How to Price Freelance Work in Egypt (2026)

The most expensive mistake Egyptian freelancers make isn't charging too much — it's guessing. A price pulled from the air is impossible to defend, so the moment a client pushes back, it collapses. Here's the framework that replaces guessing.

Step 1 — Find your hourly floor

Take the monthly income you need to take home, add your business costs (internet, tools, subscriptions), add a 20% buffer for slow months and fees, then divide by your billable hours — about 5 per day, not 8, because answering clients, revisions and finding work are unpaid. For example: EGP 20,000 goal + 2,000 costs + 20% buffer ÷ 110 billable hours ≈ EGP 240/hour minimum. Quote below your floor and you're paying to work.

Step 2 — Price projects, not hours

Clients in Egypt rarely accept hourly billing — so convert: estimated hours × your floor × a difficulty multiplier (1.0 routine → 1.6 hard) × a client-value multiplier (individuals 1.0 → companies 1.8). That's your Standard price.

Step 3 — Always present options

• ⭐ Complete (+45%): everything plus extras — present this FIRST as the anchor.
• ✅ Standard: your real target — most clients choose it.
• Basic (−30% scope): only if budget pushback — shrink the scope, never discount the same work.

A single price invites yes/no rejection. Options invite a choice between yeses.

Step 4 — Defend it on WhatsApp

When the "غالي" (too expensive) message arrives, don't argue — ask: "Too expensive compared to the budget you had in mind, or compared to another offer?" Each answer has a different (calm) response. Deposits protect you: 50% before work starts, no exceptions, InstaPay reference saved.

2026 reality check

With inflation, anyone who hasn't raised rates since 2024 has taken a real-terms pay cut. Raise existing clients gently: announce the new rate a month ahead, honor the old rate for one final project. New clients simply get the new number — they have no anchor.