Author: Freelancing Buzz

Given the recent guidelines on social distancing from various health organizations, the novel coronavirus and the disease it causes (COVID-19) means that most of us will be self-isolating for some time. As a freelancer, how can you manage this enforced downtime positively? Over the past five weeks, I was already dealing with an enforced “lay-off” from work. An accident whilst taking photographs for a forthcoming book left me with a broken ankle and six weeks of being unable to work. With the growth of the novel coronavirus pandemic, many freelancers are now facing a similar period of being unable to work. Freelancers don’t receive any Statutory Sick Pay in the UK, so we are left income-less when not working. As such, I thought I’d share some tips I’ve garnered over the last few weeks to try and use this time positively. Communicate to Customers The first thing you have to remember is that your customers don’t know what has happened to you. As soon as you know that you are going to be unable to work get in touch with them. The most important thing is to be absolutely honest. Let them know why you are going to be unable to work with them. Tell them you are gutted that you can’t do the job. Give an indication when you are expecting to become available again. If you had been paid a deposit or a fee already, offer a refund or re-booking for another date. I had to cancel around 20 appointments due to the broken ankle. All but one of the customers agreed to reschedule. That’s not always going to be the case but I am sure that the open and honest approach meant clients would work with you. Think About the Customer Journey This leads directly from communicating to customers and is a great way of making sure you look in control. I have a fantastic booking system for photography workshops that is provided by FareHarbor. One of the features they provide is text and e-mail reminders so that customers don’t forget when they have booked their workshops. They also help me send out post-workshop surveys so I can make the customer experience even better in the future. By working with FareHarbor I was able to establish those automatic triggers that could have sent messages to customers whilst they were deciding when to reschedule to. They already had a process built into the system so I could stop the messages for a period of time until I was returning back to work. As a small business, your reputation is probably one of the biggest assets you have. It would be silly to have it take a knock by not thinking about what your customer will feel. Personal Development Freelancers know their customers are really important. Without them, they don’t get paid and without getting paid they won’t be freelancing for much longer. As a result of this, the photographers (and other freelancers) I know are trying to […]

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Preparing for retro photo session sitting in coffee shop during work break,skilled photographer taking picture of modern cafe interior Are you tired of working for others? Being your own boss can be very rewarding both financially and spiritually, but there are challenges associated with freelance work. Taxes are one of the most difficult aspects because self-employment brings a special set of tests. Freelancers work as independent contractors and those who employ them are not required to withhold payroll taxes (such as Medicare and Social Security contributions). As both employer and employee (technically, you employ yourself), you must contribute both sets of taxes — the normal income tax that you would pay on your income as an employee and the “self-employment tax” that covers Medicare and Social Security contributions. You must estimate and pay this tax quarterly to approximate the monthly flow of payroll taxes that the government would receive from an employer. Estimated taxes are due on the 15 th of the month after the end of the quarter. For example, taxes for the first quarter of January 1 to March 31 are due on April 15 (or the next business day if the 15 th falls on a weekend or holiday). Failure to make payments on time will result in penalties and interest charges on the unpaid taxes. “Making an estimated payment is exceptionally important, especially for people who are new freelancers,” says Betterment Head of Tax Eric Bronnenkant. “I’ve seen people not make estimated payments and spend all the money, and then all of a sudden tax time comes around and then their accountant, or TurboTax or whoever it is says, ‘You now owe us $10,000,’ or some amount of money that people don’t have or may not have set aside.” Every person that you work for as an independent contractor is obligated to file a 1099 form with the IRS and send a copy to you as a record of your earned income. Keep close track of these 1099 forms, as they serve as proof of your income. Even if you are not supplied with a 1099 form that corresponds to one of your freelancing jobs, you are obligated to report that income. If the IRS finds a 1099 form that does not correlate to your reported income, expect greater scrutiny of your tax return. Quarterly payments are made by filing Form 1040-ES, ” Estimated Tax for Individuals “. The form contains a worksheet to help you estimate your taxes and the address to which you mail your completed form and payment (based on where you live). If you have questions, the IRS has a section of their website devoted to tax issues for the self-employed . Keep in mind that you are paying taxes on your profit, not your income. To determine your profit, subtract your business expenses from your business income. If your net profit is over $400, you will need to file an income tax return, and if you are expected to owe […]

