Value · The chain and channels · lesson 3.5 open
Where to sell: US, UK, or Australia
A comparison of three markets by rate, timezone, and structural obstacle, and how it determines where to spend your effort.
Promise: a criterion for choosing the target market before sending the first message.
Source of the numbers. The ranges and timezones below come from the author's market research conducted in September 2026, with reference exchange rates of GBP 1.34 and AUD 0.66 and an 8-hour day. They were not verified in public sources in this version: treat them as a hypothesis and verify before quoting.
The comparison
| US | UK | Australia | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior contract (author's research) | US$ 120+/h | ~US$ 92–105/h | ~US$ 70–95/h |
| Structural obstacle | typical C2C contract requires an entity registered in a US state | most contracts fall inside IR35 and go through an umbrella company payroll | market wants an ABN and local right to work |
| Timezone from Brazil (Brasília) | 1–2 h east of the US | 3–4 h | 13–14 h |
How to read this
- US: best range and best timezone. The obstacle is structural (next lesson).
- UK: competitive range only at the top of contracts outside IR35. IR35 is the British regulation that determines whether a contractor is treated as a disguised employee; when a contract falls inside, the practical route is employment via an umbrella company, which a Brazilian company cannot use. That leaves the minority outside IR35, which tends to come from smaller clients less prepared to hire a foreign vendor. Confirm in writing, case by case, that the contract is direct B2B and how IR35 applies.
- Australia: lowest rate of the three and a 13–14 hour time difference. Working overnight to receive the lowest rate is a bad trade-off, unless there is an on-site or hybrid role with a path to citizenship (a life decision, not a marketing decision).
The criterion
Choose the market based on the combination of three questions:
- Does the range cover my floor with room to spare?
- Does the timezone fit my routine without destroying sleep?
- Is the structural obstacle solvable with what I have today?
Fill out the table with your own data: ranges you have seen in offers, actual timezone, and obstacles. Pick your primary market and a backup. Record the date: markets change.
Checklist
- Did I choose the market based on criteria, not habit?
- Do I know what structural obstacle I face in it?
Checked on 05/10/2026. Educational content; tax and legal: confirm with a professional.