Business guides · United States
Business guides for independent contractors in the US.
For 1099 workers, sole proprietors and contractors: invoicing, self-employment tax, Schedule C, the IRS mileage deduction, and the licensing and sales tax rules that change from state to state.
- 1099 worker
- independent contractor
- sole proprietor
- IRS
- Schedule C
- mileage deduction
- sales tax
Start here.
The guides most people working for themselves in United States need first.
- North Carolina Sales Tax for Contractors: When Labor Is TaxableNorth Carolina
- Should You Connect Your Bank Account to a Finance App? A 1099 Worker's Guide
- 2026 IRS Mileage Rate: 72.5¢ (Jan–June) and 76¢ (July–Dec) Explained
- Arizona Contractor Insurance Requirements: Workers' Comp and BondsArizona
- Arizona Contractor License Requirements: $1,000 Rule and How to ApplyArizona
- Arizona Sales Tax for Contractors: How Prime Contracting TPT WorksArizona
Rules by state.
Licensing, insurance and sales tax on your work — where the state changes the answer.
Arizona
California
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Texas
Washington
Guides by topic.
Written for United States first. Guides marked any market apply wherever you work.
Start your business
Registration, licences, insurance and the first-week list — the rules that apply where you work.
- Do I Need an LLC to Freelance?US
- How to Start Freelancing in 2026: A Step-by-Step ChecklistUS
- A Sole Proprietor Workflow That Tells the TruthUS
Price & quote work
Building a number from your own costs, and putting it in front of the customer.
- How Much to Charge for Appliance Repair: Diagnose, Parts, LaborUS
- How Much to Charge for Auto Detailing (2026): Size Class + Bay HoursUS
- How Much to Charge for Concrete, by the Yard and Square FootUS
- How Much to Charge for Drywall: Build the Number From CostUS
- How Much to Charge for Electrical: Devices, Circuits, AccessUS
- How Much to Charge for Fence Installation, Per Foot and GateUS
- How Much Should I Charge to Paint a Bedroom?any market
- How Much to Charge for Junk Removal: Per Load, Per Ton, Per Hourany market
- How Much to Charge for Pest Control: Initial vs. Recurringany market
- How Much to Charge for Roofing: Squares, Slope, and Costany market
Jobs & customers
When the job changes, the estimate was too low, or the customer needs a conversation.
- Auto Detailing Estimate Came In Too Low? What to DoUS
- Gutter Installation Estimate Came In Too Low: It Is the DropsUS
- The HVAC Estimate Came In Too Low: What to Do Mid-ChangeoutUS
- The Lawn Care Estimate Came In Too Low: Fix It by Week ThreeUS
- The Roofing Estimate Came In Too Low: What to Do Mid-Tear-OffUS
- Appliance Repair Estimate Came In Too Low: What to Do Nextany market
- Concrete Estimate Came In Too Low: Yards, Base, and Finishany market
- Drywall Estimate Came In Too Low: Level, Area, Change Orderany market
- Fence Installation Estimate Came In Too Low: Posts and Gradeany market
Invoices & getting paid
What goes on the invoice, deposits, payment terms, and what to do when it is late.
- Invoice vs Receipt: What's the Difference (and When to Use Each)?US
- Appliance Repair Customer Won't Pay: Leverage Is PossessionUS
- Auto Detailing Invoice Example: Every Line, and Why It Is ThereUS
- Can a Concrete Contractor Charge a Deposit? Size It in YardsUS
- Can a Lawn Care Operator Charge a Deposit? Not on MowingUS
- Concrete Invoice Example: Yards, Forms, and FinishUS
- Appliance Repair Invoice Example: Every Line Explainedany market
- Auto Detailing Customer Won't Pay: Keys, Cards, Chargebacksany market
- Can a Drywall Contractor Charge a Deposit? How and How Muchany market
- Can a Fence Contractor Charge a Deposit? What It Coversany market
Receipts & expenses
What you can deduct, what to keep, and how to keep it so it survives an audit.
- Do Sole Proprietors Need Receipts?US
- What Is a Receipt? Definition, Examples and What Counts at Tax TimeUS
- Appliance Repair Business Expenses: Parts, Van, ToolsUS
- Auto Detailing Business Expenses: Chemicals, Pads, CoatingsUS
- Concrete Business Expenses: The Ticket, Forms, and ToolsUS
- Contractor Receipt Organizer: A System That Survives the TruckUS
- How to Approve Scanned Receipts Without Guessworkany market
- Receipt Retention Guide for Solo Businessesany market
- Receipt Scanner for Freelancers That Stays Privateany market
Mileage
The rate, the log and what counts as business driving.
