Small Business Calculators & Startup Tools
Essential calculators for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small business owners. From business loans and cash flow to freelancer finances and startup costs - tools to grow your business.
Business Calculators
Freelancer Financial Calculator
Master your freelance finances
Calculate your true freelance income after taxes, expenses, and irregular income patterns. Set profitable hourly rates and plan for quarterly taxes.
Freelancer Retirement Gap
Don't fall behind on retirement
Calculate how much to save for retirement when you don't have an employer 401k match. Plan your SEP-IRA or Solo 401k contributions.
Side Hustle ROI Calculator
Is your side business worth it?
Calculate the true profitability of your side hustle after taxes, time investment, and expenses. Decide if it's worth scaling up.
Which Business Calculator Should I Use?
| Calculator | Best For | Time | Complexity | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer Financial Calculator | Freelance income planning | 5 min | Medium | Tax & rate calculation |
| Freelancer Retirement Gap | Self-employed retirement | 4 min | Easy | SEP-IRA & Solo 401k |
| Side Hustle ROI | Side business validation | 3 min | Easy | ROI & profitability |
Find Your Perfect Calculator
💼 Freelancer or Independent Contractor?
→ Use Freelancer Financial Calculator
- • Best for: Income planning and tax estimation
- • Calculates: True take-home pay after taxes and expenses
- • Includes: Quarterly tax planning and rate setting
🎯 Self-Employed Without Employer Retirement Plan?
→ Use Freelancer Retirement Gap
- • Best for: Retirement planning without employer match
- • Calculates: How much to save in SEP-IRA or Solo 401k
- • Shows: Retirement savings gap vs. traditional employees
🚀 Running a Side Business?
→ Use Side Hustle ROI Calculator
- • Best for: Validating side business profitability
- • Calculates: True ROI after time and money costs
- • Compares: Side hustle vs. traditional part-time work
🤔 Not Sure Where to Start?
Start with Freelancer Financial Calculator to understand your business finances, then use specialized calculators as needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Business Financing
Q: How much can I borrow for my business?
A: Depends on revenue, credit, collateral. SBA loans up to $5M. Use our Business Loan Calculator for estimates.
Q: What is an SBA loan?
A: Small Business Administration guaranteed loan. Lower rates, longer terms, easier qualification than conventional. Use our SBA Calculator.
Q: Should I finance equipment or pay cash?
A: Financing preserves cash flow for operations. If interest rate is low and equipment generates revenue, financing often makes sense. Compare total costs with our Equipment Loan Calculator.
Freelancer Questions
Q: How do freelancers calculate retirement savings?
A: No employer 401k match, so must save 15-20% yourself. Use our Freelancer Retirement Gap tool to plan.
Q: What hourly rate should I charge as a freelancer?
A: Account for taxes (25-30%), benefits, unbillable time, and business expenses. A $100k salary employee equivalent needs roughly $75-100/hour freelance rate. Use our Freelancer Financial Calculator.
Q: Do freelancers pay quarterly taxes?
A: Yes, if you expect to owe $1,000+ in taxes. Pay estimated taxes quarterly to avoid penalties. Our Freelancer Financial Calculator helps estimate quarterly payments.
Startup Questions
Q: What is a break-even point?
A: When total revenue equals total costs - you're no longer losing money but not yet profitable. Critical milestone for startups.
Q: How much runway does my startup need?
A: Typically 12-18 months. Runway is how long your startup can operate before running out of money. Calculate burn rate (monthly cash outflow) to determine runway.
Key Small Business Statistics
Business Financing Stats
- • Small businesses in the US: 33.2 million
- • Average SBA loan amount: $417,000
- • SBA loan approval rate: ~50%
- • Average business loan rate: 6-9%
- • Equipment loan typical term: 3-7 years
Freelancer Stats
- • US freelancers: 73.3 million (36% of workforce)
- • Average freelancer income: $67,169/year
- • Freelancer self-employment tax: 15.3%
- • Solo 401k contribution limit: $69,000 (2024)
- • SEP-IRA contribution limit: 25% of net income
Start Planning Your Business Finances Today
Choose the calculator that fits your situation: