Business finance, in real numbers
Rates, fees and the true cost of money for freelancers and small businesses. General information, never personal financial or tax advice.
Latest guides
Business financeSelf-Employment Tax Explained (2026 Rates)
Self-employment tax is 15.3% on 92.35% of net profit, with a $184,500 Social Security cap for 2026. Who pays, how to calculate it, worked examples.
Business financeBusiness Line of Credit: Costs and Requirements
Business line of credit costs compared: SBA lines capped at 10–13.5%, Bluevine from 7.8%, OnDeck averaging 59.8% APR. Requirements and fees. Oct 2026.
Business financeEIN for a New Business: Do You Need One?
What an EIN (federal tax ID) is, who needs one, and how to get it free from the IRS in minutes, plus the paid 'EIN service' trap. Checked Oct 2026.
Business financeHow to Set Your Freelance Hourly Rate (2026)
Why salary ÷ 2,080 undercharges, and the simple formula for a freelance hourly rate that covers taxes, overhead and unbilled hours. Free calculator.
More guides in progress
Finance guides follow stricter sourcing rules (IRS, SBA and lender disclosures) and take longer to check.
- Quarterly estimated taxes
- Merchant cash advance: the real price
- Business credit cards compared
Every page will carry a price range, what moves it, where the numbers came from and the date they were checked. See how we price.