Freelancer & self-employed finance
When you invoice instead of getting a paycheck, nobody does the money math for you. These calculators handle the two numbers every freelancer needs first: the rate to charge, and the tax to set aside.
Freelancer Hourly Rate Calculator
Work backward from the income you want to keep — after expenses, taxes, and non-billable hours — to the hourly rate you need to quote.
Self-Employment Tax Estimator
Estimate self-employment tax plus federal and state income tax on your freelance income, with quarterly payment amounts.
The two numbers every freelancer gets wrong
Most freelancers set their rate by looking at what others charge, then set aside for taxes by guessing — and both habits are expensive. Market rates tell you what other people charge for their cost structure, not what you need. And tax "guessing" usually means either a painful April bill or money sitting idle all year that could have been working for you.
The honest approach starts from your own numbers. First, figure out what you need to take home for the year — the number that covers your life, not just your bills. Add the real cost of running your business (software, equipment, insurance, the co-working desk, the accountant). Add taxes at a realistic rate. Then divide by the hours you'll actually bill — not the hours you'll work, which are a very different number once you account for admin, marketing, proposals, and the weeks you take off.
That's the sequence these tools walk you through: rate first, then tax. Run them in that order and you'll have the two foundations every sustainable freelance business is built on.
These calculators provide estimates for planning purposes only. They are not tax or financial advice. For decisions that affect your filings, talk to a qualified tax professional.