Setting Your Rates as a Self-Employed Carer

One of the first questions carers ask when they go self-employed is: what should I charge? It can feel difficult to know where to start. You want to be fair to families, but you also need to cover your costs and make a living that’s sustainable long term. The good news is there are clear steps you can take to work this out with confidence.

What Are Other Self-Employed Carers Charging?

Based on figures shared by carers in our community, here are the typical ranges being used across the UK:

These figures aren’t rules, they’re starting points. Your rate will depend on your costs, your experience, and where you’re working. But they give you a realistic benchmark so you’re not guessing.

Check What Local Agencies Charge

Before setting your rate, it’s worth checking what home care agencies in your area are charging. Many publish their prices on Homecare.co.uk. Search for businesses near you and see what they charge per hour.

Families already know these prices, so checking them helps you sense-check your own rate. As a self-employed carer you typically offer more flexibility, continuity and personal attention than an agency, so there’s no reason to undercut yourself. If anything, you can justify a comparable rate.

Working Out Whether Your Rate Adds Up

Knowing what others charge is only part of the picture. The more important question is whether your rate actually covers your costs and gives you a sustainable income. Here’s a worked example.

This is why it’s worth taking the time to plan your rate properly. By building in your costs, tax and time off from the start, you can be confident your work is sustainable rather than finding out months later that you’re earning less than you thought.

How You Arrange Your Diary Matters Too

Your hourly rate is only part of the picture. The way you structure your working day makes a significant difference to what you actually earn.

Set a minimum visit length. Many carers set a minimum of one hour per visit, especially for morning calls where more time is needed. Short visits with long travel gaps can leave you earning far less per hour overall.

Cluster your clients geographically. Working in the same area reduces unpaid travel time and gaps in your day. Time spent driving between clients is time you’re not being paid for.

Track your mileage. If you drive for work, mileage is a legitimate business expense. PocketCarer has a built-in mileage tracker so nothing gets missed at tax time.

Live-In Care: Setting Your Daily Rate

Live-in care is often misunderstood. It doesn’t mean being on duty 24 hours a day, it typically means providing around 12 to 13 hours of support, with a proper break, and being available if needed overnight.

When setting your daily rate for live-in care, the following factors all affect what’s reasonable:

The client’s waking hours. If a client is up from 7am until 11pm, you’re effectively on duty all day. In that situation it’s reasonable to negotiate a longer daily break, around three hours, to make it sustainable.

Night disturbances. Sleep-in rates assume you’ll get a normal night’s rest, with only the occasional need to help. If you’re called once or twice in the night you can charge for those disturbances on top of your daily rate. But if night calls become consistent, three or more times most nights, it’s no longer safe or sustainable to continue as a live-in. A separate waking night carer should be arranged.

Breaks vs downtime. Families sometimes say there’s plenty of downtime, but in reality you’re still on call. Short gaps here and there don’t replace a proper break and shouldn’t be counted as one.

Food and travel. If these aren’t covered by the family, factor them into your daily rate.

Whatever you agree, make sure it’s written into your care and support agreement so expectations are clear from the start.

Bank Holidays and Extra Charges

Bank holidays are an area where carers set their own policy. There’s no single right answer, but the most common approach shared in our community is:

Standard bank holidays: time-and-a-half.

Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day: double pay.

Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve: often treated as standard days unless you’re working into the late evening.

The key is to decide your policy before you start with a new client and include it in your agreement. Families appreciate knowing in advance, it avoids any awkwardness at the time.

Talking About Rates with Families

Money conversations can feel awkward, especially in care where there’s often an emotional dimension. But being clear about your rates upfront is professional, not pushy and it saves much bigger conversations later.

Be confident. You are offering a professional service. Your rate reflects your time, your skills and your responsibility.

Put it in writing. Your rates should be in your care and support agreement before care begins. That way it’s agreed, not assumed.

Don’t undersell yourself. Starting too low makes it very hard to raise your rate later without creating friction. It’s always easier to set the right rate from the beginning.

Remind yourself what families are comparing you to. Agency care at similar rates, with less continuity and flexibility. You are often the better value option, not the expensive one.