Free AI Tool
Freelance Offer Fairness Calculator
“Does this feel right?” is not a negotiation strategy. Lancerra gives you a scored, evidence-based assessment of every freelance offer — so your decision is based on data, not gut feeling.
Calculate Your Offer Score FreeNo credit card. 3 free calculations.
What your score means
Excellent
Strong offer. Accept or make minor adjustments.
Good
Mostly fair with a couple of areas worth improving.
Fair
Several issues to negotiate. Push back on the weak areas.
Poor
Significant red flags. Negotiate hard or walk away.
The 6 scoring dimensions
Each dimension is scored 0–100 and averaged. Any single low score is also explained separately.
Pay Rate
Your offered rate compared to live market benchmarks (P25–P75) for your role and location. Accounts for all offer structures — hourly, fixed, monthly, weekly.
Scope Clarity
Are deliverables, acceptance criteria, and the definition of "done" clearly specified? Vague scope is the most common source of disputes.
Payment Terms
Whether payment is tied to clear milestones, includes an upfront deposit, and uses reasonable net terms. Client-discretion payment scores close to zero.
Deadlines
Are timelines realistic with buffer built in? Extremely tight or unstated deadlines expose you to scope creep and conflict.
IP Rights
When and how intellectual property transfers to the client. Industry standard: full IP transfers upon receipt of final payment, not before.
Revision Policy
Whether the number of revision rounds is capped, and whether a clear process exists for requesting and approving changes.
Why a score matters
Most freelancers evaluate offers based on the headline rate — but a high rate attached to poor payment terms, vague scope, or an aggressive IP clause can easily end up costing more than the extra money is worth. A numerical score across all six dimensions forces you to weigh the full picture.
The score also gives you a basis for negotiation. Instead of saying “this feels unfair,” you can point to a specific dimension — “the revision policy scores 20 because there is no cap, which is a risk I need addressed.”
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Frequently asked questions
Common questions about the freelance offer fairness calculator.
How is the freelance offer fairness score calculated?
The score is calculated across six dimensions: pay rate vs. live market benchmarks, scope clarity, payment terms and triggers, deadline realism, IP rights structure, and revision policy. Each dimension is scored 0–100 independently and averaged into a single fairness score. The breakdown lets you see exactly which parts of the offer are strong and which need negotiation.
What does a score above 80 mean?
A score of 80 or above indicates a strong offer where all six dimensions are in acceptable ranges. It means the pay rate is at or above market, the scope is clearly defined, payment terms are reasonable, deadlines are realistic, IP transfers on final payment, and revisions are capped. Minor adjustments may still be worthwhile, but the offer is fundamentally fair.
What should I do with a low fairness score?
A low score tells you which specific dimensions to target in your negotiation. Lancerra provides counter-proposals for each weak dimension — so instead of a vague concern, you can point to a specific clause and propose a specific fix. A score below 40 means there are structural problems in the offer worth negotiating hard on before you sign.
Does my profession affect the scoring?
Yes. The pay rate dimension is benchmarked against live market data specific to your role, skills, and location — so a $60/hr rate scores differently for a junior designer versus a senior developer in the same city. The other five dimensions are scored based on industry-standard contract practices that apply regardless of profession.
Can I compare fairness scores across multiple offers?
Yes. If you have a Pro account, all your past analyses are saved in your dashboard history with their scores. This lets you compare offers side by side — useful when evaluating multiple proposals simultaneously or tracking how a client's offer has changed across rounds of negotiation.
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