Employee → freelance: your real net
How much you really keep as a sole trader, once contributions and tax are done.
Estimate for a sole trader. In a company the calculation differs. Check current rates on urssaf.fr.
Going from employee to freelance: what really changes on your payslip
As an employee, you see your net pay land each month without thinking about employer contributions or the invisible perks (paid leave, health cover, unemployment, training). As a freelancer, all of that disappears: your net depends directly on your revenue and your costs.
As a sole trader, the calculation is simple but tricky: contributions are based on revenue, not profit. You pay even if you had heavy expenses. That's why the sole-trader status is ideal to start with low costs, and less suited when your spending climbs.
Golden rule: don't aim for the same net as your salary. To match the same real standard of living (factoring in the lost employee perks), you generally need to aim for 20 to 30% more. Once you know your target net, work out the right day rate with the day-rate calculator, and pick the right structure with the legal status quiz.
Frequently asked questions
How much do I net as a sole trader?
As a sole trader, you pay social contributions calculated as a percentage of your revenue (not your profit). What's left, after any income tax, is your net. This simulator gives you an estimate based on your type of activity.
What are the 2026 sole-trader contribution rates?
They depend on the activity: around 12.3% for the sale of goods, 21.2% for commercial services (BIC), and around 24-26% for liberal services (BNC). These rates change: check the URSSAF site and adjust the simulator.
What's flat-rate withholding?
It's an option that has you pay income tax at the same time as your contributions, at a fixed, low rate (1% to 2.2% of revenue). Worth it if you're taxable, but subject to income conditions.
Should I aim for the same net as my salary?
Aim higher. As a freelancer you lose employee perks (paid leave, limited unemployment, health cover, bonuses). A net equal to your salary is actually a drop in living standard: build in a margin.