Margins, break-even, loan payments, fees and the true cost of hiring.
This section covers the calculations that decide whether a business makes money: how to price a product, how many sales you need to cover your costs, what a loan really costs per month, what payment processors take from each sale, and what an employee or contractor costs beyond the paycheck.
Each guide explains the formula in plain English, walks through a worked example with the arithmetic shown, and points out where the simple version of the math breaks down. The numbers in examples are illustrative so you can follow the logic; your own figures will differ, so replace them with quotes, invoices and statements from your business.
If you are comparing options, start with the guide closest to your decision and then open the matching calculator. The compare page puts the main types of small business financing and payment options side by side. None of this replaces advice from a CPA, attorney or lender who can see your full situation, but it will help you ask better questions and spot numbers that do not add up.
Costs, Pricing and Comparisons
Compare the true cost of an independent contractor and an employee with a break-even hours example, the IRS classification factors and the penalties for getting it wrong.
Costs, Pricing and Comparisons
Step-by-step break-even formulas in units and dollars, with worked examples, a sensitivity table and the costs owners most often leave out of the calculation.
Costs, Pricing and Comparisons
Understand the loan payment formula, the difference between interest rate and APR, how fees and term change total cost, and how to compare offers with a worked example.
Costs, Pricing and Comparisons
Work out the true annual cost of an employee with payroll taxes, unemployment insurance, workers' comp, benefits and overhead, using a worked example and checklist.
Costs, Pricing and Comparisons
Learn how card processing fees are built, how to calculate your effective rate from a statement and how flat-rate, interchange-plus and tiered pricing compare.
Costs, Pricing and Comparisons
Learn the difference between margin and markup, the formulas for each, a conversion table and how to set a price that actually delivers your target profit.
Costs, Pricing and Comparisons
A practical map of the business calculators worth using, what each one answers, the inputs it needs and the mistakes that make results misleading.
