Freelancing 5x a week in the office (mandatory). Should I bill them for my commute time?

likefunny
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Nope. You can only bill them if they ask you to go somewhere that is beyond your normal commute.

likesmarthelpful

How is 5x a week in the office freelancing? Get those bennys!

like

Probably covering on a mat or pat leave or short term project.

like
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no that’s not and never will be a thing

likesmarthelpful

Are you a 1099? If so…They legally can’t ask you to be at the office.

likesmart

But, they can legally FIRE YOU whenever

Hahaha Jesus no. Also please don’t ask resourcing that question, your contract will mysteriously end prematurely

likefunny

In a past full time freelance role I was told
“From the moment you leave your house to the moment you get back, is billable” and I took that to heart 💸

like

nah not for daily office work but if u have to travel for a shoot or something like that then yes commute would be covered

like

No.

likesmart

It should be baked into your rate

like

⬆️ This

Nope. But if you are an SCorp or LLC, then you can itemize it on your tax return.

like

Bake it into your timesheet.

like

This! 👆

Absolutely yes if you’re thinking about work

like

Are you working during the commute?

like

I bake it into the rate.

Two hours (one hour each way), plus tolls and parking. Or car fare (subway, a taxi once a week, whatever combo for your situation).

I ballparked it as about an annual $25K hit in lost time and costs for commuting to the office vs. full remote. Chop that into 210 actual working days a year (the max a fulltimer works after taking all forms of PTO including sick days). It’s an extra $120 a day.

You don’t tell them, you just charge that much more, always. It’s not shady, it’s simply unexpected to ask for it separate, and assumed to be baked in to your day rate.

Imagine a restaurant charging extra for using napkins. The napkins aren’t free, it’s just all baked in to the prices.

Not technically, but i’d try to sneak it in there somehow.

smart

Genuinely curious, is this the standard? Do they carve space for you in the office?

Good

Part of your day rate or work that into your overall hourly rate.

Salaried employees don’t have that conversation and neither should you.

Not if you expect to keep your gig

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