HOW TO PRICE FREELANCE WORK? The reach the level of the average pay of a journalist in an employment relationship, freelancers have to invoice for their work the same as other self-employed people. On average 50% of your invoicing is to cover secondary expenses. Direct operating expenses and costs associated with carrying out work should also be included in payments. Ordinary expenses that exceed expense items (e.g. travel expenses, daily allowances) should be agreed when you agree on an assignment, and should be shown separately on your invoices. With large assignments you can agree separately on logging work and expenses for specific tasks. The recommended pay level covers the one-time publishing right to articles, images and artwork. Extensive copyright increases your fee. The UJF print freelance association SFJ has more calculations for copyright cases, and photographers, graphic designers, illustrators and publishing editors on their website.