Am I Actually Making a Profit? — Sole Trader Profit Calculator

Most sole traders have a rough idea of what they're earning. But once you account for your materials, your platform fees, your postage, your phone, your subscriptions, and everything else that quietly drains your account — the real number is often very different from the one in your head.

This calculator shows you the truth, in plain English, in about five minutes.

You enter your income and your costs. It works out your monthly profit, your profit margin, your effective hourly rate — the number most sole traders have genuinely never looked at — and how much you should be setting aside for tax each month. Then it gives you a plain-English verdict on where you actually stand, and tells you exactly what to do about it.

What's inside:

• Section 1 — Income: Four income sources to fill in — products, workshops, services, other. Leave any blank that don't apply.
• Section 2 — Costs: Eleven pre-labelled expense categories covering everything from stock and postage to platform fees, insurance, mileage and subscriptions.
• Section 3 — Your time: Enter your weekly hours to find out your real hourly rate — after every cost is taken out.
• Results panel: Monthly profit, annual profit, profit margin %, effective hourly rate, annualised equivalent, and monthly tax reserve — all calculated automatically.
• Your verdict: A live plain-English verdict that updates as you type. Healthy, workable, tight, or loss — and what to do in each case.
• What to do next: Specific action guidance for every scenario, including what to do if you're in loss, how to interpret a low hourly rate, and the 25% tax reserve rule.

Built for Irish sole traders

Irish tax terminology and Revenue-aligned expense categories throughout

Tax reserve based on income tax, USC and PRSI Class S

No jargon — no finance background needed

Works in Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets

Blue cells = your numbers. Everything else calculates automatically.

How you will receive it

You will get a download link immediately after purchase — straight to your inbox and on your order confirmation page. No waiting, no shipping. The file is yours to keep and use as many times as you like.

⚠️ This calculator is a planning guide only — not financial or tax advice. Always consult a qualified accountant before filing.