benefits for freelancers? any suggestions?

Discussion in 'Copywriting' started by EspressoChick, May 26, 2008.

  1. #1
    Hello :)

    I was curious to know if anyone had suggestions about benefits while being self-employed or a freelancer. :) I'd be interested in learning more about benefit options -- if anyone has suggestions or advice -- good companies, that kind of thing. :)

    :) Abby
     
    EspressoChick, May 26, 2008 IP
  2. marketjunction

    marketjunction Well-Known Member

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    #2
    I may be alone here, but what exactly do you mean?

    Benefits as in working when you want and that sort of thing? Or benefits as in employee benefits?
     
    marketjunction, May 28, 2008 IP
  3. Trusted Writer

    Trusted Writer Banned

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    #3
    Agreed, a personal benefit working as a freelance writer is the ability to work at your own pace despite deadlines that often you can negotiate with clients or setting up your own turnaround time frames.

    However, I'm unsure if you are meaning a sort of contractual benefits or something else.
     
    Trusted Writer, May 28, 2008 IP
  4. resaik_king

    resaik_king Active Member

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    #4
    It will just depend on your project type. If you want a long term project you should go for regular employee so that you can monitor him/her every now and then.but if its short time I prefer freelance. sometimes outsourcing also is more cheaper compare in in-house programmer, graphics, etc..

    But for me you should go for freelancer because I am here!!

     
    resaik_king, May 28, 2008 IP
  5. Seasidewriter

    Seasidewriter Peon

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    #5
    The way I understand it, there are no benefits by being a freelancer, that's why companies hire us. We have to pay our own insurance and taxes and there is no office party or bonus at Christmas.

    I think the no office party is the hardest! But as Trusted Writer has pointed out, we get to work our own schedule.
     
    Seasidewriter, May 28, 2008 IP
  6. Decipher442

    Decipher442 Well-Known Member

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    #6
    :) I am a fulltime freelancer, it treats me good I mostly get my work from small projects from ----- usually 1 out of every 3 jobs gets me in on a long term job paying pretty good.


    NOTE TO DIGITAL POINT! http:// urlsnub .com/ v9 <--- THIS IS NOT AN AFFILIATE LINK, Its a SHORT URL CREATED AT URLSNUB.COM, that redirects to Scriptlance.com, I would appriciate it if you would REMOVE the infraction you gave me.
     
    Decipher442, May 28, 2008 IP
  7. Trusted Writer

    Trusted Writer Banned

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    #7
    That is masked referral link pointiing to Scriptlance so nothing to trust in :rolleyes:
     
    Trusted Writer, May 28, 2008 IP
  8. jhmattern

    jhmattern Illustrious Member

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    #8
    1. We decide on which hours are most productive for us to work in. It also allows us to work around other things that are important to us - from our families to squeezing in workouts to going to school.

    2. We don't have to deal with a commute to and from work (a welcome relief after I used to drive an hour and a half each way!!!).

    3. We can exercise some control over the actual environment we work in. I keep a fish bowl on my desk... it's relaxing to watch him swim around, and I probably couldn't do that working at someone else's office.

    4. We don't have the office politics (or at least not as much) to deal with.

    5. We decide what clients we want to work with and which ones we don't want to work with (as an employee, you just do as you're told).

    6. We set our own rates, and if higher rates aren't going to work within our target market, we have the freedom to change our target market.

    7. We don't have to schedule vacation time around when other employees will be away, or get it "approved."

    That's just what comes to mind off the bat. There are plenty of benefits to freelancing (although that's not to say there aren't downsides as well).
     
    jhmattern, May 28, 2008 IP
  9. webgal

    webgal Peon

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    #9
    SEP IRA. That's the IRA for the self employed. You are limited if you give to one that is traditional in terms of write offs. With SEP, you get IRS credit for more of your contribution.
     
    webgal, May 28, 2008 IP
  10. snarke

    snarke Peon

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    #10
    If you are talking about health benefits there is a lot of information over at Media Bistro. You could also try doing a Google Search for "healthcare while self employed" or something like that. :) There are discount programs available and I think some of the major insurance companies have options for people to purchase their own insurance policies. They can be very expensive though!
     
    snarke, May 28, 2008 IP
  11. marketjunction

    marketjunction Well-Known Member

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    #11
    The only IRA I know is the Irish Republican Army. :)
     
    marketjunction, May 28, 2008 IP
  12. marketjunction

    marketjunction Well-Known Member

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    #12
    We as in "some of us." :)

    There's a slew of freelancers out there that accept any client that walks through the door and who seemingly work for whatever is being offered.

    I see this all the time.

    I know, I know, we have the "freedom" to do so. That word should be banned.
     
    marketjunction, May 28, 2008 IP
  13. jhmattern

    jhmattern Illustrious Member

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    #13
    Well, I don't call them freelancers... I just call them nuts. :D The ones who operate like that generally don't make it in the long run, because they don't have the business sense, so I try not to worry too much about them.
     
    jhmattern, May 28, 2008 IP
  14. marketjunction

    marketjunction Well-Known Member

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    #14
    Actually, I know of some who have been doing it for a long time.

    They survive, but they are almost always grumpy and have no love for what they're doing.

    But, you're right in many cases. Those guys usually burn out. The ones that don't usually have no viable options.
     
    marketjunction, May 28, 2008 IP
  15. EspressoChick

    EspressoChick Well-Known Member

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    #15
    Hi :)

    lol I should have been more clear. I meant like dental, healthcare, 401k that kind of thing. Though the fact that I can take my Friday 10:30am yoga class is certainly a benefit...... lol. And no office politics! yay!!!!! I have a very, very low b.s. factor. :)

    Thanks for the tip on MediaBistro, I'll check them out and see what they have. :)

    :) Abby
     
    EspressoChick, May 28, 2008 IP
  16. jhmattern

    jhmattern Illustrious Member

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    #16
    Well, burn out or become "trapped" I guess. They're also usually the crowd where most can't move up the chain if they tried, because they literally have to fill all of their time with those crap gigs to stay at a decent income level, leaving no time to market themselves for better things - again, not much business sense.
     
    jhmattern, May 28, 2008 IP
  17. marketjunction

    marketjunction Well-Known Member

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    #17
    Yep. They got boxed in.

    So many freelancers don't understand that they are selling a limited resource.

    And not saving any creative juice for yourself has to be the #1 crime.
     
    marketjunction, May 28, 2008 IP
  18. latoya

    latoya Active Member

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    #18
    How much expresso did you have before writing this post? : )
     
    latoya, May 28, 2008 IP
  19. webgal

    webgal Peon

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    #19
    Well, the SEP IRA is a 401k benefit for the self employed.

    As far as dental and healthcare, my husband works for a corporation. I can't be without benefits. I've had some serious surgery in the past so that's why I get hit hard with the premiums for independently employed. But do get benefits. I can say this from experience.
     
    webgal, May 29, 2008 IP