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Thanks to the internet and widespread connectivity, there are plenty of jobs that don’t require you to commute to the office every day or work a 9-to-5 schedule. But how do you find openings for these positions? And how can you tell whether they’re legitimate or scams? One way to look for legitimate part-time, remote, flexible-schedule or freelance work is to use FlexJobs . It’s a subscription-based job board that specializes in postings for these types of positions. On many traditional job boards, it can be difficult to determine whether a position offers the option to work remotely, or whether you’re signing up for freelance work, says Brie Weiler Reynolds, career development manager at FlexJobs. You might apply for a job, only to find out that it’s not as flexible as you thought. On FlexJobs, though, all job openings are part-time, remote or freelance — or otherwise offer some type of flexible working condition. “We have a team of researchers who look at job sites and job boards, and we also work with employers who post openings,” says Reynolds. Additionally, FlexJobs screens openings. So, you don’t have to worry about running into, say, a work-from-home scam. FlexJobs is more than a searchable database of flexible jobs. Other perks of a FlexJobs membership include: The ability to apply for positions directly from the FlexJobs website Regular emails with job openings that match your preferences Access to webinars designed to help you learn skills, including resume improvement and LinkedIn networking Access to skills tests that can help you set yourself apart from other job applicants The option to call FlexJobs and speak with a person — such as for help setting up your profile or setting up personalized search parameters, for example FlexJobs offers multiple membership lengths: One month : $14.95 Three months : $29.95 One year : $49.95 “Many of our members just sign up for one or three months, and then hit it hard to find a good, flexible job,” says Reynolds. “However, we also have some freelancers who renew at the annual rate so they can keep a good flow of work.” Not ready to commit to a membership? You can read FlexJobs’ blog and receive its email newsletter for free. You can also see what kinds of jobs are available and read about employers. However, without a membership, you can’t apply to jobs through the FlexJobs website or see employer contact information, says Reynolds. “Use the free service to get a feel for what to expect and even see how often companies post jobs,” she says. “Then you can see how valuable it might be to sign up the next time you’re looking for more flexible work.” For the most part, the people who will most benefit from FlexJobs are those looking for work to fit their lifestyles. The jobs posted on the site are aimed at people who aren’t looking for a traditional 9-to-5 job in an office. While some of the jobs do follow regular […]

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Chancellor Rishi Sunak is being urged by to do more to protect the income of creative freelancers who are seeing their livelihoods disappearing due to the impact of corona virus. These freelancers, represented by Bectu the union for creative ambition, a sector of Prospect, continue to fall through the safety net despite measures announced in the Budget. Mike Clancy general secretary of Prospect has written to the chancellor asking for more to be done to “recognise and alleviate the situation of freelance and self-employed workers”. Bectu represents over 20,000 people working as freelancers in the creative industries. These include people who are self-employed, causal workers and those who are on zero-hours contracts. One member who works as a freelance production manager in live music has already lost hundreds of pounds in earnings this month and has seen every single event she is booked for in the coming weeks cancelled. She is not eligible for benefits due to the nature of her employment and as a result she and her husband, who also works in the sector, are having to apply for jobs as a bus driver and a forklift driver to try and earn extra money. As the response to COVID-19 starts to bite economically it is hard to see such work continuing to be available. Mike Clancy said: “Freelance workers are in a particularly vulnerable situation during this pandemic. Many of them work in ways that mean that even small disruptions to their working patterns can cause real financial hardship. In addition they may have just faced a tax bill that will have reduced their ability to manage a period without work. “My concern is not just for workers who have to self-isolate or who fall sick, but for those who face a more protracted period out of work due to the cancellation of productions or the closure of venues. Universal Credit is a system which time and time again has been proven to be completely unable to cope with any form of change in demand. Asking these workers to rely on Universal Credit or indeed ESA is simply inadequate.” Bectu is calling for the government to re-think its approach and find a more resilient safety net for freelance workers which must include housing costs. ENDS

