Freelancer money and business guides
34 guides on the numbers behind freelance work: what to charge, how to invoice, and the 2026 federal and state tax figures that decide how much to set aside. Each one links to a calculator or its official sources.
U.S. tax numbers and deadlines
Self-employment tax, estimated payments, 1099 forms, mileage, home office and QBI rules, with the 2026 figures from the IRS and state revenue departments.
1099-NEC and 1099-K Thresholds for 2026: What Changed
For 2026 payments, 1099-NEC starts at $2,000 (was $600); payment-app 1099-Ks need over $20,000 and over 200 transactions. Plus the 2027 due dates.
2026 Self-Employment Tax Rates, Wage Base and Thresholds
2026 self-employment tax: 15.3% on 92.35% of profit, a $184,500 Social Security wage base ($192,300 for 2027), Additional Medicare thresholds and examples.
Do Freelancers Charge Sales Tax? What to Verify Before Invoicing
Check service classification, sourcing, nexus and tax treatment before invoicing. A decision worksheet with official state sources and example arithmetic.
Freelancer Tax Deadlines for Late 2026 and 2027
Federal tax deadlines for freelancers from Oct 15, 2026 through Jan 18, 2028: quarterly estimated tax dates, Form 1099-NEC, extensions and penalty rules.
Home Office Deduction for Freelancers: Simplified vs Regular Method
Freelancer home office deduction: simplified method at $5 per sq ft up to 300 sq ft ($1,500 max) vs regular method on Form 8829, with a worked example.
How Much Should Freelancers Set Aside for Tax?
A sensible way to estimate a tax set-aside on freelance income, why a separate account helps, and why the exact number depends on where you live.
IRS Standard Mileage Rates by Year (2015–2026)
IRS business mileage rates 2015 to 2026, including both 2026 rates (72.5 cents Jan to June, 76 cents July to Dec), plus medical, moving and charity rates.
Quarterly Estimated Taxes for Freelancers
How U.S. estimated taxes work for the self-employed — the four payment dates, the safe-harbor rule that protects you from penalties, and a habit that makes it painless.
Self-Employment Tax, Explained (Without the Jargon)
Understand U.S. self-employment tax, the earnings base and annual cap, and why the deduction reduces income-taxable income rather than refunding half.
Side-Hustle Self-Employment Tax: What the $400 Rule Actually Measures
The $400 Schedule SE threshold is net earnings after the 92.35% adjustment—not simply $400 of Schedule C profit. See exact worked examples.
Standard Mileage Rate vs Actual Expenses: Which Is Better Self-Employed?
Compare the standard-mileage and actual-expense methods using the split 2026 IRS rates, your dated miles, actual costs, and method-eligibility rules.
State Income Tax Rates for Freelancers in 2026: 50-State Table
Top 2026 state income tax rates for all 50 states and DC, from 2.5% to 13.3%, which nine states have no broad income tax, and what changed this year.
The 20% QBI Deduction for Freelancers: 2026 Rules
2026 QBI deduction for freelancers: 20% of qualified business income, thresholds of $201,750 single and $403,500 joint, the new $400 minimum, and an example.
What Is My Total Freelancer Tax Rate? Build It From Separate Layers
A transparent 2026 federal example showing why self-employment tax, income tax, credits, and state tax cannot be replaced by one universal percentage.
Your First Year Freelancing: Do You Actually Owe Quarterly Taxes Yet?
First-year freelancer estimated taxes: the $1,000 test, prior-year-tax exception, current-year withholding, and uneven-income method.
Pricing, rates and margins
Work out an hourly or project rate from your costs and billable time, add rush and subcontractor fees, and check what a price leaves after costs.
Freelance Day Rate: How to Convert From Hourly (Without Underpricing)
How to calculate a freelance day rate from your hourly rate without underpricing — with worked numbers, a billable-days table, and when day beats hourly.
