What are the costs of hiring a freelancer?

The success of your business starts with the right people, but an effective staffing strategy looks different for everyone. What is the right balance between permanent workers and flexible, temporary freelance professionals? Many businesses need both to thrive. Freelancers bring expertise and help you scale quickly when needed. Before posting a shift, it helps to understand the costs involved. If you’re unsure how to choose the right solution, we’ve done the research so you can make a confident decision. Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about freelance rates.

What is a freelancer?

Before diving into rates, let’s clarify what a freelancer actually is. Various terms are often used interchangeably: freelancer, self-employed professional, or independent contractor. Essentially, they all mean the same thing. Freelancers work independently without a fixed or temporary employment contract. You can hire them flexibly, allowing you to scale your workforce up or down as needed. Most freelancers do not employ people themselves; they are truly “self-employed.”

The Netherlands currently has 1.3 million freelancers (ZZP’ers) working across various sectors, playing a crucial role in the labor market. The vast majority of them actively choose to work independently, valuing autonomy and the ability to decide when, where, and for whom they work.

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How are freelancer rates structured?

Sometimes, hiring an employee doesn’t align with current business needs or resources—whether due to temporary workload peaks, the need for specialised knowledge on a short-term project, or simply maintaining financial flexibility. In these cases, freelancers offer a great solution: you can scale up without committing to fixed staffing costs. But what exactly does a freelancer cost?

Freelance rates depend on several factors, including industry, experience, location, urgency, and job complexity. Below, we outline the average freelance rates in some of the most in-demand sectors on Temper, a digital platform connecting businesses with freelancers in hospitality, logistics, facility services, and retail:

Average freelance rates on Temper:

View more freelance rates across different sectors here.

Freelancers are free to set their own rates, so prices may vary. Additionally, freelance costs can be structured in different ways, such as:

• A fixed price for an entire project
• Payment based on deliverables agreed upon in advance
• A daily or weekly rate, commonly used for short-term or intensive projects

Although a freelancer’s hourly rate is often higher than that of an in-house employee or agency worker, you avoid extra costs such as recruitment agency fees (markup factors) or employer expenses like pension contributions, paid leave, or sick pay.

Freelancers offer flexibility—a major advantage for businesses that need to scale quickly. Curious about how these costs compare? Check out this [comparison table].
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The benefits of hiring freelancers

The demand for freelancers is growing, and so is the supply. This shift in the labor market is often referred to as the “gig economy,” characterized by flexibility, autonomy, short-term contracts, and easy access to freelancers through platforms like Temper.

So why is working with freelancers becoming more popular?

1. Lower financial risks

Freelancers can be hired without long-term commitments or fixed contracts. You don’t have to deal with notice periods, severance pay, or sick leave obligations—real financial risks that come with in-house employees or agency workers. With freelancers, these obligations don’t apply.

2. Easy to scale up or down

Need extra hands for a busy holiday weekend? Freelancers allow you to scale up and down effortlessly. Platforms like Temper make it quick and easy to find qualified freelancers. You maintain full control over staffing and can even cancel shifts up to 24 hours in advance.

3. Pay only for hours worked

When hiring a freelancer, you only pay for the hours you need—without additional employment costs. Unlike in-house employees, freelancers help you avoid hidden expenses such as recruitment (job postings, career fairs), onboarding (background checks, payroll setup), employee benefits (bonuses, travel expenses), training costs, and ongoing expenses (work attire, licenses, team events). Additionally, you won’t face absenteeism or turnover costs, which can amount to 20% of an employee's annual salary. Making hiring freelancers a cost-effective solution.

Learn more about additional employment costs here.

4. Specialised expertise

Freelancers often bring niche expertise or experience, providing not just an extra set of hands but also valuable knowledge. A skilled freelancer can elevate your existing team to a higher level.

What about continuity?

A common concern about hiring freelancers is that they don’t provide long-term stability. However, that’s not necessarily true. Many freelancers build long-term relationships with regular clients and actually contribute to business continuity through their flexibility.

Additionally, in-house employees don’t always guarantee stability either. Employee turnover can be expensive, with the cost of replacing an employee averaging 20% of their annual salary due to recruitment, hiring, and training expenses.
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Additional costs to consider when hiring freelancers

While freelancers typically have fewer additional costs than full-time staff, it’s still important to check for any extra charges, such as:

• Annual price increases
• Inflation adjustments
• Other potential costs, such as travel or material expenses

Conclusion

A strong staffing strategy is crucial for sustainable business growth, satisfied customers, and a happy workforce. In many cases, a well-balanced mix of in-house employees and flexible professionals leads to success.

While permanent staff provide stability, they come with higher costs and long-term commitments. Freelancers, on the other hand, offer flexibility, cost savings, and the ability to scale up or down as needed.

But where do you find reliable freelancers? Platforms like Temper provide access to a network of qualified professionals who fit seamlessly into your team and operations. This way, you combine the flexibility of freelancers with quality and reliability.

Want to learn more about Temper? Find out more here or start browsing available freelancers now.