Research library
Guides that explain the numbers.
The calculators give an estimate. These guides show the sequence, assumptions, and decisions behind it, with links back to the tools.
Self-Employment Tax in 2026: What the 15.3% Really Applies To
The headline rate is 15.3%, but applying it directly to gross 1099 income produces the wrong answer. Start with business profit, then follow the Schedule SE sequence.
Read guide →Taxes · 10 minute readQuarterly Estimated Taxes for Freelancers in 2026
Estimated tax is a pay-as-you-earn system. The goal is not to predict a tax return perfectly; it is to pay enough, at the right times, to manage cash and generally avoid an underpayment penalty.
Read guide →Pricing · 8 minute readHow to Set a Freelance Rate That Covers the Whole Business
Salary divided by 2,080 is an employee wage, not a freelance price. An independent rate has to fund taxes, business costs, unpaid work, time off, risk, and eventually profit.
Read guide →Retirement · 9 minute readSolo 401(k) vs SEP IRA: 2026 Contribution Math
Both plans can receive employer contributions, but a Solo 401(k) also has an employee-deferral layer. That difference is largest at moderate profit levels and smaller once both plans approach the annual cap.
Read guide →Business structure · 10 minute readWhen Does an S-Corp Election Break Even?
An S-Corp election does not create a universal income threshold. The break-even point depends on defensible wages, payroll taxes, QBI, state fees, compliance costs, and how much profit remains after salary.
Read guide →State taxes · 11 minute readState Income Tax for Freelancers: A 2026 Planning Guide
Choosing a state is only the first step. A useful estimate must separate gross revenue, federal profit, state taxable income, the state rate schedule, local tax, credits, and payment rules.
Read guide →Deductions · 10 minute read1099 Business Deductions: A Record-First Checklist
A useful deduction list starts with what the business actually spent and why, not with a promise that every freelancer can claim the same items.
Read guide →Deductions · 9 minute readMileage Logs for 1099 Work: What to Record and Reconcile
The mileage rate performs the multiplication. The hard part is proving which trips were business trips and keeping the annual total tied to real odometer records.
Read guide →Bookkeeping · 9 minute readHow Freelancers Should Reconcile Form 1099-K to Their Books
Form 1099-K reports a payment-flow number. It is a reconciliation document, not a ready-made profit-and-loss statement and not a substitute for the books.
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