The answer is, it depends. (Oh, you thought it would be a single number or rate?) But that's why you came to this article, and we'll deliver what you need by the time you're finished reading, we promise.Here is some smart guidance so you can make the right calculation yourself, based on the variables of your own situation.

• Is it remote? This is almost always the lowest-cost option, and the proliferation of online team management tools makes it a viable one for most projects. You can eliminate most line-item costs for out-of-pocket expenses, regardless of where your contractor's home office is located.

• Will they have to travel? You can calculate those hard costs and set separate rates for "windshield time," hotels and meals, etc. You can break this down further if the job requires their temporary relocation, versus travel to give a one-time presentation.

• How much work are you offering? The rate you pay over a longer term engagement will vary from what you might pay for a short one.

The length and intensity of a project will have a significant influence on the rate. Shorter projects are usually priced at higher rates (hourly, daily etc.), while longer projects that offer professionals more utilization and earnings potential can be more economical and closer to pro-rated salaries (weekly, monthly rates).

At Graphite, the average implied hourly rate posted is approximately $90 dollars. We see basic work (Powerpoint presentations, simple models, etc.) priced closer to $60, and more complex work priced as high as $250. For projects involving multiple full work weeks, we typically see these rates discounted by around 10%, and up to 25% for multi-month projects with high utilization.Users of Graphite's staffing platform discover that it takes a lot of the pain out of contracting for a financial analyst. Professionals are thoroughly screened and pre-vetted, billing is automated, and we can work directly with you if you need help as you proceed through the contracting process. We've also got several free tax forms and other templates needed for executing agreements with your contractor.If you haven't hired anyone yet, browse our gallery of Professionals and see who's ready to take on your project.