The money side of working for yourself.
Straightforward answers to the questions self-employment throws at you — no jargon, no hustle, no upsell. Every tax guide is checked by a credentialed CPA, and we tell you plainly where the rules get complicated.
Taxes & set-aside
The core of self-employed money: what to set aside and when to pay it.
How much to set aside for taxes
The honest answer to the question every freelancer asks — and how to land on your own number.
Quarterly estimated taxes
Who has to pay, how the four installments work, and how to avoid the underpayment penalty.
Tax deadlines
Every date that matters for the self-employed, in one simple calendar.
1099 tax deductions
The write-offs freelancers miss most often, and how to claim them without red flags.
Gig & delivery work
Driving for the apps has its own tax quirks. Here's how to handle them.
DoorDash taxes
1099-NEC, the mileage deduction, and what to set aside as a Dasher — with a calculator.
Uber & Lyft taxes
Read your 1099-K, choose mileage vs actual expenses, and set aside the right amount.
Deductions for drivers
Phone, tolls, gear, and platform fees — the expenses gig workers can write off.
Banking, insurance & retirement
The rest of your self-employed money life, explained simply.
Business banking
The best accounts for separating business money and auto-saving for taxes.
Health insurance
How to get covered — and deduct it — when you don't have an employer plan.
Accounting software
Track income, expenses, and deductions without a bookkeeping degree.
Retirement
Solo 401(k) vs SEP-IRA — how the self-employed save and cut taxes doing it.
How our guides are made
We research from primary sources like the IRS, write in plain language, and have every tax guide reviewed by a credentialed CPA or EA before it goes live. We disclose affiliate relationships and update guides as the rules change. Read the full editorial policy.