GUIDES

Guides for independent workers

Plain-English explainers on platform fees, payouts, tax and pricing for freelancers, Etsy sellers and creators in the US and UK.

Platform fees

Upwork fees in 2026: what you actually keep

The variable 0 to 15% service fee, Connects, withdrawal costs and a pricing formula so a job pays what you planned.

By Anas · Oct 11, 2026 · 4 min read

Platform fees

Upwork vs Fiverr fees in 2026: which leaves you more?

What you keep on jobs from $100 to $5,000 on Upwork at 5, 10 and 15% and on Fiverr at 20%, plus what a realistic month looks like on each.

By Anas · Oct 22, 2026 · 6 min read

Platform fees

What Upwork Connects really cost you

Connects are $0.15 each, but your time costs far more. Cost per win, break-even contract sizes and how to track your own numbers.

By Anas · Oct 22, 2026 · 6 min read

Etsy

Etsy fees in 2026: US, UK, EU and Canada compared

Listing, transaction, processing and regulatory fees, VAT, Offsite Ads and the June 2026 changes, explained country by country.

By Anas · Oct 11, 2026 · 4 min read

Etsy

Etsy regulatory operating fee explained

Which countries pay it, what changed on June 22, 2026, and what the change costs a seller per order and per year.

By Anas · Oct 16, 2026 · 3 min read

Etsy

Etsy fees by country: the same sale in seven places

One 40-unit order compared in the US, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain, with VAT included, and what to do about the gap.

By Anas · Oct 22, 2026 · 5 min read

Etsy

How to price Etsy products after fees

A simple formula that works backward from the profit you want, with US and UK examples including VAT and Offsite Ads.

By Anas · Oct 18, 2026 · 3 min read

Tax and money

How creator and freelance income is taxed in the US and UK

Self-employment tax, income tax, National Insurance, deadlines and how much to set aside as payouts arrive.

By Anas · Oct 11, 2026 · 3 min read

Tax and money

US quarterly estimated taxes for freelancers (2026)

Due dates, safe harbor rules and worked examples at four income levels, plus a sample year with uneven income.

By Anas · Oct 22, 2026 · 6 min read

Tax and money

Freelance expenses you can deduct in the US and UK

A practical checklist of common deductions, what usually isn't allowed, and the records worth keeping.

By Anas · Oct 22, 2026 · 6 min read

Pricing and growth

How to set your freelance rate, step by step

A seven-step method that covers expenses, unbillable time, platform fees and tax.

By Anas · Oct 11, 2026 · 2 min read

Pricing and growth

How to raise your freelance rates without losing clients

The break-even maths on a rate rise, when to do it, what to say, and how to handle pushback.

By Anas · Oct 22, 2026 · 6 min read