My So-Called Freelance Life - Michelle Goodman [86]
SHOW ME THE MONEY
On My Own Two Feet: A Modern Girl’s Guide to Personal Finance, by Manisha Thakor and Sharon Kedar, Adams Media, 2007. After reading this invaluable book, you will never again mindlessly charge $500 of clothes you can’t afford. Instead, you’ll have a savings account, a rainy day fund, and a retirement account, and you’ll be well on your way to having all your financial ducks in a row.
Why Women Earn Less: How to Make What You’re Really Worth, by Mikelann Valterra, Career Press, 2004. Written by an author/business coach after my own heart! This book tells you how to get over the notion that poverty is noble and start asking for more money. For additional tips and resources on negotiating freelance rates, see Mikelann online at www.womenearning.com.
BUSINESS PLANNING FOR BEGINNERS
The Anti 9-to-5 Guide: Practical Career Advice for Women Who Think Outside the Cube, by Michelle Goodman, Seal Press, 2007. Okay, I know I’m biased, but if you need additional guidance on finding your so-called passion, starting a creative venture on the side, transitioning from a conventional day job to temp or flex work, and making sure you’re covered financially every step of the way, this book is for you.
The Boss of You: Everything a Woman Needs to Know to Start, Run, and Maintain Her Own Business, by Emira Mears and Lauren Bacon, Seal Press, 2008. Have a question about budgeting, branding, finding the right customers, hiring employees, and just about anything else start-up related? These two savvy small business owners will give you the inside dish.
www.nolo.com. Free online legal advice for those who don’t speak legalese, from forming an LLC to protecting your copyrights. Oodles of trade-specific start-up and copyright books and downloadable forms you can buy (License & Merchandise Creative Art, The Legal Guide to Web & Software Development, and so on). Don’t miss the podcasts and the copyrights blog.
www.score.org. How do I love SCORE? Let me count the ways: Free business plan, expense, and budgeting templates on their website. Dozens of free articles on everything from start-up considerations to business expansion. Free online or face-to-face mentoring with seasoned business pros. Chapters throughout the country that offer practical, low-cost “Business 101” workshops. What’s not to love?
RATES AND CONTRACTS AND COPYRIGHTS—OH MY!
Consultant & Independent Contractor Agreements, Fifth Edition, by Stephen Fishman, Nolo, 2005. A legal eagle and champion of indie business owners breaks down all you need to know about the contracts you sign with clients and those you sign when you hire other freelancers (subcontractors). As a bonus, the companion CD contains contract templates you can use.
The Graphic Artists Guild Handbook: Pricing & Ethical Guidelines, Twelfth Edition, Allworth Press, 2008. My illustrator, animator, and design pals swear by this one. And if you join the Guild, you get a copy free. Nice!
What to Charge: Pricing Strategies for Freelancers and Consultants, by Laurie Lewis, Aletheia Publications, 2000. If you want to ensure you’re charging enough for your work and negotiating as effectively as you can, pick up a copy of this book. Great examples of price structures and negotiations that worked for some freelancers, as well as those that backfired.
www.copyright.gov. The U.S. Copyright Office offers comprehensive info you can actually understand about protecting your work. If you want to register your work with the Library of Congress, you can download the forms from this site.
www.keepyourcopyrights.org. A bunch of legal profs at Columbia Law School put together this site so we mere mortals could better decipher our contracts. Great examples