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CONSULTING & CONTRACTING
Save 40% or more on all estate planning products. Sale ends June 1st.

Let The Company CorporationŽ form your Corporation or LLC, quickly and easily. Packages starting as low as $149 (plus state fees).

Pros and Cons of Freelancing, Contracting, and Consulting

An independent contractor (IC) is a person who contracts to perform services for others without having the legal status of an employee. Most people who qualify as independent contractors follow their own trade, business, or profession -- that is, they are in business for themselves. This is why they are called "independent" contractors: They earn their livelihoods from their own independent businesses instead of depending upon an employer for a paycheck.

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Use Written Service Contracts for Your Clients
Independent contractors can avoid trouble by putting client agreements in writing.

Preserving Your Status as an Independent Contractor
Follow these strategies to avoid being reclassified as an employee.

Working as an Independent Contractor FAQ
Quick answers for consultants, freelancers, and contractors.

Formalize Your Freelance Business

  1. Consider a formal business structure.
  2. Name your business.
  3. Consider office space.
  4. Get licenses and permits.
  5. Shop for insurance.
  6. Set the right prices.
  7. Use a basic bookkeeping system.
  8. Market yourself.
  9. Plan for tax time.
  10. Follow the rules if you hire employees.

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Find a Business Lawyer - LLC, Partnership, Nonprofit
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Working for Yourself
Working for Yourself: Law & Taxes for Independent Contractors, Freelancers & Consultants
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Home Business Tax Deductions
Home Business Tax Deductions: Keep What You Earn
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Quicken Legal Business Pro 2008
QuickenŽ Legal Business Pro 2008
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