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Football grounds across Scotland – and the world – will be closed for months NOMINATIONS for the Scottish Press Awards have been announced, and in the spirit of acidic opposition, the website Bella Caledonia has opened up nominations for “Breaking Bad – The Worst of Scottish Media”. It was like moths to a light bulb as Bella regulars vented their spleen on Andrew Neil, Fraser Nelson and the Daily Record’s football correspondent Keith Jackson. Thus far, the nominees are a fairly predictable checklist of the journalists that have angered or irritated Scottish political Twitter – but more deeply, it is a salutatory reminder of how unpopular a species media professionals have become. Any past associations with truth and integrity seem to have been ripped apart and journalists are regularly up there with lawyers and traffic wardens as the most despised professions – oh how the mighty of the fourth estate have crumbled. In these feverish times, with Covid-19 laying siege on public life, closing down public events, threatening schools and casting a macabre shroud over older and vulnerable people, the media are not where you would start if you wanted to create a deserving case. But I will. This week I want to cut through the fog of resentment and try to remind people of what life is really like in the media in Scotland. A small percentage of media workers, maybe fewer than 10%, enjoy salaried employment with sick pay and the benefits of a final salary pension scheme. Most of them work for legacy institutions with a long institutional history. In the main, they are either in branch offices of London organisations, in perceived regional outposts or in editionised newspapers run from elsewhere. The BBC , the Times and the Daily Mail are among the employers that offer the greatest security, but beyond them working in the media can be a much bleaker world defined by precarious incomes, freelance employment and risky periods of tenure. This virus is not simply a test of the robustness of public health – it will pose a significant challenge to the whole notion of freelancing and the gig economy . A few days ago, I had a catch up with two colleagues, just as the bleak realities of coronavirus were beginning to bite. We were still in the mocking phase of denial, kicking ankles, bumping fists and sneezing into arm-joints. Gloria Gaynor’s hand-washing version of I Will Survive had yet to go viral or we would have included that in our rituals of having fun with a pandemic. But across the next two hours, as we drank wine and discussed our various projects, a cold, hard chill blew into the room. One friend, a sound technician, received a text cancelling a shoot that had been in his diary for months, and at a stroke had lost three weeks of work. Another friend, a script editor, learned of breaking news from America, that flights to and from Europe were to be grounded […]

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Running a business online is easier than ever before; with the help of online freelancers, business owners can get a lot done while saving money. The gig economy is booming, and there are 60+ million freelancers in U.S. according to the latest report from Upwork. However, working with freelancers can be sometimes very stressful, because you never could be sure that you will have your job done on time, the quality of your job etc. Here we will give you some stress management tips and on what to pay attention when working with freelancers. Some things must be takeninto consideration before posting a job on a freelance website. One of the most stressful situations about working with freelancers is how to protect your intellectual property. After all, you don’t want an employee, freelancer, or independent contractor who created the work to use it for purposes other than the one you hired them for. We will explain below what rights you have in the work that’s created for you by others, as well as how you can protect your work, idea, or invention from being used or sold by the freelancer creating the work on your behalf. Copyright your work In the United States, copyright law allows the creators of original works of art, such as literary works, graphic works, movies, songs, and books to control who makes, sells, and displays the work they’ve created. The ownership of work that is created “for hire,” belongs to the individual who commissioned the work and not the author. This is so because U.S copyright law states that “work made for hire” is owned by the party that commissioned the work. For example, if you have someone design a web page for you, write content for your website, or create a graphic for you, your work is automatically protected under U.S copyright law. The web page, content, or graphics produced will be owned by the party commissioning or paying the freelancer to create the work. Now suppose you have an employee who creates something on his own time, you do not own the work he creates unless there is a contractual agreement that states otherwise. However, if the work created by the employee is within the scope of his employment, his employer is considered to be the author of the work. So, what does that mean for you as someone who hires a freelancer or remote author? The freelancer who created the work does not have the right to sell or display the work he created for you. However, if the piece of work the freelancer created for you is extremely important, you should register it with the copyright office. The benefit of registering it as copyright is that you’ll be able to sue anyone who misuses your work for copyright infringement. This will deter anybody from reproducing your work without your authorization. Copyright Law protects artwork throughout the life of the author, plus an additional 70 years. Here are a few examples […]

