Profit & take-home calculator
Revenue is not what you keep. Enter your numbers to see your real take-home profit after costs and taxes — plus your true margin and effective hourly rate.
How to read this
Money flows down: revenue minus direct costs is your gross profit; minus fixed costs is your operating profit; minus a tax set-aside is your real take-home. The effective hourly rate divides that take-home by the hours you actually work — usually the most sobering and useful number on the page.
This is exactly why we publish honest earnings ranges, not headline revenue, on every business breakdown. A big top-line number can hide a thin take-home once real costs and taxes come out.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between revenue and profit?
Revenue is all the money coming in before any costs. Profit is what is left after you pay for materials, running costs, and taxes. It is completely normal for a business with high revenue to have modest take-home profit — especially in thin-margin fields like food or retail. Always plan around profit, not revenue.
What is a good profit margin for a small business?
It varies enormously by industry. Service businesses can net 40–70% because their main cost is time; food and retail often net single digits to the low teens after all costs. There is no universal "good" number — what matters is that your net margin leaves you a take-home you can actually live on for the hours you put in.
Why should I set money aside for taxes?
As a business owner, taxes are not withheld for you — you owe income and self-employment tax on your profit, usually paid quarterly. Setting aside a percentage of profit as you go (commonly 25–30%, but confirm with a tax professional for your situation) keeps a tax bill from wiping out your cash.
What does effective hourly rate tell me?
It divides your real take-home by the hours you actually work — including the unpaid admin, marketing, and travel. It is often far lower than the rate you charge, and it is the honest number for comparing a business against a job or another opportunity.
Honest estimates to help you plan, not tax or financial advice. Confirm your specific situation with a qualified professional. See our disclaimer.