Free Tools
Free Legal & Business Tools
8 free tools to help freelancers and small businesses calculate fees, check legal requirements, and compare options — instant results, no sign-up required.
Every tool on this page answers one specific, recurring question — the kind of thing a freelancer or small-business owner hits routinely and would otherwise spend 30 minutes Googling, reading conflicting forum answers, and still not trust the result. We built them to replace that loop with a 30-second form that produces a defensible answer grounded in actual statute text.
Calculators & Statutory Limits
Our mathematical models compile state-specific legal limits and statutory formulas into automated routines. Late-fee calculations apply interest and fee caps that respect individual state usury laws. Lease-break cost estimators factor in local landlord mitigation duties and early-termination terms. Security-deposit calculators integrate statutory deadlines (ranging from 14 to 60 days depending on the jurisdiction) and itemization requirements. Freelance rate builders compute tax, benefit, and business overhead weights to determine true self-employed margins.
Checkers & Established Legal Tests
Our analytical checkers evaluate user inputs against standard legal tests. The contractor classification checker applies the established **IRS 20-Factor test** alongside state-specific **ABC tests** (such as the *Dynamex* standard in California) to determine misclassification risks. The non-compete checker analyzes restrictive covenants against temporal (duration), geographic (radius), and scope-of-activity reasonability thresholds, matching them directly to governing state statutes that restrict or outright ban non-compete agreements.
Comparisons & Entity Formation
Deciding on business structures involves analyzing the comparative trade-offs between sole proprietorships and formal corporate entities. The entity comparison engine maps out these differences across critical vectors: personal liability exposure, pass-through taxation, administrative compliance burdens, annual filing fees, and corporate governance requirements, giving founders a clear, defensible roadmap for their legal setup.
Calculators
Crunch the numbers on fees, costs, and obligations
Calculator
Late Fee Calculator
Calculate how much you're owed in interest and penalties on unpaid invoices. Get an instant breakdown of late fees by state.
Calculator
Lease Break Cost Calculator
Estimate the cost of breaking your lease early, including penalties, potential rent liability, and security deposit risk by state.
Calculator
Freelance Rate Calculator
Calculate your ideal hourly, daily, and project rate based on your expenses, income goals, and available hours.
Calculator
Security Deposit Return Calculator
Calculate how much of your security deposit you should get back and whether your landlord's deductions are valid under your state's laws.
Checkers
Assess your situation against legal requirements
Checker
Employee vs Contractor Classifier
Determine if a work arrangement looks more like employment or independent contracting based on IRS classification factors.
Checker
Non-Compete Enforceability Checker
Assess whether your non-compete agreement is likely enforceable based on your state's laws and the agreement's terms.
Checker
IP Ownership Classifier
Determine who owns the intellectual property in your work arrangement based on your contract type, tools, and working relationship.
Comparisons
Compare options to find the right fit
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of tools are available?
Three categories: calculators (late-fee schedules, lease-break costs, security-deposit rules, freelance rates), checkers (non-compete enforceability, employee-vs-contractor classification, IP ownership), and comparisons (LLC vs sole proprietor). Each tool is designed to answer one specific question that freelancers and small-business owners hit routinely — the kind of thing you'd otherwise Google for 30 minutes and still not trust the answer.
Are the tool results legal advice?
No. The tools compute answers from rule-based logic (statute thresholds, common formulas, standard legal tests) applied to your inputs. They're designed to get you a fast, defensible baseline — not to replace an attorney's judgment on your specific facts. For high-stakes decisions (firing an employee, terminating a lease early, enforcing a non-compete), consult a licensed attorney in your state.
How accurate are the calculations?
Calculators use state-specific statute thresholds (late-fee caps, security-deposit limits, notice periods) sourced from the same research pipeline that feeds our templates. State rules are reviewed against each jurisdiction's legislative calendar. Results reflect the rule as of the last review — for anything that moved recently, verify against the current statute text before acting.
Can I save tool results?
Every tool lets you email yourself a copy of the inputs and result, so you have a record you can forward to a client, a counterparty, or an attorney. We don't retain the data on our side after the email is sent.
What if I need a tool that isn't listed?
New tools are added based on demand. If you hit a recurring question that a calculator, checker, or comparison could answer once and for all, tell us what it is — we prioritize tools that replace 30 minutes of Googling with 30 seconds of form-filling, backed by real statutes.