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The future of work lies in independence. It seems that everywhere you look these days, the “gig economy” is flourishing. It’s estimated that 35% of the workforce freelance, and that number is expected to keep growing. As the CEO of an on-demand accounting services startup, I am very familiar with the topic of independent contractors, as they are a core element of our company’s success and growth. As an independent contractor, you’re performing work for a company or entity as a non-employee. Whereas an employee is contractually bound to the company they work for, the same cannot be said for an independent contractor. Likewise, while employees have their taxes withheld and certain benefits covered by the company they work for, freelancers are paid in full and handle their tax obligations on their own. The Perks Of Freelancing Working as an independent contractor has its pros and cons. These are perks to consider as you think about making the leap toward the freelance life: • You are your own boss. The most popular perk to working as an independent contractor is freedom. Your clients are able to make demands based on the type of work you’re doing, but the relationship is a far cry from your typical employee-manager dynamic. As an independent contractor, you are in charge of yourself. • You have complete control over your finances. As an independent contractor, you’ll typically charge a fixed rate per project or deliverable — this means you’re able to have much more control over your personal finances than if you were working for an employer. Likewise, because you work for yourself, you may be able to earn more than you would in a traditional setting. • You can choose when and where you work. Working as a freelancer or independent contractor comes with the added flexibility of managing your schedule on your own. Rather than being tied down to your work schedule as dictated by your employer, you’re able to spread your work as you see fit — which is especially beneficial if you find you are most productive outside traditional business hours. The Challenges Of Freelancing Though freelancing can be beneficial, there are some downsides to keep in mind: • Limited job security. Full-time employees enjoy more stability, including consistent paychecks and work. The same cannot be said of independent contractors. As you are your own business, the arrival of your paycheck is entirely reliant on finding and completing work. • No employer-provided benefits. Whereas employers typically provide their employees with health insurance and paid time off, as well as other benefits, when you work as an independent contractor, you handle these details on your own. Time lost due to vacations or being sick is up to you, but it ultimately affects your bottom line. • More responsibility with payment. As an independent contractor, you are required to collect payments from your clients on your own. You might run the risk of running into clients who avoid paying you for your […]

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Top Tips for Thriving in the Gig Economy More Have you ever dreamt about setting your own hours and working from home? If so, you’re not alone. A growing number of Americans are turning to freelance and short-term contract work, also known as the gig economy, to make their living. In fact, the gig economy now accounts for more than a third of the American workforce — roughly 57 million people. That’s a lot of competition. If you want to hack it as a freelancer, you’ll need to take steps to stand out from the crowd. Here are some tips for how to survive — and thrive — in the gig economy. 1. Broaden your horizons When you’re first starting out, you might find that gigs in your specific field are few and far between. Rather than get discouraged, try expanding your search to see if there are other gigs out there you qualify for. Using an online marketplace like Fiverr is a great way to not only sell your work, but also see what services other freelancers in your field are offering — and what they’re typically charging. You may realize that your skill-set applies to a ton of potential gigs that you didn’t even know were an option. 2. Hone your brand One of the best ways to stand out in the gig economy is to develop a solid personal brand. Do your best to post regular updates on social networking platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter that highlight your personal strengths and successes. It’s also crucial to have a portfolio of your work online. Your portfolio should highlight the projects that you’re the proudest of, and showcase both your skills and your versatility. By regularly updating your portfolio and resume to include your most recent gigs, you’ll show potential clients that your services are in high demand. 3. Manage your time well One of the main benefits of freelancing is that you don’t have to go to a physical office every day. That can also be a drawback if your time management skills aren’t…well, great. Make use of the calendar app on your phone or computer, or task manager apps like Todoist, and schedule reminders for all of your due dates, meetings, and phone calls. Another useful time management strategy is to establish a solid routine for your workday. Having a routine will increase your sense of control, enhance your focus, and ensure that you’re maintaining a healthy work-life balance — you’ll know when it’s time to eat, time to take a break and time to set your work aside for the day.

