For IT contractors, a recession can be either the best or worst of times. On the positive end of the spectrum, when businesses get nervous about making new IT investments they often bring in freelance techies to sidestep hiring permanent staff, hoping these individuals can provide a buffer against shedding full-time staff should they have to put the quick brakes ... [full story]
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In the wake of a task force report on the misuse of worker classifications, companies that use independent contractors may face increased scrutiny from state agencies. A report by the Interagency Task Force on Worker Misclassification, issued last week, said such misuses of contractors can cost the state tax dollars, leave workers unprotected by benefits and place law-abiding employers ... [full story]
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Most people think about creative careers when they consider freelancing. But not Melody A. Kramer. She’s the Co-Founder of the National Association of Freelance Legal Professionals, and has cracked the code on how legal eagles can break into freelancing, too. Melody, A 42-year-old resident of San Diego, California, got the idea for the organization after working as a freelance ... [full story]
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In this economic downturn, it may be too big an ask for some contractors to replace the luxury of pricy caviar for cheap but filling crackers, especially if they like pizza. That’s because upmarket eatery Mulberry Street in Notting Hill now sprinkles the rare fish eggs over a 20-inch dough base for a cool £350; credit crunch, what credit ... [full story]
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Given the seemingly-daily announcements of new corporate layoffs, it’s no surprise that my most frequently asked question of the moment is about how to start a career as a freelancer or independent consultant. Many of these queries come from the recently downsized. Some of them are looking for ways to make extra cash while hunting for their next full-time position. ... [full story]
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There seems to be two opinions held by writers regarding freelancing bidding sites – one of downright hatred, or one of tolerance. Five years ago, when I first started on my online freelance writing journey, I discovered a few of the freelance bidding sites. I primarily stuck with Rentacoder.com and Getafreelancer.com. Not knowing any other way to get paid for ... [full story]
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It’s not often in the last few years that IT contractors, the UK’s best-paid IT staff, have been forced to seriously consider whether to ditch their contracts for services.Even if contractors could bring themselves to ponder ‘resignation’ – a process more befitting permanent staff, the smell of other contracts over the hill would make it a quick decision.But these are ... [full story]
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In this economic downturn, it may be too big an ask for some contractors to replace the luxury of pricy caviar for cheap but filling crackers, especially if they like pizza. That’s because upmarket eatery Mulberry Street in Notting Hill now sprinkles the rare fish eggs over a 20-inch dough base for a cool £350; credit crunch, what credit ... [full story]
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Given the seemingly-daily announcements of new corporate layoffs, it’s no surprise
that my most frequently asked question of the moment is about how to start a career as a freelancer or independent consultant. Many of these queries come from the recently downsized. Some of them are looking for ways to make extra cash while hunting for their next ... [full story]
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There seems to be two opinions held by writers regarding freelancing bidding sites – one of downright hatred, or one of tolerance. Five years ago, when I first started on my online freelance writing journey, I discovered a few of the freelance bidding sites. I primarily stuck with Rentacoder.com and Getafreelancer.com. Not knowing any other way to get paid for ... [full story]
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Freelance workers, independent consultants and independent contractors enjoy many advantages. Their schedules are flexible, they set their own agenda, and with a little planning, they can take extended time off. However, while these benefits can improve quality of life, there are other benefits that these workers do not receive, such as health insurance. Finding health insurance as a freelancer or ... [full story]
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During the course of interviewing new freelance candidates here at Direct Marketers on Call, I am often asked if it is possible to be considered a 1099 Independent Contractor versus being placed on DMOC or the Client’s payroll. The following information is provided by the IRS and their 20-Point Check List. For those unfamiliar with what a 1099 Independent ... [full story]
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During the course of interviewing new freelance candidates here at Direct Marketers on Call, I am often asked if it is possible to be considered a 1099 Independent Contractor versus being placed on DMOC or the Client’s payroll. The following information is provided by the IRS and their 20-Point Check List. For those unfamiliar with what a 1099 Independent ... [full story]
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For the next two weeks, Shout99 and Qdos Consulting is running a special offer for readers for full contract reviews at £50. Here Qdos explains the importance of a contract review: Qdos Consulting writes: Those who are seasoned veterans of the contracting community will be familiar with the workings of agencies. These large organisations will typically assure ... [full story]
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The term "freelance" comes from the works of Sir Walter Scott and refers to traveling knights offering their services in battle to noblemen for a fee. This colorful designation is now used for independent contractors who offer their services to companies but are not officially employed by them. The freelancer is free to work in whatever manner they would like ... [full story]
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No doubt about it. I was fortunate enough to have been drawn into the consulting field at a time when it became remarkably lucrative. And a time when it had evolved into a permanent part of the industrial landscape. Why permanent? Well... I have no facts to back this up, but I have observed the following over the past ... [full story]