Freelance Hourly Rate After SE Tax and Overhead: An Illustrative Model
A transparent worked model showing how self-employment tax, business expenses and a personal benefits reserve can reduce a freelance invoice rate. Not a market index or take-home estimate.
Freelancer Profit Margin: Define Owner Pay Before Judging the Percentage
There is no universal good margin for a solo freelancer. Calculate Schedule C-style net margin, then a separate owner-labor residual so the percentage answers a clear question.
From Salary to Freelance Rate: Build a Multiplier From Your Own Inputs
Convert salary to a freelance planning rate without pretending one multiplier fits everyone: enter your benefits, business costs, billable hours, and profit buffer.
Hourly vs. Project-Based Pricing: Which Should You Use?
The real trade-offs between charging by the hour and charging per project — with a simple rule for choosing on each job.
How Many Hours Can a Freelancer Bill? What the Hours Data Shows
Self-employed people who work full time averaged 42.3 hours a week in 2025 (BLS). Turn that week and employee-style time off into billable hours and a rate.
How Much Higher Should a 1099 Rate Be Than W-2 Pay?
A transparent 1099-vs-W-2 comparison using actual benefits, payroll taxes, business costs, billable hours, and worker-classification checks.
How Much to Mark Up Subcontractor Work
How much to mark up work you subcontract as a freelancer or small agency: the 2x rule of thumb, when it holds, and why your own time is part of the cost.
How Much to Raise Freelance Rates: Inflation and Wage Data Since 2019
Prices rose 30.6% and private wages 31.0% from 2019 to 2026 (BLS). See how far behind an unchanged rate is, build your increase from your own costs, and propose it.
How to Protect Your Profit Margin from Scope Creep
Scope creep is where freelance profit goes to die. How to spot it early, word your quotes to prevent it, and reprice gracefully.
Per-Word, Per-Hour, Per-Project: Converting Freelance Writing Rates
Convert freelance writing rates between per-word, per-hour, and per-project — with worked numbers, a writing-speed table, and when to refuse per-word.
Rush Fee Calculator: How Much Should a Freelancer Charge?
Calculate a freelance rush surcharge, subtract displaced-work cost, compare effective hourly rates, and copy a clear expedite clause for your quote.
What Employee Pay Implies for Freelance Rates: 25 Occupations
BLS median wages for 25 occupations, converted to an employee-equivalent freelance rate with a 2.48 multiplier from employer costs and 1,200 billable hours.
Invoices and getting paid
What an invoice needs and how to number it, state and city laws on written contracts and 30-day payment, deposits, and following up on late payments.
Freelance Payment Laws by State and City: Written Contracts and 30-Day Pay Rules
Which states and cities require written freelance contracts and payment within 30 days: New York, Illinois, California, NYC, Los Angeles, Seattle, Minneapolis and Columbus.
How to Chase a Late Invoice Without Burning the Relationship
A calm, escalating sequence for chasing overdue freelance invoices — including the exact emails to send at 1, 7 and 30 days late.
What to Put on a Freelance Invoice (With a Worked Example)
Exactly what every freelance invoice needs, what is optional, and a worked example — with scope, payment terms and tax limitations explained.
Running a one-person business
Paying yourself, smoothing irregular income, separating accounts and keeping books you can file from.
A 15-Minute Weekly Bookkeeping Routine for Freelancers
A dead-simple weekly money routine that keeps you organised and makes tax time painless — no accounting background needed.
Irregular Freelance Income: What the Data Shows and How to Pay Yourself a Steady Amount
58% of self-employed adults have income that varies month to month (Federal Reserve, 2025). Size a cash reserve from dated receipts and set an owner transfer you can sustain.
The Hidden Costs of Freelancing You Must Price In
The costs new freelancers forget — and that quietly turn a "good" rate into barely breaking even. A specific, itemised reality check.
Sources are linked on each page. Read how we research, cite and correct our guides.