46 guides · every one paired with a free calculator

Articles & Guides

The math behind freelancing and selling — fees, rates, cash flow, and pricing — explained with real numbers and a calculator at the end of each one. Estimates only; not financial or tax advice.

Latest

Marketplace Fees · 5 minHow Much Does eBay Take From a $100 Sale? (Real Fee Breakdown 2026)How much does eBay take from a $100 sale? Final-value fee is 13.25% + $0.30 per order = $13.55. With $10 shipping, total fees hit $14.88. See the full breakdown. Marketplace Fees · 5 mineBay Charges Final Value Fee on Sales Tax You Never Keep (2026 Update)eBay final value fee on sales tax: eBay collects tax for you but still charges 13.25% FVF on it. On a $100 item with 8% tax, that $8 you never keep costs you $1.06. Marketplace Fees · 7 mineBay's New 'Any-Click' Promoted Listings Fee: What Changed in January 2026eBay switched Promoted Listings Standard from last-click to any-click attribution on Jan 13, 2026. Now any purchase within 30 days of an ad click triggers the fee. Here's what that means for your margins. Marketplace Fees · 7 mineBay Trading Card Fees in 2026: 13.25% + What Most Sellers MissTrading cards on eBay fall under Collectibles at 13.25% + $0.30/order. But cards over $250 trigger Authenticity Guarantee, and thin-margin flips need tight fee math. Worked examples inside. Marketplace Fees · 5 minHow Much Does Etsy Take From a $25 Digital Download?Break down Etsy listing, transaction, and processing fees on a $25 digital item — then estimate your real take-home with a free calculator. Marketplace Fees · 6 minHow Much Does eBay Take When You Offer Free Shipping?See how eBay final-value fees apply to sale price plus shipping when you offer free shipping — with a worked $45 example and free calculator.

Marketplace Fees 13

Marketplace Fees · 5 minYes, eBay Charges Fees on Shipping — Here's How Much It Actually Costs YouDoes eBay charge fees on shipping cost? Yes. The 13.25% final-value fee applies to item price + shipping. On $40 + $8 shipping, that extra $8 costs you $1.06 in fees. Marketplace Fees · 5 minHow Much Does eBay Take From a $100 Sale? (Real Fee Breakdown 2026)How much does eBay take from a $100 sale? Final-value fee is 13.25% + $0.30 per order = $13.55. With $10 shipping, total fees hit $14.88. See the full breakdown. Marketplace Fees · 5 mineBay Charges Final Value Fee on Sales Tax You Never Keep (2026 Update)eBay final value fee on sales tax: eBay collects tax for you but still charges 13.25% FVF on it. On a $100 item with 8% tax, that $8 you never keep costs you $1.06. Marketplace Fees · 7 mineBay's New 'Any-Click' Promoted Listings Fee: What Changed in January 2026eBay switched Promoted Listings Standard from last-click to any-click attribution on Jan 13, 2026. Now any purchase within 30 days of an ad click triggers the fee. Here's what that means for your margins. Marketplace Fees · 7 mineBay Trading Card Fees in 2026: 13.25% + What Most Sellers MissTrading cards on eBay fall under Collectibles at 13.25% + $0.30/order. But cards over $250 trigger Authenticity Guarantee, and thin-margin flips need tight fee math. Worked examples inside. Marketplace Fees · 5 minHow Much Does Etsy Take From a $25 Digital Download?Break down Etsy listing, transaction, and processing fees on a $25 digital item — then estimate your real take-home with a free calculator. Marketplace Fees · 6 minHow Much Does eBay Take When You Offer Free Shipping?See how eBay final-value fees apply to sale price plus shipping when you offer free shipping — with a worked $45 example and free calculator. Marketplace Fees · 5 minAmazon Referral Fees ExplainedUnderstand Amazon category referral fees and estimate payout. FBA intentionally excluded until separately verified. Marketplace Fees · 5 mineBay vs Etsy vs Mercari Fees ComparedCompare eBay, Etsy, and Mercari seller fees on the same sale price, shipping, and cost. Free side-by-side calculator. Marketplace Fees · 5 minHow Much Does eBay Take From a Sale?Estimate eBay final-value and per-order fees, then see net profit before you list. Free calculator, verified fee table, nothing uploaded. Marketplace Fees · 5 minHow Much Does Etsy Take From Sellers?Break down Etsy listing, transaction, and payment-processing fees, then estimate take-home with a free browser calculator. Marketplace Fees · 5 minMercari Seller Fees: What You KeepEstimate Mercari seller fees and net payout before you list. Free calculator with a verified seller fee table. Marketplace Fees · 5 minStripe vs PayPal vs Square Fees ComparedCompare Stripe, PayPal, and Square processing fees on one invoice amount. Free calculator with verified published rates.