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Freelance workers, independent consultants and independent contractors enjoy many advantages. Their schedules are flexible, they set their own agenda, and with a little planning, they can take extended time off. However, while these benefits can improve quality of life, there are other benefits that these workers do not receive, such as health insurance. Finding health insurance as a freelancer or ... [full story]
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Freelance workers, independent consultants and independent contractors enjoy many advantages. Their schedules are flexible, they set their own agenda, and with a little planning, they can take extended time off. However, while these benefits can improve quality of life, there are other benefits that these workers do not receive, such as health insurance. Finding health insurance as a freelancer or ... [full story]
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No doubt about it. I was fortunate enough to have been drawn into the consulting field at a time when it became remarkably lucrative. And a time when it had evolved into a permanent part of the industrial landscape. Why permanent? Well... I have no facts to back this up, but I have observed the following over the past ... [full story]
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What’s the difference between running your own home-based business and freelancing? (tick, tick, tick …) Give up? Me too. If you want to work for yourself from home and have a special talent or skill that you think others would be prepared to pay for on an hourly or per-project basis, why not stop thinking in terms of the traditional ... [full story]
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This article on insurance is Part 1 of a short series of articles on running a freelance business. In it, I’ll try to answer the questions other technical writers have asked me about business insurances and what cover I have. First, a disclaimer: * I am not an accountant, financial planner, insurance adviser, business adviser, lawyer, or ... [full story]
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Many small business owners face the dilemma of adding employees to their payroll versus contracting the job with an outside source. It is an important decision, and one which should be made only after weighing all of the factors on both sides. Darrell Zahorsky wrote a good article posing the pros and cons of each decision. David is a small ... [full story]
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This article on insurance is Part 1 of a short series of articles on running a freelance business. In it, I’ll try to answer the questions other technical writers have asked me about business insurances and what cover I have. First, a disclaimer: * I am not an accountant, financial planner, insurance adviser, business adviser, lawyer, or ... [full story]
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What’s the difference between running your own home-based business and freelancing? (tick, tick, tick …) Give up? Me too. If you want to work for yourself from home and have a special talent or skill that you think others would be prepared to pay for on an hourly or per-project basis, why not stop thinking in terms of the traditional ... [full story]
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To many people, the elevator isn’t just a device to get you up or down. Wood paneling, exotic woods, carpets, mirrors, chandeliers, brass operating panels—that’s what you’ll see when you go into many elevators in high-end buildings. Time was, before 1920 or so, when just living in an elevator building was considered a luxury. Many of the elevators of ... [full story]
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Jason Gorman again inspires me to write, in response to his post Freelancers Are People Toomebeli. He says that most people who write code for a living are freelancers. That’s an interesting statistic, and if it’s true, I would be curious to see a source for it. What really got me thinking was his story about a survey that ... [full story]
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I manage a firm that handles over 1,000 contractors who specialise in providing compliance consulting and contracting support mainly in the Financial Services Sector. We work with some of the UK's leading banks and building societies as well as small firms who need occasional compliance policy guidance. Every day we are constantly asked why a person has not been nominated ... [full story]
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Jason Gorman again inspires me to write, in response to his post Freelancers Are People Toomebeli. He says that most people who write code for a living are freelancers. That’s an interesting statistic, and if it’s true, I would be curious to see a source for it. What really got me thinking was his story about a survey that ... [full story]
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What defines a successful business?
Building your business to acquire customer loyalty. That’s rule number
one in every business growth.
Most successful business owners would tell you that there are many
secrets that you should learn in order for you to become successful
yourself. In fact, all of them would have a number in their sleeves
that helped them to get to where they are today. ... [full story]
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HP won a breather yesterday in its long fight to rival IBM by snapping up EDS, the leading government IT contractor, in a deal worth more than $13billion (£6.6bn). It represents the biggest deal acquisition for the printers giant since it bought Compaq in 2002 for $19bn, and is triple the value HP paid for software firm Mercury in ... [full story]
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The ‘come and go’ nature of freelance work will convince technology organisations to keep capping the number of IT contractors they hire now and into the future. As the knowledge a contractor acquires about a tech business is lost when their contract expires, these clients will retain a limit on their intake to stem a ‘brain drain’ from their ... [full story]
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Pay per click (PPC) advertising has been regarded as the best way to get your product out there and seen by the public. For those unfamiliar with PPC, it is easy to understand. When you type a term into a search engine, the ads that pop up on the page along with the search results are PPC advertising. As these ... [full story]
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