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The future of labor in America is freelance. It’s estimated that by 2027, over half the US workforce will be freelancing. When this happens, “all of these people are going to be losing their benefits, all of them are going to be losing the support that they need in order to grow their businesses,” says Eve Epstein, founder of SoleVenture , a startup focusing on the back end of the freelance economy. SoleVenture focuses on the things most freelancers don’t want to think about – healthcare , tax savings, or registering as a specific type of business in order to get the most out of tax credits. Not everyone is prepared to consider these things realistically once they begin taking on contract work, whether it’s full or part time. When speaking to Epstein at the 2020 Synapse Summit in Tampa, she explained her inspiration for SoleVenture. Having graduated from law school at the height of the recession, she saw the workforce changing rapidly. “The whole business model of payroll companies and the PEO (Professional Employer Organization) industry is to help small businesses have the leverage of a large company,” says Epstein, “We’re not doing anything for independent workers, and that’s the majority of the workforce, so we need to figure out a solution for them.” Partnering with fellow attorney Robyn Rusignuolo, who also had a background in HR, they created a virtual dashboard to help freelancers manage business expenses, ensure compliance with labor regulations and enroll for benefits. They are still currently raising money for the venture, and offering an invitation-only free trial, as their waitlist is over 20,000 strong. After a freelancer enrolls, the machine learning of the virtual dashboard begins to better understand how the individual runs their business and suggests potential clients for them. Various stakeholders paint the vision of freelancing differently, with some expressing that it’s about the freedom of an individual to choose when and how they work. Forbes stated that, “In one reflection of freelancers’ satisfaction, 51% said no amount of money would lure them to a traditional job.” SmallBizGenius reports that, “Data from the latest Gig Economy Index shows that around 40% of US workers generate 40% of their income by working independently. This shows how much people depend on the gig economy financially, with a lot of people forced to do gig work in addition to their regular job to make ends meet.” The difference between being forced to do something versus having the freedom to do it is changing the psyche of the American worker. Upon asking Epstein what she thinks of the future of labor in America being freelance, she stated, “We all value independence and flexibility. The purpose of this is to ensure that no one is taken advantage of and we have as many protections as possible, so whether we’re dependent on an employer, dependent on the government, we’re dependent on a spouse for those things – there’s always going to be some level of dependency – […]

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How do data science freelancers grab the attention of companies, successfully network with hiring agencies and find work? The market for freelancers has expanded considerably over the past decade, and this rings true for India as well. According to a report , there are 15 million freelancers in this country as of now, and this number is likely to double by 2023. This trend is attested by LinkedIn, which has seen a spike in the number of freelancers registering on its platform, signalling a higher preference by companies for independent contractors over employees. Coming specifically to data science freelancers, the draw of a flexible work schedule with high pay is pulling them to this market in droves. Although this indicates an increased level of competition, it also means greater scope to find more work. How do aspiring data scientists grab the attention of companies, successfully network with hiring agencies and find work as freelancers? A good place to start would be to create a profile on freelancer directories. These platforms not only receive a lot of traffic from potential employers but also help data scientists grow their professional networks and are thus, vital to their job prospects. However, before you progress to this step, it is critical that you first identify your niche and build a portfolio around it. For tips on how to differentiate yourself from your peers in this community, peruse through this . Only after you have built your brand should you actively look for work. Here are the top three websites where freelance data scientists can find jobs:- Upwork Having merged with popular freelance platform Elance, Upwork is highly sought after and has emerged as a familiar name in the freelancer industry today. It boasts of high quality and quantity of data science job postings, which users can access by simply browsing through and applying for the ones that best suit them. With over 5 million businesses listed on the platform — including Microsoft, GE and Netflix — it offers you an opportunity to get yourself noticed by these top companies. You can get started by signing up for an account – for free. Applicants are expected to submit a cover letter and create a profile outlining their skills and experience. Alternatively, it also connects freelance professionals to businesses seeking specialised talent. That is, it gives companies an opportunity to connect with independent professionals and engage with them on their own terms. How? After selecting the type of data science and analytics work — be it data mining, data extraction or data visualisation — they select the estimated scope of work and project duration, and thereafter, connect with qualified talent from a pool of professionals who have been reviewed by peer companies. What is recruiting agencies can also update or modify their requirements at any time to find the right talent. Toptal This exclusive network of freelance professionals connects talent with relevant companies. With listings from top companies and startups, including Morgan Stanley, SpaceX, Airbnb, […]

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