Founder leverage & less stress
Calculate your true hourly rate
By Samuel Michelot · Updated June 2026
Short answer
Your True Hourly Rate (THR) = current cost + future value per hour worked. Example: €100/hr salary + €1M exit in 5 years (9,600 hours) = €100 + €104/hr = €204/hr. Anything costing less per hour than your THR, you should delegate or automate. Most people undervalue their time and do work below minimum wage when you factor in opportunity cost.
Your salary is not your hourly rate.
Your True Hourly Rate = your salary + the future value you’re building.
Example:
- Salary: €50,000/year = €24/hr
- Building a business worth €500k, exit in 5 years
- That’s €100,000/year in future value = €48/hr
- True Hourly Rate: €72/hr
This changes everything. At €72/hr, should you spend 4 hours fixing a bug or hire someone to do it for €60/hr? Hire them. You’re worth €72.
Most founders do work worth €20/hr while their THR is €200/hr. That’s not hustle, that’s opportunity loss.
Read [[D.A.D. + V framework]] — understand which work to keep and which to delegate based on your THR.
Frequently asked questions
What if I don't have a business exit goal?
Calculate based on what your time is worth to your customers or business value created. If you serve 100 customers at €1000/year each, your hourly rate should reflect that.
Doesn't this mean I should outsource everything?
Only tasks below your THR. Some work (strategy, relationships, judgment) IS your business. Only automate/delegate the grunt work.
How do I know my future value?
Conservative: use 3x annual profit. Ambitious: use expected exit price. Middle ground: use what the market says comparable businesses are worth.
Want this inside your own business?
Simple AI Studio runs a hands-on implementation bootcamp for founders and small teams. You leave with a working AI system, not slides.
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🤖 Drafted with AI, edited by Samuel.