The Money Desk
Know your numbers against businesses like yours
Reviewed Oct 28, 2026 Sources: IRS cost shares, IRS Statistics of Income, Census County Business Patterns How we verify
Not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. General information; laws vary by state. Terms of use
Profit margins by industry from IRS tax data, your break-even point, and how many employers in your industry are in your county.
What the Desk does
- TemplateIncome statement templateBuild yours in both formats and download it with formulasSEC and IRS Schedule C
- ToolBreak-even calculatorUnits and sales that cover your fixed costsIRS cost shares
- ToolProfit margin calculatorGross margin, net margin and markup vs your industryIRS Statistics of Income
- DataProfit margin by industryWhat small businesses keep, by sectorIRS Statistics of Income
- DataYour industry in your countyEmployers and jobs near youCensus County Business Patterns
The headline figure
18.3%of business receipts kept as net income by sole proprietorships.IRS Statistics of Income, tax year 2023Popular guides
Other Desks
- The Employer DeskRules, write-ups, firing and final pay
- The Hiring DeskJob posts, pay offers, interviews
- The Conversation DeskHard talks, scripts, retaliation risk
- The Performance DeskPerformance reviews, ratings, PIPs
- The Meeting DeskIcebreakers, team activities, agendas
- The Pay DeskPaychecks by state, take-home and employer cost
General information, not legal advice. Not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. This page is for general information only and isn’t legal, financial or tax advice. Laws vary by state and change; check the official source or talk to a qualified professional about your situation. Report an error