Tips for freelancers & small businesses
Practical guides on tax, invoicing, pricing and running your business more efficiently.
Should you charge less if you use AI?
If AI makes you faster and you bill by the hour, you earn less for the same result. Why the answer is to change how you price, not what you charge.
How much does Fiverr take? Seller and buyer fees
Fiverr keeps 20% of every order and charges buyers 5.5% plus $3.50 under $200. What you keep, what clients pay, and the $200 price point where a cheaper gig costs more.
How much does Upwork cost for clients?
Upwork charges clients 5% plus a contract initiation fee — and the pricier plan is occasionally the cheaper one.
PayPal vs Stripe fees: which actually costs less?
It depends on how the client pays: a card-paid PayPal invoice beats Stripe Invoicing, one paid from a PayPal account doesn't. Here's every route.
PayPal business account fees: what you actually pay
A business account doesn't have one fee, it has several. Which rate applies depends entirely on how the money reached you.
Is the VAT flat rate scheme actually worth it?
It looks like free money for freelancers. Since 2017 the limited cost trader rule at 16.5% means it often isn't. Here's how to tell which side you're on.
How much does an employee actually cost?
An employee costs 1.25 to 1.4 times their salary once employer taxes, benefits and overhead are counted. Here's where the extra money actually goes.
How much does Stripe actually take from sellers?
Stripe's US base rate is 2.9% + $0.30, but international cards, currency conversion, and manual entry each stack extra fees on top.
How much does PayPal actually take from sellers?
PayPal takes a flat 2.99% on Goods & Services payments, but invoices and checkout work differently. Here's what you actually keep, and how to pay less.
How much does Upwork actually take from freelancers?
Upwork's freelancer fee is now 0-15% and varies per contract, so you won't know your rate until you accept. Here's what you actually keep.
JSON vs CSV: which should you use for your business data?
JSON and CSV aren't interchangeable. Here's when to use each one for exporting or sharing business data, and why the wrong pick costs you time.
How much should you raise your freelance rates?
Most freelancers raise rates by 10-25%, but rarely explain why. Here's how much to raise yours, when to do it, and how to tell clients.
WCAG contrast ratio checker: what the numbers actually mean
WCAG doesn't round, and "large text" has an exact legal size. Here's what 4.5:1 and 7:1 really mean, and what most sites get wrong.
HSL color picker: what it is and how to use one
HSL might look intimidating at first, but it's actually the easiest color format to reason about. Here's what hue, saturation, and lightness control, and how to use them well.
How to create a QR code for your business
QR codes are one of the easiest ways to connect print to digital. Here's how to create one, where to place it, and what to actually link it to.
How to calculate loan payments (and what the numbers mean)
The monthly payment is just one number. Here is the formula for calculating loan payments, what changes when the variables shift, and what to check before you sign.
How to write a professional email signature
Your email signature appears on every email you send. Here's what to include, what to cut, and what a well-put-together signature actually looks like.
How to add VAT to a price (and how to remove it)
Adding VAT is a one-step calculation. Removing it from a VAT-inclusive total takes one more. Both formulas explained with worked examples.
How to create a strong password (and actually remember it)
Most passwords are one data breach away from disaster. Here is how to build passwords that are genuinely hard to crack without needing to memorise gibberish.
Break-even analysis: how to know if your business idea will work
Before you launch a product or service, you need to know how many units you have to sell before you make a single cent of profit. Here is how to run the numbers.
Profit margin vs markup: what is the difference and why it matters
Most small business owners confuse margin and markup, which leads to systematic underpricing. Here is how to tell the two apart and price your products correctly.
How to write a professional invoice that gets paid faster
A well-structured invoice reduces payment delays. Learn what to include, how to set clear payment terms, and what to do when a client is late.
How to calculate freelance taxes: a step-by-step guide
Self-employment tax catches many new freelancers off guard. Here is exactly what you owe, when you owe it, and how to set aside the right amount from every payment.