Guides

Plain-language explanations for common work, pay, and contractor calculations.

Time & Pay

How to Calculate Overtime Pay

FLSA overtime rules, formula, worked example, and state variations.

Decimal Hours Conversion Chart

Complete 1–59 minute reference table with conversion formula.

How to Read a Pay Stub

Every pay stub line explained: gross pay, FICA, withholding, YTD, and net pay.

Employer Costs

What Is Labor Burden?

Definition, components, typical rates (25–40%), and why it matters for job pricing.

How to Calculate Labor Burden

What labor burden is, what's included, how to calculate the rate, and why it matters for job pricing.

How Contractors Calculate Labor Rates

Step-by-step: from employee wage to a billable labor rate that covers burden, overhead, and profit.

Contractor Pricing

Markup vs Margin: What's the Difference?

Why 25% markup is not 25% margin — formulas, examples, and conversion table.

How to Calculate Job Profit

Job profit formula, worked example, and the difference between estimating and actual profit.

1099 vs W2 — Key Differences

How 1099 contractors and W2 employees differ on taxes, benefits, flexibility, and true cost to employers.

Independent Contractor Taxes

Self-employment tax (15.3%), quarterly payments, key deductions, and what to expect at filing.