starting my biz
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- desmo
for those who freelance...
do you guys carry insurance? i just got quoted $2150 per year! ouch!
also, did you buy all the necessary design programs legit? or are you still using pirated software.
after all the expenses, i will be living off bread and water
:*(
- Mimio0
Start with legit software.
- republik80
Bad idea to use pirated software.
- desmo0
i am estimating around just under 3000 for all software. adobe CS2, macmedia studio and adobe type family.
is this what everyone has to go through when they start out their buisness?!!
- haam0
never had freelancers' benfits and i never pay for software or music.
only blank media and vinyl.
have you tried freelancer's union yet?
- barbtastic0
got my insurance thru here and pay about 1200/yr
remember you can write all this shit off later :)
- Rand0
what kind of insurance?
- dirtydesign0
Shelling out the cash is tough initially, but you can definitely right that off... Find a good account.
- emmaopeel0
I recommend starting out with legit software... In terms of fonts — I generally embellish my collection with fonts necessary for purchase through projects (i.e. sometimes my estimates/invoices include a cost for font purchase).
Sometimes the client balks, sometimes they are okay with it.
Health insurance is tricky — MA just instituted a new universal health-care like policy that I need to investigate (can it relieve the COBRA payments??), but I do wish there was something like the freelancer's union outside of nyc.
I also overexcitedly joined all kinds of design/small business/women's network type of groups when I started taking more work on my own, to see if I could cull some advice from more experienced people. If there is anything like that around you, I guess I recommend it. A fair amount of small talk, but you can get good advice (and some good work!) out of it.
- tkmeister0
u should get legit software if you are trying to start your biz. you don't want get your clients liable to some of those issues.
you should always get insurance. $2150 is not bad. i pay $5000/yr.
the cost of starting design biz is low, especially if you are doing web. you can write all off anyways.
get a financial advisor and a good tax accountant.
- Soler0
I paid 150/mo. for health thru kaiser permanente when i was freelance
- haha0
$3000 for startup?...try buying all the software plus computers plus all the camera gear, lights, etc. Fun fun fun
no, in all seriousness, good luck.
Those initial funds are tough to spend, but well worth it in the end.
Definitely go legit with software. Get married so you can live off spouse's insurance.
- cram0
get legit software. save all receipts and get a separate checking account for all biz stuff. makes it easy to keep track of what you can write off.
never work for free or the promise of "more work to come"... they just want that work free too.
only promise what you can do and then do what you promise.
work for a solid rate but give good clients a break if they truly have potential...
be honest and do the very best you can no matter the budget.
get a third up front on big jobs. definitely don't post work to their server until you get that third.
clients would rather hear up front that you cannot make their proposed deadline rather than you be late. some might walk away but they will respect you. you will get a bad rep if you are late all the time.
good luck pal. i have been freelance or semi freelance for 8 years and it is good for me.