Freelancers pay income tax, USC, and PRSI. Combined effective rate can reach 50%+ at higher incomes.
Your Minimum Rate
To earn €70,000 take-home.
The Non-Billable Reality
At a standard 40hr week without vacation, your rate would be €0/hr.
Factoring in admin & time off adds +€0/hr.
Freelancing as a Copywriter in Ireland
Freelance copywriters produce persuasive content for advertising, websites, email campaigns, and brand communications. Rates vary by medium and measurable impact — direct response copywriters who can demonstrate ROI command the highest rates in the field.
Local Tax & Business Notes
Freelancers pay income tax, USC, and PRSI. Combined effective rate can reach 50%+ at higher incomes.
🔗 Local Freelance Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Should copywriters charge per word, per hour, or per project?
Per-word pricing is the weakest model — it penalises efficiency and commoditises your work. Per-project pricing is preferred for defined deliverables like a homepage or email sequence. Hourly billing works for ongoing consulting, strategy work, or when the scope is genuinely unclear. Never charge per word for high-value copy like landing pages or sales emails.
How do copywriters price for usage rights or content licences?
Most copywriters do not charge usage fees the way photographers do, but you can and should for national advertising campaigns or white-label work where your name doesn't appear. A simple approach is to charge your standard project rate for standard usage and add 50–100% for unlimited/perpetual commercial use.
How many billable hours does a Copywriter need to work in Ireland to earn €70,000?
At €97/hr you need roughly 22 billable hours per week (1056 hours over 48 working weeks). At €71/hr you need 30 billable hours per week. Both figures assume a 28% effective tax rate in Ireland and €300/month in business expenses. Most experienced freelance copywriters target 20–25 billable hours to keep time for admin, proposals, and skill development.
What is the tax impact on a freelance Copywriter's rate in Ireland?
To take home €70,000 after 28% tax in Ireland, you need to bill approximately €102,223 in gross revenue per year. That means €28,623 goes directly to tax — a gap most new freelance copywriters underestimate when setting their rates. Freelancers pay income tax, USC, and PRSI. Combined effective rate can reach 50%+ at higher incomes.
Is €70/hr a competitive rate for a freelance Copywriter in Ireland?
€70/hr is a common market reference for copywriters, but whether it works for you in Ireland depends on your income goal. To achieve €70,000 take-home at that rate, you would need to bill 1461 hours per year — about 31 billable hours per week across 48 working weeks. Use the calculator above to model your specific situation.