SIMPL for Independent Consultants: retainers, invoices and taxes in one picture
Full disclosure: SIMPL is our product; we make it and sell it. This page describes what money looks like for a independent consultant, what it costs where you live using government price data, what SIMPL does and what it doesn't, and what the other apps cost, so you can decide for yourself.
A month of money, for a independent consultant
What makes it hard
- Retainers and project payments on different schedules
- Reimbursable client expenses mixed with your own
- Quarterly estimated taxes and year-end retirement funding
- Knowing what you can safely pay yourself
What this month costs where you live
An illustrative month for a independent consultant at US-average prices is about $6,910. Prices differ a lot by metro, and not evenly: rents vary far more than groceries. Each line below is scaled by the matching part of the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis's Regional Price Parities for 2024 (US average = 100). Debt payments and savings aren't scaled.
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (overall 115.6, rents 194.7): about $9,299 a month
- Monroe, MI (overall 93.5, rents 74.6): about $6,290 a month
- Monroe, LA (overall 83.6, rents 42.8): about $5,495 a month
| Line | US average | Scaled by | Your metro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent or mortgage | $2,200 | rents | $2,200 |
| Utilities and internet | $260 | utilities | $260 |
| Groceries | $650 | goods | $650 |
| Health insurance (self-paid) | $700 | services | $700 |
| Business software and equipment | $300 | services | $300 |
| Tax set-aside | $2,000 | not scaled | $2,000 |
| Self-employed retirement | $800 | not scaled | $800 |
| Month | $6,910 | $6,910 |
Illustrative amounts, not a statistic about independent consultants; your own month will differ. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by MSA (table MARPP), 2024, 387 metropolitan areas.
What SIMPL does for independent consultants
- Profit & loss. Business income against business costs, apart from personal spending.
- Schedule C and quarterly-estimate reports. Schedule C and quarterly-estimate reports.
- Cash-flow forecast. Forecast around the late payers and the gaps between retainers.
- Automatic spending categories. Separate categories for reimbursable client expenses.
$199 once · 30-day money-back guarantee
Get SIMPL — $199What SIMPL doesn't do
- SIMPL does not give financial, tax or investment advice, file your taxes, or move money for you. It records, categorises and plans.
- It tracks investment and retirement balances for your net worth; it does not trade or manage them.
- Bank connection runs through Plaid and depends on Plaid supporting your bank; you can always enter or import transactions yourself.
- SIMPL is $199 once and runs on the device you install it on. Using it on more than one device, or sharing it live with a partner, needs Cloud Sync at $4.99 a month (optional).
Independent help, free, and not us
An app records and plans; it doesn't replace real guidance. These official and nonprofit sources are worth knowing for a independent consultant:
- IRS Self-Employed Tax Center: Official guide to taxes when you work for yourself.
- IRS: estimated taxes: Who must pay quarterly estimated tax, and when.
- HealthCare.gov: Official marketplace for health coverage, including after a birth or a job change.
What the other apps cost
| App | Price | Three years |
|---|---|---|
| Quicken Simplifi | $48 a year | $144 over 3 years |
| Monarch Money | $99 a year | $297 over 3 years |
| Tiller Money | $79 a year | $237 over 3 years |
| SIMPL | $199 once | $199 |
Published prices, checked April 2026; they change. Several of these apps do things SIMPL doesn't; if one of those is what you need, the subscription may be worth it.
Questions
Is SIMPL a subscription?
No. SIMPL is $199 once, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. The only optional extra is Cloud Sync at $4.99 a month, if you want it on more than one device or shared with a partner.
Does it connect to my bank?
Yes, through Plaid, when Plaid supports your bank. You can also enter or import transactions yourself.
Is SIMPL right for every independent consultant?
Not always. If you want investment advice, bill pay or a credit score, SIMPL doesn't do those. If you only want a free spending feed, a free app may be enough. SIMPL is for people who want a real budget, goals and reports without a yearly bill.