August/September 2006

Volume 47, Number 1

Tips from the Trenches

by Donna Brannan

If you find yourself as an Independent Consultant, by choice or necessity, you might be thinking this is a fantastic idea, or you may be thinking, “now what?” Whether you are new to the idea of “freelancing” or an old-timer, I hope these tips from the trade from our STC RMC Independents (and some other sources) provide some help.

Being your own boss, taking vacation whenever you want, setting your own hours, spending more time with the kids, making more money, being free of office politics, taking increased tax deductions—doesn’t all this sound fantastic! But wait a minute! There must be a downside.

Despite the many advantages, being self-employed is not always a bed of roses. Some of the drawbacks to being self-employed are not having job security, sometimes not getting paid, not having employer-provided benefits, and no unemployment benefits. When you are an Independent Consultant, you’re your own boss, with all of the risks and rewards it entails.

Working at Home

One STC RMC member offers these suggestions for working at home.

“Set up a room dedicated to being your office. This helps remove distractions and supports your home office deduction.

Purchase good equipment, especially a chair and computer, but only buy what you need, when you need.

Be sure to have a back-up plan for your data and follow it. Remember to store copies of data off-site, in case calamity strikes.”

For those of you with little ones at home, don’t be thinking “Great – no child care needed!” One of our members with two children at home tried this but just could not find any solid writing time. She suggests getting at least part-time child care. Seems it’s difficult to watch those toddlers toddle and write at the same time!

Getting Paid

So you want to be paid? To avoid NOT getting paid, sources say to get it in writing. Oral agreements are legal and binding in many situations but difficult to enforce in court. A written agreement is less risky. The written agreement should clearly and simply identify each party and spell out all of the details. There are numerous resources that can help you put together a solid business contract without recreating the wheel. Try Quicken® Legal Business Pro software, 101 Law Forms for Personal Use, by Robin Leonard and Ralph Warner, or Legal Forms for Starting & Running a Small Business, by Fred Steingold. There are a multitude of other sources on the Internet and at your local library.

“I have a feeling”

If there’s a project that comes along and you just “know” it is not going to be good for you, one RMC member says, “You’re better off turning it down; something better will come along. Never sign a contract you don’t feel comfortable with.” Although he says he has not learned to do this, he is aspiring to do so.

Finding Work

I came across this terrific idea while looking for tips from other Independent Consultants. An excellent way to find work is to check out the Sunday want ads for companies looking for people with your skill set. If they are looking for employees, they may be interested in consultants as well. Check to see if they have a web site so you can find out more about them. Based on the stated needs and information from their web site, construct a cover letter highlighting the areas where you believe you would fit in and indicate that you are a consultant. This will usually get you in the front door to at least talk to them.

Isolation

Do you have the temperament to work alone all day, without an imposed daily schedule or interacting with other people? I am not an Independent Contractor and this, I think, would be my greatest fear. Some long-time freelancers agree that a person should not just be able to tolerate solitude but should need it. Some freelancers suggest taking advantage of your freedom and getting involved in activities that you enjoy. If you get a hankering for work outside your home office, try temping. A few days of work “on the outside” might be just the cure to make your home office look better.

Being a part of the STC RMC provides almost endless resources and links for locating work, networking, and finding “others like you.” It provides listings of recent job postings, resources, and FAQs. If you have not, you must check out the Jobs site at:

http://www.stcrmc.org/jobs_freelance/jobs_freelance.htm

If you have some tips on free-lancing that you think would be helpful to other STC members, or have specific questions, sign up for the CIC SIG managed by Linda Gallagher. She has provided a short article in this issue on the CIC.