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March 2017

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Four ways going freelance could land you your dream job

Four ways going freelance could land you your dream job 5882 3993 Heidi McLean

Considering quitting your day job but concerned about the long-term effects on your future prospects? It’s time to think differently. Here are four ways freelancing could actually boost your career in the long run:

 

Get paid to find—or sharpen—your passion

People pay a boatload of money to refine their skills at college. Freelancers get paid to do it! In Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell shares the theory that it takes roughly ten thousand hours of practice to achieve mastery in a field. We can’t vouch for this particular number, but it is a tried-and-true, oft-repeated principle that practice makes perfect. As a freelancer, you get to bid for jobs that seem exciting to you and decline ones that don’t. As you go, you’ll hone in on where your lane is and have the freedom to develop it to the point of mastery. Then you can either keep running in that lane as a freelancer or take those finely tuned skills you’ve developed to your next full-time job. Highly skilled workers with a shorter learning curve have a leg up on the competition.

 

It’s like a paid audition

Freelancing gets your foot in the door at multiple companies without any commitment. If you love a business’s culture or brand, you may want to make their next project a priority. If you don’t like the experience, you don’t even have to bid for the job the next time around. You get to develop your clientele with companies and people you enjoy and then have a built-in connection for future opportunities. If you do well enough on your audition, you’ll get job offers—either for more freelance work or for full-time gigs. From there, it’s up to you to decide whether you want to accept an opportunity with a company or keep working for yourself. The power is in your hands.

 

Build your network

Once you’ve achieved mastery in an area, the world really starts to open up. When you do great work, people talk about you. After all, being able to refer someone reliable and easy to work with makes them look good, too. Talented freelancers organically build a robust network that includes both decision-makers and people in related fields who will send work their way.

 

P.S. There are tax benefits

So maybe it’s not a direct boost to your long-term career options, but the tax benefits are a pretty enticing bonus. There are mountains of deductions available to independent contractors (home office, business miles, office supplies, and more). You just need to make sure you keep careful records in order to take advantage of them. Under Trump’s proposed tax code overhaul, some independent contractors could have even lower taxes in the near future. Keep in mind, though, that freelancers are on the hook for their own self-employment tax, health insurance, vacation days, and retirement plans.

 

The bottom line:

Many factors determine whether freelancing is the right fit for your life. Managing your own schedule, finances, and other complex aspects of your career aren’t easy and it’s not for everyone. For some, it may be exactly the thing that allows them to live the life they want to live while doing the work they love to do. For others, it might be the right thing, but only for a season. After a foray into freelance, they may want to take all their experience back into a company job. Whether freelancing is a stepping stone to your full-time dream position or the long-term career path you didn’t even know you wanted, it might just be time to go for it.  

 


 

About PayReel

Producing multimedia content and executing live events is chaotic—and working them is even more so! At PayReel, we minimize the time and effort it takes to get you ready for your project, make sure you get paid quick and easy and have customer service agents on call around the clock to answer your questions. The next time you work an event or a production, tell your supervisor you love working with the PayReel team. Contact us anytime at 303-526-4900 or by emailing us here.

Relax. We got you!

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What do Trump’s first 100 days mean for the on-demand economy?

What do Trump’s first 100 days mean for the on-demand economy? 1920 1285 PayReel

 

If anything’s certain, it’s that very little is certain when it comes to the rumors and grand plans that often surround any President’s first 100 days in office.

Worker classification was a major focus during President Obama’s administration, which resulted in a rash of highly-publicized lawsuits and debates across the U.S. just as the on-demand economy was coming of age.

The Trump administration’s focus on that same unique issue might actually play out favorably this time around for employers who rely on independent contractors. But before you throw all your paperwork out the window—that doesn’t mean classification is going out the window, too. In fact, some states and localities might even tighten restrictions and increase punishments for misclassification in response to relaxed federal law.

In short, things are as up in the air as ever when it comes to the federal government trying to keep up with rapid developments in the on-demand economy.

Here’s what to do while you wait to see what President Trump’s first 100 days mean for the on-demand economy.

 

Be vigilant when it comes to compliance

Federal, state, and local regulations already change regularly; who knows how things could fluctuate as the government tries to get a grasp on how benefits, taxes, and everything else could and should shift as workforces get more and more non-traditional.

 

Don’t slack on the classification

The process of classification might eventually get easier, but it’s not likely to go away. If the current situation is any indication, it could even get a bit hairier for some states and localities as they react to uncertain or lax laws at the federal level.

 

The bottom line:

If you can’t (or just don’t want to) keep up with the rules and developments surrounding the on-demand economy—PayReel can keep up for you. Not only does our team manage worker classification, payroll, and payroll taxes; as the employer of record we even take on all risks associated with a variable workforce.

 


 

About PayReel

Producing multimedia content and executing live events is chaotic. At PayReel, we make sure our clients are able to hire who they want, when they want and that everyone is paid properly. Leave all payroll services and details up to the PayReel team so you can focus on pulling off a flawless production. Contact us anytime at 303-526-4900 or by emailing us here.

Relax. We got it.

 

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Considering freelancing? Trump’s tax changes might convince you to take the leap.

Considering freelancing? Trump’s tax changes might convince you to take the leap. 5984 2703 Heidi McLean

The freedom that comes with being an independent contractor often comes at a price. Being in the driver’s seat means managing your own schedule, finances, and a lot of other complex aspects of your career. Independent contractors must pay their own self-employment tax, pay for health insurance out of pocket, and don’t have paid time off or employer matching on retirement contributions. In addition, while there are multiple opportunities for deductions and credits on the tax front, keeping careful records is essential to being able to take advantage of them.  

While many people enjoy the relative stability of a full-time job, some crave the freedom and control of being an independent contractor. President Trump’s proposals for tax changes are far from guaranteed, but they may be enough to push some people off the fence and into freelance. 

So what do small business owners and potential small business owners need to know?

 

Trump’s plan includes lower tax rates for small business

Under Trump’s proposed tax code overhaul, some businesses would be subject to lower tax rates topping out at 15 percent instead of the current 35 percent. Such businesses include Subchapter S corporations and, in some cases, limited liability companies or partnerships. According to this New York Times article, that includes “those in which income and deductions accrue directly to the owners and are reported on their personal tax returns.” Lower tax rates increase the incentive for full-time employees to approach employers about working as an independent contractor instead. 

 

It’s still hypothetical

Like everything in government, this tax code overhaul will be up for debate. One major concern includes that such a reduction in tax revenues could mean an increase in national debt. Legislators will be sure to contribute their own opinions and carry out negotiations before anything actually changes. According to Trump, though, the plan is “very well finalized” and will become a focus after the ACA repeal efforts. One way or another, we’ll have some time before we see how things play out. 

 

The bottom line:

Don’t quit your day job. Well, at least not yet. Tax laws are always subject to change (so much so that even the original link on the Trump Administration’s website now leads to an error page). As such, tax considerations alone shouldn’t be the foundation for a decision as big as becoming an independent contractor. The bigger question is whether freelancing is the right fit for your life. If it is, then go ahead and get behind the driver’s seat. Enjoy the ride and be sure to track those business miles—they’re deductible!

 


 

About PayReel

Producing multimedia content and executing live events is chaotic. At PayReel, we make sure our clients are able to hire who they want, when they want, and that everyone is paid properly. Leave all payroll services and details (even managing your independent contractors!) up to the PayReel team so you can focus on pulling off a flawless production. Contact us anytime at 303-526-4900 or by emailing us here.

Relax. We got it.