The idea of freelancing is a wonderful concept. The ability to work from anywhere with limited oversight and a schedule that suits the work-life balance that best suits you is almost idyllic. With the largest freelancing market in the world, a staggering 67.6 million people freelance in the US.
What to Do If Clients Are Not Paying You Right Now
Clients who don’t pay are nothing new. Even without a crisis, we have encountered at least one client who knows all the delaying tactics in the world when it comes to paying for work we’ve done. And then there are those who don’t pay up at all.
In this time of crisis, the problem is even more pronounced. Clients are likely facing financial issues themselves, and while we sympathize – we are truly in the same boat – we also need to keep food on the table.
So what do you do if clients are not paying you right now? [Read more…]
Tenant and Freelancer Rights – UK Edition
There is a time when your choice to be a freelancer and work from home could impact your right to live in your house. It seems so simple nowadays. You can use the internet to connect with clients, and from there you can earn a wage without commuting. One in four people in the UK agrees with you, as the gig economy continues to grow in influence. However, with the increased numbers comes increased scrutiny from the Government and the taxman. Therefore, it is not so simple as just getting started and seeing how it goes. Let’s guide you through some of the essentials. [Read more…]
Top Tips to Ensure Your Freelance Contracts Secure Your Financial Freedom – UK Edition
As of 2016, there are 2 million freelancers in the UK. With this in mind, we want to make sure that those living in the UK who have taken the self-employed route are making the best choices for their income and mental wellbeing, particularly when it comes to contracts between freelancer and client.
After all, you aren’t working as a freelancer because it’s easy. Most freelancers do what they do for: passion, a level of flexibility that can’t be experienced in an office or the possibility of great disposable income and financial freedom. [Read more…]
How to Create a Freelance Contract
If you’ve recently landed a new writing gig, your first thought may be “when do I get started?” Before you ever write that first word, however, you need to ensure that your future as a freelancer is secure with a legally-binding freelance contract that protects you and the income you’ve planned on receiving.
Contracts don’t need to be complicated or even very long. They do, however, need to be clear. Here are the basic steps to making a contract that your clients will be comfortable signing and that covers your interests. [Read more…]
What To Do When Clients Don’t Pay Their Invoices – 5 Common Scenarios
If you’ve clicked on this article, you probably either already have an unpaid invoice lingering around, or have had to deal with an unpaid invoice before.
No matter if you are a freelancer, small contractor, or large business owner, unpaid invoices are an aggravating inevitability. While the whole point of an invoice is to streamline the payment process and make it easier to get paid on time, clients always seem to find a way to miss the due date. [Read more…]
5 Tips for Dealing with Plagiarism Accusations
As freelance writers, we spend a great deal of time quickly researching topics we’re unfamiliar with and then producing articulate web content that makes it sound like you know what you’re talking about. A brief scan of several other informative websites often gives you background information and inspiration to write what your clients have asked for. You wind up putting together and submitting an article to your client and begin the process over again with a new topic and don’t think about it again. [Read more…]
3 Legal Issues Every Freelance Writer Should Know About
Close to 54 million Americans are considered freelancers and that number is expected to grow 50% by 2020. While the freelance world can be alluring, there are many things you should consider before jumping in and applying for writing jobs.
The legal aspects of freelance writing are often overlooked, but they are nonetheless important to understand. Starting a successful freelance career is difficult enough. The last thing you need is added legal trouble. Avoiding the three following legal pitfalls will prevent you from receiving correspondence threatening legal action or a visit from the IRS. [Read more…]
Telling Your Stories: Tips for Using Personal Narratives in Your Writing
As freelance writers, we encounter many different types of assignments; and while some leave no room for creative personal narratives, there are other cases when your stories could be a centerpiece or valuable example for readers.
Personal stories are also a great way to plant a hook at the beginning of a story, something to grab the readers’ interest. When it comes to the sharing personal details, however, there are a few things we need to take into account, particularly the privacy of others who may be involved in our stories. [Read more…]
Do Freelance Writers Need Insurance?
You may run your freelance writing business from home and take care of all expenses yourself. Your focus is probably on sending pitches, getting clients, making sure your work is excellent, meeting deadlines, and cultivating repeat clients – among many other things a freelance writer has to deal with.
Have you ever thought of taking out insurance for yourself and/or your business? Maybe you haven’t because your spouse has insurance that covers the family to a certain degree, so why would you have the need for insurance as a freelance writer?
Here are some factors to think about, which may help you decide whether you need insurance as a freelance writer.
Liability Insurance
The first thing that may come to mind is that you work at home and you have no employees. Why should there be a need for liability insurance, which covers injuries that happen in your work premises?
While that is a valid point, Phoenix injury attorney Benjamin Wright brings up the scenario wherein you meet clients or contractors at your home office.
What if they get injured while at your home? A fall? A dog bite? Anything that results in a client getting injured.
This is a good case for the argument that freelancers need insurance – especially if the situation gets nasty and you have to go to court.
Indemnity Insurance
Indemnity insurance is usually associated with malpractice insurance for professionals, but it also covers “errors and omissions insurance“.
Do you need this type of insurance?
Perhaps more so than the first type.
Indemnity insurance protects you if a client becomes unsatisfied with your work to the degree that he files a case against you (say for breach of contract) or demand monetary compensation from you (say because of sub-par work).
Health Insurance
Health insurance has been one of the most controversial topics in the US in recent times, and while everyone wants changes for the better, you can’t really wait till that happens. If there is one type of insurance that freelancers shouldn’t have second thoughts about, it’s health insurance.
You may be the healthiest and fittest person you know, but who’s to say you won’t fall over and get a heart attack for an unknown reason? Who’s to say you won’t get a serious illness that will keep you in the hospital for weeks or months? How do you pay for the medical bills then?
Health insurance may be an additional cost, but IF something does happen, you won’t regret having one.
Home Insurance
You probably already have this type of insurance, but have you thought about its coverage? Is your home office and its assets covered by your existing home insurance policy?
This may very well be the case, but what if it isn’t? What if – God forbid – your house burns down or you have a break-in? Are you sure that your current home insurance policy includes your home office?
This is a common oversight among freelancers, so it is a good idea to check your current home insurance policy. If your office is covered, then you have lost nothing but time. If it isn’t, then you do need to scout around for a policy that will make sure your home office and all your work-related tools are protected from any untoward incident.
Do freelance writers need insurance?
I think you know our answer to that now. The question that remains is which type you should get.
Do you have insurance? What kind?
Does this article make you think about taking out an insurance policy, or do you disagree with it?
