Remote Freelance Work: Tips & Tricks for 2018
Wednesday, December 6, 2017, 6:00 AM | Leave Comment
The freelance life isn’t for everyone, but working life is changing. Even traditional workplaces are transitioning to include virtual tools that allow remote work. Added to that, a prevalent gig economy, fueled by tech innovation has created a large workforce of freelancers and contract workers.
Working remote can have a number of advantages. Contrary to previously held beliefs, working outside of an office setting makes many people more productive. It also opens up new talent, greatly benefiting a company’s ability to assemble the perfect team.
There are a lot of good reasons for a positive remote culture.
For the worker, there are a ton of perks to remote work.
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Work While You Travel!
I’m not talking about turning vacations into work; I’m talking about making more room for travel in your life! Remote work gives you opportunities to visit far-flung family more often and work from exotic places.
So if you’re working remotely, either as an employee or a freelancer, why not take that business meeting on the beach?
Whether you’re a developer, a freelance writer, or a designer, there’s really no need to stay put while you work. And this advantage doesn’t just apply to luxurious jet-setting: if you’re working remote, you may want to consider moving to an area with a low cost of living while keeping the urban-style job.
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Or, Work in Peace and Comfort at Home
If you’re not a traveler, the opportunity for remote work can still be ideal. Setting up a home office and working in your comfiest slippers can do wonders for your work-life balance as well as help you accomplish your best work.
There are a lot of gig-economy and small business endeavours you can undertake from home, and a number of companies are becoming more flexible with their remote work options for employees.
Working from home requires some additional planning and discipline, as distractions likely abound, but once you get into the work groove, you might be amazed at how much you can accomplish in comfort.
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Survival as a Freelancer
Working freelance has its drawbacks. For one thing, tax season becomes a lot more complicated. You need to keep careful track of payments made by clients, as well as your own expenses.
Deductible expenses are a big part of reducing your tax burden if you’re self-employed. It will be a good idea to go to a professional accountant at least once to get a handle on how to file.
In the meantime, there are other accounting solutions that can be quite accessible for a freelance.
Managing your clients, their expectations, and your own time can also become a difficulty. In a rush to sign as many money-making contracts as possible, it’s easy to overwhelm yourself.
If you’re not careful, you can ruin potentially fruitful relationships by overworking yourself. So make sure you’re honest with yourself about what you can and can’t take on.
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Know Who You’re Working for and by Which Laws They’re Bound
Regulations concerning freelance workers differs by country and even state. You’re going to want to be aware of where your clients are located and what protections you’re afforded by law.
It’s a good idea, for example, to look for work in New York. New York enacted protections for freelance workers and imposed requirements on the companies that hire them.
Always insist on utilizing your full rights, especially to clear contracts. A potential client’s knowledge of their own responsibilities should also inform your decision making when you’re deciding whether to take on work.
It can take a little extra work, but a successful remote culture can improve the quality of work and life for many people.
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