A Taxation Guide for New Freelancers in the USA

A TAXATION GUIDE for NEW FREELANCERS living in the USA

April means “tax time” to many people.

Many freelancers and other business owners use various bookkeeping software or accounting services to record business and personal expenses, such as Freshbooks, Zipbooks, or any of these alternatives.

My guest today is Samantha Staufenberg and she is going to discuss taxation issues for new freelancers living in the USA.

I’m also going to include an infographic for you, taken from The Freelancer Tax Guide For 2016

Take it away, Samantha! Read More

What to Do When Your Writing Business Grows Too Big for its Britches

 

What to Do When Your Freelance Writing Business Grows Too BIg for its Britches image by David Leonhardt

Today’s guest, David Leonhardt, is an entrepreneur who runs a writing agency, and he is going to share with you what you can do when YOUR freelance writing business grows too big for its britches! Pay careful attention to the many tips he provides, as they could take your business to the next level!

Now please welcome David to center stage!

What to Do When Your Writing Business Grows Too Big for its Britches

What happens when your workload grows bigger than you? You clone yourself, of course.

Due to the lack of reputable cloning facilities in this nameless hamlet where I live, many years ago I developed a different option. I opened a freelance ghostwriter agency, where I coordinate the efforts of a dozen writers.

Moving from freelancer to agency isn’t for everybody, and it doesn’t just happen without growing pains. I am happy to share my experience, and describe some of the key aspects. Read More

Start Freelancing to Change Your LIFE! (Featuring a TRUE STORY)

Start Freelancing to Change Your LIFE!

I had no idea when I started freelance writing on the side almost two years ago where it would take both my business and personal life. It’s true, I was looking to it as a way out.

My Way Out

I didn’t have it bad per say at work, I just wasn’t really passionate about what I did all day/week/month/year long as a financial adviser and support person to a large financial planning practice in my area. In fact, I had it pretty good.

I had:

  • A 10-minute drive to work
  • A decent salary (that supported our family of four)
  • Nice co-workers (that were family and treated me as the same)
  • And a whole lotta potential to grow

But it wasn’t what I wanted to be when I grew up.

Even if there was a lot of opportunity for advancement and pay. I had already spent the previous decade figuring that out.

And since I had another 30 working years or so ahead of me, I didn’t want to succumb to something I wasn’t passionate about so early.

So after I became honest with myself, I decided to buck the trend of Corporate America by starting a freelance writing side hustle instead.

And then I added virtual assistant services. And it grew – so much so that I was grossing $4,000 per month WHILE working full-time and having two toddlers at home.

Less than six months after I looked into it in the first place. And I’ve since more than quadrupled that since going full-time. In fact, in November 2015 I grossed over $18,500 from my little freelance business.

How’d I Do It?

It’s simple.

  1. I got started. And I learned a heck of a lot on the fly.
  2. I put myself out there. A lot.
  3. I asked to be hired, rather than waiting for clients to find me. (Because trust me, they won’t!)
  4. Then I started teaching what I learned. (‘Cuz, that’s the best way to start building an audience.)

Gina Horkey E-course cover

I launched 30 Days or Less to Freelance Writing Success. Read More

Can You Be a Freelance Writer and a Fiction Writer? You Bet!

Alicia Rades's image for How You Can Be a Fiction Writer and A Freelance Writer

As some of you may know, I am a freelancer who is also an author.

Alicia Rades can say the same.

That’s why I asked Alicia to share with you her story about how she became BOTH… and provide you with some inspiration so that YOU can become an author, too!

Take it away, Alicia!

This is a picture of Alicia Rades.

Alicia’s Story

When I was 12 years old, I wanted to be an author. At the time, that’s all it was—a desire, a want. I didn’t even write that much, although I was an avid reader.

Eventually, I decided that I’d never be an author. It was something only a handful of really famous, really successful people did—or so I thought.

I didn’t think about becoming an author again until I was 19, two years after I started making money freelancing. When I discovered that I could actually write for a living writing blog posts and marketing copy for clients, I figured I could take a shot at fiction writing. Besides, all my friends were doing it.

At 19, I became a fiction author, and here’s what I learned. Read More

Some Life Updates and Info about Freelancing from #freelancewriter Lorraine Reguly

 Lorraine Reguly FITSFITS Series Welcome Image

Guess what? The final instalment of the FITS series has arrived. The “Freelancer In The Spotlight” today is… me, Lorraine Reguly, the woman behind Wording Well!

I thought it would be kinda neat to feature myself, since I’ve been offline for a while (SORRY ABOUT THAT!).

It’s been about a month since I published anything, but in today’s post, I’ll tell you WHY . There are a few valid and important reasons. I’ll also reveal what it means TO ME to be a freelancer (the good AND the bad).

Plus, I’ll update you on what’s been going with me (health-wise and family-wise), as well as my plans for the next few months.

I Took Time Off For the Entire Summer!

First of all, I took a much-needed vacation this summer, as I had been blogging (basically, twice a week) for the past 2+ years without a break!

Creating your own hours is one of the perks when you’re a freelancer.

Of course, you need to take into consideration your clients’ needs first.

Fortunately for me, my clients understood that I needed a break. I haven’t really had an extended vacation for quite some time!

Unfortunately, my summer wasn’t as great as I thought it was going to be…

It had its ups and downs. On the plus side, I read A LOT of books (a luxury for me!) and I spent a lot of time at the outdoor public pool with my nephew, whom I taught to swim!

I also re-connected with one of my best friends from when I was a teenager, and spent a lot of time with her. We went to the fair together, took in a hypnotist show, and began visiting one another as well as started going for walks together. The pic below is one I took when we were at the fair; they were selling T-shirts with funny sayings on them, and I thought that this one metaphorically “fit” me (I LOVE KETCHUP!!!).

On the downside, however, I got bad news about my health. Oddly, it might be because I, indeed, put Ketchup on my Ketchup!

Funny saying about Ketchup

Read More