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  1. #21
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    @gigglezk sorry about all the mess going on.

    First, try debe's suggestions. It sounds like it can work and not all "experts" are really experts.

    Either way, you've got this as a lesson.

    I also highly recommend storing stuff in the cloud. My client stores his podcasts on Amazon's S3 along with other media stuff he creates and a lot of companies use Amazon S3 also. There are other cloud providers out there, of course. I work off of the Google Cloud and, honestly, that gives me a bit of security because my laptop did have a hiccup after I got back from NYC earlier this week. It got hit with some sort of virus or malware. I know enough that I stopped using my laptop immediately when it shut down on me and went into "save it" mode. I also saved my old laptop that I brought back with me from Korea and used that for a half day or so. It's basically my backup laptop and since all my stuff is in the cloud, I can work.

    Cloud, cloud, cloud. You can be really careful and backup on two cloud sources. Syncing can be a problem, but you'll have it.

    Quote Originally Posted by nickib View Post
    I really need to get back into the entrepreneurial mindset. I'm still looking for a job, but my internship supervisor really thinks I should freelance. After doing the math, it's clear that freelancing would earn me way more money than a minimum wage job. So once again I'm here to listen and learn what I can.

    Biggest concerns/questions:
    ~ Is it better to advertise rates for transparency sake or leave the rates off to have room to negotiate?
    ~ Is it okay to ask for a deposit? This "people not paying the invoice on time" thing terrifies me.
    ~ At what point do I have to start thinking about taxes?
    Second, I'm so damn mad. I wrote a reply to you yesterday on my iPad and lost my wifi the connection. When I hit the "send" button it wouldn't publish and I couldn't recover what I'd written.

    Okay.

    1) My advice: don't advertise rates. All jobs are different, especially for stuff like copy editing and writing. I have to say I do factor in the PITA quotient now and I'm glad I do. You can have a range, and I disclose that when people ask. Also, it makes it easier to increase your rate when the time comes.

    2) All of my clients, except one, are billed in advance. I don't ask for a deposit or retainer, but I also don't bill them after the fact. I honestly just couldn't and still can't afford to work like that. Some of them drag with paying me promptly but I've never had a client just not pay. Bill in advance and why not get a retainer?

    3) Think about taxes right away. Learn from my mistake. I'm playing catch-up this year and it's brutal.
    "The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it." - Chinese Proverb

    "Fall seven times a day, stand up eight." - Japanese Proverb

    “All truth is good, but not all truth is good to say.” - African Proverb

  2. #22
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    I'm still hanging in there. My business is more of a side gig right now. What I need is a PLAN! I kinda jumped into this without a business plan. I'm taking the summer to really come up with one. I like bplans.com because they have some good starter business plans for different industries. I have a few business ideas, so I will be doing a few business plans

  3. #23
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    That really sucks Gigglezk...


    Quote Originally Posted by Scribetastic View Post

    I also highly recommend storing stuff in the cloud. ...

    Cloud, cloud, cloud. You can be really careful and backup on two cloud sources. Syncing can be a problem, but you'll have it.
    and you KNOW this! Cloud, cloud, and cloud some more...

    But I agree with DeBe... .give it a mental rest for a minute but I've definitely recovered things that people told me were unrecoverable.

    And then once you get it back put it in the cloud! (and on a solid HardDrive dedicated to backing up your computer)


    Quote Originally Posted by Scribetastic View Post
    1) My advice: don't advertise rates. All jobs are different, especially for stuff like copy editing and writing. I have to say I do factor in the PITA quotient now and I'm glad I do. You can have a range, and I disclose that when people ask. Also, it makes it easier to increase your rate when the time comes.

    2) All of my clients, except one, are billed in advance. I don't ask for a deposit or retainer, but I also don't bill them after the fact. I honestly just couldn't and still can't afford to work like that. Some of them drag with paying me promptly but I've never had a client just not pay. Bill in advance and why not get a retainer?

    3) Think about taxes right away. Learn from my mistake. I'm playing catch-up this year and it's brutal.
    I concur with the above. Particularly NOT posting rates and taking care of your tax situation from the get-go. You should have a personal guideline so you know how to negotiate and your guidelines should be based on your position and what's happening in the marketplace. But to be a freelancer is to negotiate. In my field I've heard of so many people going for a desperation rate only to find out later the client had MORE budgeted for makeup/hair. Basically the person's poor negotiation skills literally cost them money. As far as taxes go, I got a business license claimed and reported everything from jump street. This saved me a lot of drama. In the beginning I always showed a loss because I wasn't making any money. Once I started making money I started filling Estimated Quarterly Taxes so that I'm not hit with some massive annual bill. Just study up on the various issues and options for freelancers when it comes to taxes, 1099s, etc. and go from there.
    It's Cheap to be Pank. Come to the Pank Side.

  4. #24
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    @gigglezk

    I've found a website with the instructions. Ubuntu is a version of Linux, is also the one I've used in the past.

    http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windo...dows-computer/

    Here's a website where you can buy a CD, if you don't want to download and create your own. You need an install/Live CD Which is a boot disk the allows you to use Ubuntu/Linux right off the disk.

    http://www.osdisc.com/cgi-bin/view.c...s/linux/ubuntu

    HTH

    DeBe

  5. #25
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    HUGS for gigglezk! Looks like debe gave some great resources

    Thanks for the advice Scribe and Soul Rebel. I really like the "billing in advance" idea but editors typically work by the hour.... I could charge by word count. Would make it much less arbitrary...

    Lots to think about. Thanks!
    BC'd: June 14th 2010! // Twitter // Blog

    Go PANK. DO IT!

  6. #26
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    Quote Originally Posted by nickib
    HUGS for gigglezk! Looks like debe gave some great resources

    Thanks for the advice Scribe and Soul Rebel. I really like the "billing in advance" idea but editors typically work by the hour.... I could charge by word count. Would make it much less arbitrary...

    Lots to think about. Thanks!
    PM me. I know a veteran writing coach who can probably give you industry-specific advice.
    "The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it." - Chinese Proverb

    "Fall seven times a day, stand up eight." - Japanese Proverb

    “All truth is good, but not all truth is good to say.” - African Proverb

  7. #27
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    Thanks ladies, especially debe.

    I'll try it out in a few weeks. I'm taking an extended personal "I just don't give a $%^&* right now" holiday and enjoying life. Though I'm actively looking for work. But right now I'm just (for lack of a better phrase) doing me.

  8. #28
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    @Gigglezk Good for you, sometimes it exactly the right thing to do, it refreshes the brain. Sometimes the stress just stops you seeing the wood for the trees.

    Just bookmark the thread (assuming you have another comp?) or email the link to yourself so you find it when you're ready. I won't tell you how many searches I did for this thread because I forgot which one it was posted on...

    DeBe

  9. #29
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    Oh I did both! Bookmarked and exported it to the print version and saved that and then emailed that to myself. LOL.

  10. #30
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    LOL! I love the belt and braces approach,

    DeBe

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