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Use Written Service Contracts for Your Clients

When you agree to perform services for a client, you are entering into a legal contract -- you promise to do the work, and the client promises to pay you for it. Many independent contractors rely on handshake agreements with their clients. Instead of writing down the deal, the contractor and client discuss what the contractor will do and what the client will pay, and that’s the end of the story -- unless the deal falls apart.

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As a freelancer, how can I make sure to get paid?

As a freelance copy editor, I seem to be forever waiting to be paid. I'm out 90 days right now on a project. I'm afraid that if I gripe, I won't get any more work. How can I keep this from happening?

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deduction

In tax law, an amount that you can subtract from the total amount of income on which you owe tax. Examples of federal income tax deductions include mortgage interest, charitable contributions, and certain state taxes.

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