Why Peil exists
Freelancers in the Netherlands often seem to earn well. But behind a gross rate of €80 or €100 lies a hidden world of taxes, overhead, non-billable hours, and uncertainties that no one properly prepares you for.
Existing tools help you look in the rearview mirror: what did you invoice, what did you spend, how is your VAT? That is useful for your accountant, but it doesn't answer the questions that matter now when you are negotiating a rate or charting your financial course: Is my rate defensible? What do I actually keep per hour?
Peil is built to show you exactly that sober state of affairs. Not as a dashboard full of distracting charts, but as a reliable measuring instrument — sharp, honest, and as straightforward as possible.
Who it's for
Peil is made for Dutch freelancers who:
- Know what they invoice, but aren't sure what's left at the bottom line
- Wonder how their financial position compares to someone in standard employment
- Experience tax calculations and deductions as an unreadable black box
- Know they should build a buffer for quiet months, but don't know exactly how large it should be
- Need a solid foundation to confidently decide whether their rate aligns with their financial goals
You don't need a financial background to use it. Peil doesn't just do the math; it clearly explains how the calculation is made.
What Peil does
Peil combines your time tracking, invoicing, and financial goals into one clear overview. At its core is the net effective hourly rate (NER): the amount that is actually yours per worked hour, after tax, after costs, and after correcting for non-billable hours.
On top of that, Peil calculates how much you need for your pension, sick days, holidays, and reserves — and instantly shows whether you're on track. It is explicitly not a bookkeeping program. You won't find payroll or automated bank connections here. That is a deliberate boundary: Peil is built for orientation, not administration.
What you can do:
- Track hours per client and project
- Create and send invoices
- Follow the course of your NER over time
- Run scenarios: What happens if I raise my rate? Am I safe if I'm ill for three weeks?
- See how your financial position fairly compares to a similar employee
The team
Peil is an independent product. There is no investor putting rapid growth above all else, and no team stacking unnecessary features just to fill an application.
Jeroen Kortekaas — co-founder, product & engineering. Freelance designer and developer in Amsterdam. He started Peil because, as a freelancer, he wanted to know exactly what his hours were truly worth once all mandatory deductions were taken out — and found that no existing tool gave him that honest number.
Ioanna Fourtouna — co-founder, growth. Specialized in community-led growth and building networks for freelancers and the self-employed. She makes sure Peil reaches the people who benefit from it most, so that more freelancers gain the confidence to know what their work is truly worth.
We are letting Peil grow at a deliberately calm pace. Every choice — about what we build and what we leave out — is meant to keep the instrument sharp. If you come across a calculation that doesn't quite fit your situation, or context is missing, let us know at hallo@peil.app.
Contact
For questions, feedback, or partnerships, reach us at hallo@peil.app.
For specific support about your own records in the app: use the in-app chat, or send an email including your account details.