- 2026 IRS Mileage Rate: 72.5¢ (Jan–June) and 76¢ (July–Dec) ExplainedUS
- Is Your Commute Tax Deductible? The Rules for 1099 WorkersUS
- How to Track Mileage for Taxes: What to Log, Without Always-On GPSUS
- IRS Mileage Log Requirements 2026: Compliant Log + Free TemplateUS
- Self-Employed Mileage Deduction 2026: 72.5¢, Then 76¢ a Mile on Schedule CUS
- Standard Mileage vs Actual Expenses (2026): Which Method Is Better?US
Taxes & deductions
What you owe, when it is due, sales tax on your work, and the return itself.
- North Carolina Sales Tax for Contractors: When Labor Is TaxableNorth Carolina
- How Much Should I Set Aside for 1099 Taxes? 25%–35% of Net IncomeUS
- Schedule SE (Form 1040) Explained: Self-Employment Tax, Line by LineUS
- Self-Employed Tax Deductions: 27 Write-Offs for 1099 Workers (2026)US
- Self-Employment Tax (15.3%) for 2026: What It Is and How to Lower ItUS
- 1099 Taxes (2026): How Much You Owe, What to File and When to PayUS
- How to Manage Irregular Income Without Guessingany market
Records & bookkeeping
How long to keep records, separating money, and handing the year to your accountant.
- Business Bank Account for Freelancers: Do You Need One, and Which?US
- How Long to Keep Tax Records: The IRS 3-, 6- and 7-Year RulesUS
- Are Bank Connections Required for Bookkeeping?US
- Essential Records for Contractors That Actually MatterUS
- How to Export Records for Your AccountantUS
- How to Prepare Accountant Handoffs Without ChaosUS
- What Is an Append-Only Ledger? A Clear Answerany market
Tools & templates
Estimate and invoice templates by trade, with a free maker that runs in your browser.
- Appliance Repair Estimate Template: Diagnosis, Parts, LaborUS
- Auto Detailing Estimate Template: Size Class and PackageUS
- Drywall Estimate Template (Free) + Filled Basement ExampleUS
- Drywall Invoice Template: Sheets, Finish Level, Change OrdersUS
- Electrical Invoice Template (Free) + Filled EV Charger ExampleUS
- Gutter Installation Estimate Template: Feet and DownspoutsUS
- Appliance Repair Invoice Template: Parts, Labor, Warrantyany market
- Auto Detailing Invoice Template: Size Class, Package, Conditionany market
- Concrete Estimate Template (Free) + Filled Example: Yards and Finishany market
- Concrete Invoice Template: Yards, Forms, Finish, Jointsany market
Compare business apps
Where the alternatives fit, where they do not, and what you give up when you link a bank.
- Should You Connect Your Bank Account to a Finance App? A 1099 Worker's GuideUS
- Data Privacy for Freelancers: Protecting Your Financial RecordsUS
- A Keeper Tax Alternative for Privacy-Conscious FreelancersUS
- Everlance Alternative: Track Mileage Without Connecting Your BankUS
- Keel vs Housecall Pro: Different Tools, Different JobsUS
- Keel vs Hurdlr: Automatic Tracking or No Bank Link?US
- Does Venmo Use Plaid? Yes: How It Links Your Bank and How to Skip Itany market
- Keel vs Expensify: Expense Reports or a Solo Ledger?any market
- Keel vs FreshBooks: Subscription Books or One-Time App?any market
- Keel vs Invoice2go: On-Device Invoicing or Cloud Subscription?any market
Free tools.
Built on the 2026 IRS figures.
PDF · CSV Invoice and estimate generator Pick your trade, fill in the lines, download a PDF invoice or estimate. No account, no watermark. Open the tool → 2026 · 1099 Self-employment tax calculator Your 2026 self-employment and federal income tax, the share of every payment to set aside, and each quarterly payment. Open the tool → 76¢ / 72.5¢ · PDF · CSV Mileage calculator and log Business miles at the 2026 IRS rates (72.5¢ to June 30, 76¢ from July 1), the tax it saves, and a mileage log you can download as a PDF or CSV. Open the tool →
From reading about it to doing it.
Keel keeps your invoices, receipts, expenses and trips on your iPhone. Keel is free to use, with no invoice limit. Keel Lifetime, a one-time $249.99, adds your branding and signature, premium templates and accountant-ready exports. No subscription.