Work out the day rate you actually need to charge to take home what you want.
For sole proprietors and small firms pricing their time. Covers vehicle costs, tools, insurance, federal and state tax, self-employment tax, sick cover and the days you're not working.
Sound familiar?
- “You're quoting off a number you picked years ago and you're not sure it still covers your costs.”
- “After tax, fuel, tools, and the days you can't bill, you don't really know what you're clearing.”
- “A competitor is charging way less and you can't tell if they're cutting their own throat or if you're the one overpriced.”
What this tool does
Takes your desired take-home, fixed costs, tax position and realistic working days per year, and calculates the minimum day rate that leaves you with that take-home after everything. Shows the gap between your current rate and what you actually need.
If you take an action based on what you read here, that action is yours. We are a guide, not an advisor, and we give this away for free.
This tool helps you get started on your job. It's a starting point, you must review and adapt the output to your specific site conditions. SiteKiln does not provide health and safety, legal, tax or financial consultancy. If your job involves complex or high-risk work, get professional advice.
What the law actually says
- •As a self-employed sole proprietor you pay self-employment tax (15.3%: 12.4% Social Security up to the $184,500 wage base for 2026, plus 2.9% Medicare) on 92.35% of your net profit, on top of federal income tax.
- •Federal income tax applies at your marginal bracket after the standard deduction and the 20% QBI deduction most trades qualify for. State income tax runs from nothing (Texas, Florida and seven others) to over 10% (California, Hawaii, New York).
- •That's why your day rate has to cover far more than your take-home: it carries the tax before you ever see the money.