":"In-house total (2 FTE incl. recruitment)","value":"$141,000"},{"label":"Effective hourly cost — freelancer / agency / in-house","value":"$54.00 / $40.00 / $147"},{"label":"Typical time to start — freelancer / agency / in-house","value":"days / 1–2 weeks / 3 months"}],"chart":{"title":"Total cost over 6 months","items":[{"label":"Freelancer","value":"$51,840","detail":"incl. 20% management & rework"},{"label":"Agency","value":"$38,400","detail":"PM and QA included","selected":true},{"label":"In-house","value":"$141,000","detail":"2 FTE + recruitment"}]},"table":{"caption":"Beyond cost","head":["","Freelancer","Agency","In-house"],"rows":[["Continuity","Single person","Team cover","Notice periods"],["Skills range","One skill set","Many roles on demand","Who you hire"],["Management effort","High","Low","Medium"],["Product knowledge kept","Low","Medium","High"]]},"notes":["For projects under a year, recruitment costs and hiring time weigh heavily against in-house hiring.","In-house assumes 2 full-time developers at about 150 productive hours a month each; salary is paid from the start date, not while hiring."]},"share_url":"https://infikeytechnologies.com/tools/freelancer-vs-agency-vs-in-house-calculator?currency=USD&hours=160&months=6&freelancer_rate=45&freelancer_overhead=20&agency_rate=40&salary=90000&employer_overhead=30&recruitment=12000&hiring_months=3","disclaimer":"This calculator is provided free for general information and planning only. Results are estimates based on the inputs you enter and the assumptions described on this page, reference data such as published prices may change, and actual costs and outcomes will differ. Nothing on this page is financial, legal, tax, investment or other professional advice. Infikey Technologies Private Limited, Infikey Technologies LLC and their directors, employees and affiliates make no warranty, express or implied, about the accuracy, completeness or suitability of this tool or its results, and accept no liability for any loss or damage, direct or indirect, arising from its use or from reliance on its results. Verify all figures independently and seek professional advice before making any decision. Use of this tool is at your own risk.","publisher":{"name":"Infikey Technologies","url":"https://infikeytechnologies.com","contact":"https://infikeytechnologies.com/contact"}}