Guides
Plain-English guides for the self-employed.
Quarterly taxes, deductions, bookkeeping habits, and the business decisions every freelancer eventually has to make. Written without the jargon.
Tax
How to estimate quarterly taxes as a freelancer
A plain-English guide to calculating, paying and surviving quarterly estimated taxes when you're self-employed in the US. Includes the safe-harbor rule.
9 min read
What business expenses can a 1099 contractor deduct?
A clear list of the expenses freelancers and 1099 contractors can actually write off in the US — what counts, what doesn't, and how to substantiate each.
10 min read
Self-employment tax, explained simply
What self-employment tax is, why freelancers pay 15.3%, how the SE deduction softens the blow, and the income thresholds that matter. Plain English.
8 min read
How much should freelancers save for taxes?
A simple percentage method for setting aside tax money as a freelancer, plus a bracket-by-bracket breakdown of what you actually owe at different incomes.
7 min read
Mileage deduction for freelancers: standard rate vs actual expense
How to deduct vehicle expenses as a self-employed person — when to use the IRS standard mileage rate, when to track actual expenses, and how to log either one.
7 min read
The home office deduction for self-employed people
Who qualifies, how to calculate it (simplified vs regular method), and the audit-proof way to claim a home office as a freelancer or self-employed worker.
8 min read
1099-NEC vs 1099-K: which one applies to you?
The difference between 1099-NEC and 1099-K forms, how they overlap, and how to avoid getting taxed twice on the same income as a freelancer.
7 min read
Quarterly estimated tax deadlines for 2026
Every IRS quarterly estimated tax deadline for the 2026 tax year, the income window each one covers, and how to never miss a payment.
5 min read
Bookkeeping
Freelancer bookkeeping basics: a beginner's guide
What freelancers actually need to track, how cash-basis books work, and the minimum-viable workflow that gets you through tax season without a CPA breakdown.
8 min read
How to organize receipts as a self-employed person
A system for keeping receipts that survives an IRS audit, fits in your phone, and doesn't require a shoebox. Covers digital storage, retention and best practices.
7 min read
How to track multiple income streams without losing your mind
A workable system for freelancers and side hustlers running more than one business — separate books, clean tax accounting and one place to see all of it.
8 min read
Business