For freelancers, getting paid on-time is of the utmost importance. A clear and detailed invoice encourages timely payment and provides an important financial record for both you and your client. It also lets clients see exactly where their money is going, decreasing the chance of misunderstandings and payment disputes. An itemized invoice can help you […]
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The Freelancer’s Guide to the Home Office If you’re working as a freelancer, chances are you got your start working from home. The home office comes with its own special set of ups and downs: in general, it’s more comfortable than going out to a shared office or co-working space, but it can also encourage […]
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Did you become a freelancer because you want to pursue your passion? To build a business around the line of work that inspires you? Did you want to answer to yourself instead of being a cog in a corporate structure? Have you always taken a “whole picture” approach, where you see projects through from A […]
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You might or might not have chosen the freelance life for the flexibility it offers you, but you must admit – being your own boss has its perks. You can determine your own hours, wear whatever you want and take your projects in whatever direction you feel is best. On the other hand, you aren’t […]
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For more and more of us, the freelance life is where it’s at. But just because indie work is the most flexible and fulfilling way to make a living doesn’t mean it’s easy. And even when things are going extremely well, the pipeline of relevant leads is flowing and being converted into a steady stream […]
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The odds are, as an independent business owner, you’re a mind-bogglingly busy person. It’s especially true of micropreneurs, but today, just about everybody is insanely busy. Between your responsibilities at work, you need to have a life outside of work, your clients, your car, your family, your pets, your friends and yes, even yourself, opportunities […]
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Are robots, artificial intelligence platforms and automation tools on the brink of rendering you obsolete? The jury’s out on that tricky question, but until tech reveals that it’s out to get us, it has plenty of help to offer. As time goes on and the tools advance in their capabilities, automation is becoming increasingly useful […]
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If you’re a freelancer (as I have been on and off for many years) the answer to the question “What Do Freelancers Need to Know About Project Management?” is likely a short and sweet: Nothing at all. Freelancers typically specialize in a core skill or service that they provide to clients, and aside from begrudgingly […]
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One of the most enjoyable aspects of the freelancer’s life is the ability to work from anywhere, and increasing numbers are finding personal fulfillment and business success thanks to the rise of co-working. Sure, for many of us, non-virtual tasks are big parts of what we do, from networking and lining up clients to making […]
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What Attracts Coders to Open Source Software engineers are generally considered to be a defiant bunch. Whether or not these reputations are legitimate, the stereotypical coder marches to the beat of his own drummer. He keeps odd hours, delivers projects whenever he sees fit, is socially awkward, loves science fiction and is rabidly loyal to […]
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It doesn’t really matter how much value you deliver, how far ahead of deadline you deliver it, or how above and beyond the agreed-upon scope of work you go. Getting your clients to pay up can sometimes be a challenge. Any measure you take to reduce friction along the way can help, which is why […]
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6 Things You Need to Hear Before Opening Your Own Business You did it. You dreamed, you researched, you planned, and then you took the leap. The big leap – in faith, confidence and security. Deciding to open your own business is the first major step on your journey into the big unknown of entrepreneurship. […]
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When Joshua Gross tells friends and acquaintances that he is a freelancer, he often receives pitying looks and sometimes even offers of full time jobs. And when he refuses them and says he is perfectly happy with his current arrangement, he gets incredulous looks. But the fact is that freelancing and running small businesses has […]
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Large businesses have the advantage of large budgets for advertising, social media and promotions. Small businesses are always looking for ways to compete with the big guys and with their smaller competitors. This may seem daunting at first, but the truth is that small businesses have one advantage over larger businesses – the personal touch. […]
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Since most of us don’t have trust funds or large amounts of savings with which to start a business, one of our first stops is to the bank to request a loan.This is a critical step which requires a lot of homework, since asking for too much or too little may kill your business right […]
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Freelancers often work hard for many hours and don’t see much return in the way of income. They are often viewed by those who hire them as cheap labor, and the extra time they put in to find clients, create proposals and chase down payments are not valued by the clients. If you are one […]
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Twenty-first technology makes working remotely much more feasible than it used to be. The speed of email, instant messaging, project management apps, screen sharing and remote meeting software all make telecommuting possible. According to Forrester Research’s US Telecommuting Forecast, http://www.wired.com/2013/06/the-new-workplace-reality-out-of-the-office/ 34 million Americans work from home. And this number is expected to reach 63 million […]
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One of the scariest aspects of freelancing is pricing your services. You know you are talented and should be properly compensated for your work, but you don’t want to overcharge and be beat out by the competition. Or you undervalue your services because you’re so good at what you do that it seems like highway […]
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When online payment became popular, it brought about revolutionary change both for consumers and for businesses. But it looks like this disruptive technology is about to be disrupted itself, as e-commerce moves from desktops to tablets and mobiles. New payment models and forms of payment (such as Bitcoin) which replace traditional cash are being developed […]
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Every job has its rules and etiquette and freelancing is no exception. Despite the fact that you are your own boss, if you want to succeed you need to follow certain rules. There’s no one looking over your shoulder checking to see if you are adhering to these principles, so you need to be self-aware. […]
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