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What you need to charge so a take-home goal still survives expenses and a tax sleeve. Desk hours × utilization × weeks actually billed is the denominator most quotes skip. This is not Schedule SE and not a filing — run net profit through the self-employment tax calculator after you have a rate. Optional: tip / support.
Quick answer: This calculator turns a take-home goal, monthly expenses, billable hours, utilization, unpaid weeks, and a tax sleeve you type into an hourly and day rate. The tax sleeve is not Schedule SE. Run profit through the self-employment calculator after you have a rate.
Needed billable rate
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2026 self-employment tax is still 15.3% on 92.35% of Schedule C net (SSA wage base $184,500). That is about 14.13% of net before income tax — not a frozen “30%.” Type a sleeve that includes SE + federal + state, or size the tax piece on the 1099 primer. Ordinary and necessary expenses: IRS Publication 334. Not advice.
What this means for you: the headline rate is the goal plus expenses, grossed up for the tax sleeve, spread over hours you actually bill. A high desk-hour count with low utilization still needs a higher rate. The quoted-hourly field only checks a rate you already charge.
The share of desk hours you can bill. The rest is sales, admin, and unpaid work.
No. It is a percent you type so the rate covers taxes. The self-employment calculator does the 1040-ES math.
Expenses, unpaid weeks, unbilled hours, and the tax sleeve all sit on top of the take-home goal.
Educational, not financial advice. Page updated October 24, 2026 — no tax, limit, or rate figure was changed in this review.
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WhatIfInLearing
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