Self-Employed & Freelancers

Self-Employed Pay Stub Guide: Create Your Own Pay Stubs

Why Self-Employed Individuals Need Pay Stubs

As a self-employed professional, you don't receive pay stubs from an employer. However, you still need income documentation for:

  • Apartment and rental applications
  • Mortgage and loan applications
  • Insurance enrollment
  • Government benefits verification
  • Tax planning and record-keeping

How to Create Self-Employed Pay Stubs

Step 1: Determine Your Business Structure

Your pay stub format depends on your business type:

  • Sole Proprietor — Business income is personal income
  • LLC (Single Member) — Similar to sole proprietor
  • LLC (Multi-Member) or S-Corp — Pay yourself a salary

Step 2: Calculate Your Income

For each pay period, determine:

  • Gross revenue from all clients/sources
  • Business expenses to subtract
  • Net business income (your actual earnings)

Step 3: Estimate Tax Obligations

Self-employed individuals pay:

  • Self-employment tax: 15.3% (12.4% Social Security + 2.9% Medicare)
  • Federal income tax: Based on your tax bracket
  • State income tax: Varies by state
  • Quarterly estimated taxes: Due Jan 15, Apr 15, Jun 15, Sep 15

Step 4: Generate Your Pay Stub

Use PayStub LLC to create professional pay stubs that include:

  • Your business name and information
  • Earnings breakdown
  • Estimated tax withholdings
  • Year-to-date totals

Self-Employment Tax Breakdown

TaxRate2026 Limit
Social Security12.4%$168,600
Medicare2.9%No limit
Additional Medicare0.9%Above $200,000

Best Practices

  1. Pay yourself on a regular schedule (weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly)
  2. Keep separate business and personal accounts
  3. Document every income source
  4. Save 25-30% of income for taxes
  5. Generate pay stubs each pay period for consistent records

Ready to Create Your Pay Stub?

Generate professional pay stubs with accurate tax calculations for all 50 states. Just $2.49 per stub — use code NEWUSER for your first one free.

Create Paystub Now

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