💸 The 15.3% Monster: How to Beat the Self-Employment Tax

Level 101: The Invisible Game of Taxes 

Level 201: The 15.3% Monster: How to Beat the Self-Employment Tax

Level 202: The Hidden Architecture of Wealth: Entity Layering

Level 301: Earn vs Grow: The Hidden Tax on Investment Income

Level 302: The Angel Investor’s Edge

Level 303: The Real Estate Loophole

Level 401: The Tax Game by Net Worth: How the Wealthy Evolve Their Defense

Endurance Portfolio

Most solopreneurs don’t realize they’re losing 15.3% of their profit before they even start investing.

That’s the self-employment tax — the hidden “payroll tax” you pay when you work for yourself.
In other words, you’re both the employer and the employee.

Let’s fix that.

🧾 Meet the 15.3% Monster

If you make $100K as an independent contractor, you owe about $15,300 in self-employment tax.

Breakdown:
↳ 12.4% for Social Security (up to ~$168,600 of income)
↳ 2.9% for Medicare
↳ +0.9% extra Medicare tax over $200K

Employees only pay half (7.65%) because their company pays the other half.
But when you’re self-employed? You’re on the hook for both sides.

That’s why this monster quietly eats so many freelancers’ profits.

🧱 Step 1: Change the Game (Elect an S-Corp)

If your business nets $40K+ per year, you’re ready for a new structure.

Instead of paying 15.3% on every dollar as a sole proprietor, you can