Pricing & Productivity 18

Pricing & Productivity · 6 minWhat Scope Creep Actually Costs on a $3,000 Fixed-Fee ProjectSee how 10 extra unpaid hours on a fixed-fee project crush your effective hourly rate — with real math and a free scope creep calculator. Pricing & Productivity · 5 minAgency Markup on Contractors ExplainedBuild billable rates from direct cost, overhead, and profit markup on pass-through work. Pricing & Productivity · 5 minHow to Calculate Billable Hours and UtilizationMeasure billable vs total hours, utilization %, and effective hourly rate. Free browser calculator. Pricing & Productivity · 5 minThe Cost of Scope Creep on Fixed FeesSee how unbilled extra hours crush your effective rate on a fixed-fee project. Free calculator. Pricing & Productivity · 5 minCost-Plus Pricing ExplainedSet a selling price from costs plus a target margin on price. Free cost-plus calculator. Pricing & Productivity · 5 minFreelance Capacity PlanningCompare weekly max hours to client commitments and see utilization before you say yes. Pricing & Productivity · 5 minFreelance Day Rate Calculator ExplainedConvert an hourly rate into day, half-day, and weekly rates. Free browser calculator. Pricing & Productivity · 5 minHow Much Does a Meeting Cost?Estimate the loaded cost of a meeting from attendees, hourly rate, and duration. Free calculator. Pricing & Productivity · 5 minHow to Price a Freelance ProjectPrice a fixed-scope project from hours, rate, complexity, buffer, and profit uplift. Free calculator. Pricing & Productivity · 5 minHow to Price a Monthly RetainerTurn committed hours and an hourly rate into a monthly retainer with optional discount. Pricing & Productivity · 5 minHow to Set Consulting FeesBuild consulting fees from salary, benefits, overhead, and profit multiplier. Compare to the 3x rule. Pricing & Productivity · 5 minInvoice Late Fee Calculator ExplainedEstimate simple-interest or flat late fees on overdue invoices. Educational math; confirm contract and local law. Pricing & Productivity · 5 minNet 30 Cash Flow Impact ExplainedSee how Net 30 and longer payment terms tie up cash from monthly invoicing. Free browser calculator. Pricing & Productivity · 5 minShould You Raise Your Freelance Rate?Model the income impact of a rate increase and how many clients you could lose and still break even. Pricing & Productivity · 5 minTime to Money: Break-Even ExplainedLearn how long an upfront investment takes to pay back from net monthly income. Free break-even calculator. Pricing & Productivity · 5 minValue-Based Pricing for FreelancersAnchor your fee to client value captured, not just hours. Free value-based pricing calculator. Pricing & Productivity · 5 minHow to Calculate Your Freelance Hourly RateTurn salary goals, business expenses, and realistic billable hours into a sustainable freelance hourly rate. Free calculator. Pricing & Productivity · 5 minProfit Margin vs Markup (With Examples)Learn why profit margin and markup are different percentages. Convert cost and price instantly with a free calculator.

Shipping & Travel 2

Shipping & Travel · 5 minGSA Per Diem Explained (CONUS Lodging + M&IE)GSA CONUS per diem by ZIP or city: seasonal lodging, M&IE tiers, and 75% first/last travel days. Free browser calculator. Shipping & Travel · 5 minUSPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Box PricesCompare USPS flat-rate envelope and box prices: online commercial vs Post Office retail. Verified lookup, nothing uploaded.

Personal Finance 10

Personal Finance · 5 minThe 50/30/20 Budget Rule ExplainedSplit take-home income into needs, wants, and savings with a free 50/30/20 calculator. Personal Finance · 5 minHow to Budget Irregular IncomeUse percentile baselines and spending tiers when monthly income swings. Free planner. Personal Finance · 5 minHow to Calculate Business RunwayEstimate how many months cash lasts at your net burn rate. Free business runway calculator. Personal Finance · 5 minDebt Snowball vs Avalanche (With a Calculator)Compare snowball and avalanche payoff plans: months, interest, and which method fits your motivation. Personal Finance · 5 minFIRE Number and the 4% Rule ExplainedEstimate your financial independence number and timeline with a free FIRE calculator. Personal Finance · 5 minIncome Smoothing for FreelancersTurn lumpy freelance income into a steadier monthly paycheck with a buffer. Free calculator. Personal Finance · 5 minHow Much Emergency Fund Do You Need?Size a 6-month emergency fund target and see if your savings plan is on track. Free calculator. Personal Finance · 5 minHow to Calculate Net WorthAssets minus liabilities, plus debt-to-asset ratio. Free net worth calculator in your browser. Personal Finance · 5 minSavings Goal: Monthly Contribution ExplainedFind the monthly contribution to hit a savings goal on your timeline. Free calculator. Personal Finance · 5 minWhat Are Sinking Funds? (And How to Fund Them)Set aside monthly amounts for known future expenses with a free sinking funds planner.

Generators 3

Generators · 5 minFree Invoice Generator (No Sign-Up)Create invoices with live preview and save PDF via browser print. Qty × rate lines, discount, tax. Nothing uploaded. Generators · 5 minFree Freelance Quote GeneratorBuild quotes with fixed scope line prices, tax, and deposit %. Live preview, print-to-PDF, no sign-up. Generators · 5 minFreelance Rate Card Template (Free)One-page service rate card with live preview. Save PDF via browser print. Free, no account.