Oddly, I've had exactly the opposite problem. It's difficult to find contracts in the $100-200 per day range. If I could find consistent, rewarding, challenging work, then I would gladly do it for standard pay. Unfortunately, I spend so much time finding contracts or getting burned by expanding scope or nonpayment, that I have to charge more just to survive.
Freelancing should pay at least the overtime rate of a typical developer. If someone is contemplating freelance work and makes $50,000 per year, than he or she should probably charge at least $37 per hour or else it makes more sense to work out an overtime arrangement with his or her current boss.
When we account for all of the downtime and having to eat so many losses (that are normally handled by an employer), I think that's how so many developers arrive at numbers of $75-125 per hour or more.
Freelancing should pay at least the overtime rate of a typical developer. If someone is contemplating freelance work and makes $50,000 per year, than he or she should probably charge at least $37 per hour or else it makes more sense to work out an overtime arrangement with his or her current boss.
When we account for all of the downtime and having to eat so many losses (that are normally handled by an employer), I think that's how so many developers arrive at numbers of $75-125 per hour or more.