The Best Business Entity Comparison Tool for Self-Employed — Sole Prop vs LLC vs S-Corp vs C-Corp
Most LLC vs S-Corp calculators only compare two entities and show a single number. This one computes tax liability under all four structures simultaneously — sole prop, LLC, S-Corp, and C-Corp — for your actual net SE income, shows the §199A QBI deduction that reduces federal tax for pass-through entities, tells you the exact break-even income where S-Corp election saves money, and uses ShowMath with IRC citations at every step.
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Sole Prop vs LLC vs S-Corp: the biggest financial decision a new contractor faces. See SE tax burden, formation cost, complexity, and exact savings side-by-side — with the break-even threshold for your situation.
- ✗Only two entities compared — most tools compare sole prop vs S-Corp, leaving out LLC (which is taxed identically to sole prop by default — a critical distinction many new business owners miss) and C-Corp (which matters once retained earnings and investor funding become relevant). The full picture requires all four.
- ✗§199A QBI deduction missing — the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 created a 20% pass-through deduction for qualified business income (§199A) that applies to sole props, LLCs, and S-Corps — NOT C-Corps. Most calculators don't include this, which overstates the tax burden by 3–6 percentage points for most self-employed people.
- ✗S-Corp salary not modeled — the S-Corp advantage entirely depends on the salary/distribution split. A $60k salary on $150k of income saves much more than a $120k salary on $150k of income. Most tools use a fixed formula (40% or 50%) without letting you test your own. The IRS 'reasonable compensation' requirement makes this the most important variable.
- ✗No break-even calculation — saying 'S-Corp saves money' is meaningless without the threshold. The break-even depends on your compliance costs, state filing fees, and payroll overhead. It's typically around $40,000–50,000 of net income, but that varies. The formula and your specific number should be shown.
- ✗No compliance cost or liability protection comparison — tax savings aren't the whole picture. S-Corps require payroll processing, quarterly deposits, an extra tax return (Form 1120-S), and typically cost $1,500–$3,500/yr more than a sole prop in CPA fees. C-Corps are more. This total cost of entity changes the ROI calculation.
Sole Prop (Schedule C), LLC (treated as disregarded entity — same as sole prop federally), S-Corp (W-2 salary + pass-through distribution split), and C-Corp (21% corporate tax on retained earnings + personal income tax on salary). Each shows: SE/payroll tax, §199A QBI deduction, federal income tax, total tax burden, take-home, effective tax rate, and estimated compliance cost.
The most commonly missed deduction in entity comparisons. Sole props, LLC members, and S-Corp shareholders can deduct 20% of qualified business income before calculating federal income tax (IRC §199A, phaseout at $182k/$364k). C-Corps do not qualify. This is shown explicitly in the ShowMath calculation.
The exact net income level where S-Corp election saves more than it costs. Formula: compliance cost premium / SE tax savings rate per dollar of distribution. Shown as a dollar figure for your specific salary assumption. Typically $40k–$60k, but varies by state filing fees, payroll costs, and chosen salary.
Seven calculation steps: SE tax (IRC §1401–§1402), half SE tax deduction (IRC §164(f)), §199A QBI deduction, federal income tax bracket calculation, S-Corp salary/distribution split, break-even formula, and C-Corp double taxation (IRC §11). Every formula shown. Every citation linked.
| Feature | Typical Calculator | Reise Tools |
|---|---|---|
| All four entities compared (Sole Prop, LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp) | ||
| §199A QBI deduction (20%) applied to pass-through entities | ||
| S-Corp salary/distribution split input | ||
| S-Corp break-even income calculated | ||
| Compliance cost estimate for each entity | ||
| Liability protection comparison shown | ||
| Federal income tax calculated from brackets | ||
| SE tax correctly calculated (SS wage base cap) | ||
| ShowMath with IRC §199A, §1401, §11, §1361 citations | ||
| Free with no account required |
Every Reise calculator has a ShowMath panel — expand it and you see the exact formula with your actual numbers substituted in. Not a result. Not a black box. The full derivation, step by step.
The S-Corp election is the most commonly discussed tax strategy for self-employed people — and the most commonly misunderstood. It is NOT always better than an LLC. It saves money only when (a) net income is high enough that SE tax savings exceed the compliance premium, (b) the salary is set low enough to create meaningful distributions, and (c) the IRS 'reasonable compensation' standard is met (IRS Rev. Rul. 74-44). For most people earning under $40k net, the LLC's simplicity wins. Between $40k and $80k, S-Corp might save $2k–$6k/yr. Above $80k, the S-Corp almost always wins. Use this calculator to find your exact crossover.
Calculate your exact self-employment tax using the IRS formula. Shows SE tax (SS + Medicare), the half-SE deduction, 2024 federal income tax brackets, effective rate, take-home pay, and quarterly estimated payment.
Calculate the exact quarterly estimated tax payment to avoid the IRS underpayment penalty. Computes both safe harbor methods — 100%/110% of prior year tax vs 90% of current year — recommends the lower one, and shows your per-quarter payment schedule.
Side-by-side comparison of SEP-IRA, Solo 401(k), SIMPLE IRA, and Traditional IRA for 1099 workers. Enter your net SE income to see max contribution, immediate tax savings, projected balance at retirement, and monthly income at 4% withdrawal — for all four accounts simultaneously.
100+ free calculators. Every result shows the formula. No account required.
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