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ChatGPT has been all over the news lately, and there have been a lot of predictions about what it can and will do. Will it make blog writers obsolete? (This writer hopes not!) Will it replace SEO? Will it make natural language search the new standard? Big companies are scrambling to figure out how to optimize this new technology, but what about small businesses? They can use ChatGPT too – and they may need to, in order to remain competitive. Here’s what you need to know. What is ChatGPT?ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence (AI) ‘chatbot’ that uses natural language to answer questions, write content and create code. ChatGPT was created by OpenAI and released in November, 2022. It has since been joined by similar AI products like Google’s Bard and Microsoft’s latest version of Bing, which is driven by AI. These are all considered chatbots, and there are others on the market as well. (ChatGPT is the brand name of OpenAI’s product, and has become associated with the technology generally, in somewhat the same way that we call facial tissue ‘Kleenex’ regardless of what brand it is.) At least for now, ChatGPT is free, and you can create an account at chat.openai.com. How does ChatGPT work?You can ask ChatGPT questions, or you can instruct it to do things. For example, we asked, ‘What kind of insurance do I need for my small business?’ and got this reply: It depends on your specific business, but some common types of insurance for small businesses include:
You can then get more specific by asking clarifying questions. So, we said, ‘I have a consulting business. I am a sole proprietor.’ This was the response: For a consulting business as a sole proprietor, the following types of insurance are typically recommended:
How accurate is ChatGPT?This is the critical question. The (less than helpful) answer is that it varies. In the examples above, the information provided is accurate, but not necessarily complete. There is no mention of cyber security insurance, for example. But it did eliminate workers compensation insurance once we specified that the question was for a sole proprietor. But it’s not a bad place to start. As with any technology, the better information you put in, the better information you get out. So if you are specific with your request, you’ll get a more accurate result. How can small businesses use ChatGPT?To answer this question, we consulted ChatGPT. The prompt we used was, ‘write a 500-word blog post on using ChatGPT in small business.’ This is what came up: In today’s digital age, businesses must keep up with the latest technological advances to remain competitive. One such advance is the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and its applications in various industries. One of the most notable applications of AI is in chatbots, which can help small businesses save time, money, and resources while enhancing their customer experience. One such chatbot that is gaining in popularity is ChatGPT, a large language model developed by OpenAI. In this post, we will explore how small businesses can leverage ChatGPT to improve their operations and customer service.
In conclusion, ChatGPT is a powerful tool that can help small businesses save time, money, and resources while improving customer experience, streamlining communication, and enhancing marketing strategies. By integrating ChatGPT into their operations, small businesses can gain a competitive advantage and thrive in today's digital age. This is a thorough, well-organized blog post that identifies five ways a small business could use ChatGPT. What it lacks in flair and personality, it makes up for in efficiency. A small business could certainly use this tool to create blog content they may otherwise not have the time to write. What are the potential drawbacks of ChatGPT?Like most technology, ChatGPT lacks some of the finesse of human interaction. It may provide information that is technically accurate but practically faulty. For example, in the example above about business insurance, the chatbot suggested General Liability and Business Owners Policy but did not specify that these two are mutually exclusive. (A Business Owners Policy includes General Liability as well as Business Property coverage.) Chatbots also do not account for brand voice or tone. If your business’s brand voice is light, breezy, and a little bit irreverent, the above blog post example could come across as stilted or forced. All that being said, ChatGPT and other chatbots can be a boon for small business owners. As long as you review and edit what the chatbot writes to make sure it’s saying what you want to say the way you want to say it, AI could save you some time and improve your communications. And, as of the date of this blog post, it’s free, so there are plenty of reasons to give it a try. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2023/04/27/is-chatgpt-the-next-big-thing-for-small-business-what-you-need-to-know/
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Our partners at ZenBusiness sat down with Mark Cuban at South by Southwest (SXSW), the music, film, and interactive conference in Austin, Texas. Mark is a champion and advocate for people who want to start their own businesses. So we asked: Are entrepreneurs born or made? What does it take to be a successful entrepreneur? Is there a formula? Read on for his top tips for starting a business. Question 1: What makes someone a great entrepreneur?Mark Cuban: We’re all entrepreneurs. We are all by nature problem solvers. We solve problems, and we find ways to help people. That’s the foundation of being an entrepreneur. The hard part is finding the thing you are good at. When you start a company, you’re going to have to compete. In order to compete, you have to be good at something. Once we find that thing, then it’s just a question of fear. Question 2: How can people overcome that fear and take the leap to start a business?Mark Cuban: One of the defining characteristics of an entrepreneur is you can’t be afraid to go broke. At one point, I was living with six guys in a three-bedroom apartment, sleeping on the floor. It was nasty! I had my one towel I stole from Motel 6, and it was really disgusting. But it was the best thing ever! The power of broke is you have nothing to lose. You go for it. Your back’s against the wall. You realize you’ve only got one direction. That’s the power of being an entrepreneur. Taking that first step and finding the things we’re good at are the challenges. Question 3: How much money does a new entrepreneur need to start a business?Mark Cuban: The best way to start a business is with as little money as possible. Or, with no money, or with money you saved up. You are selling a skill you have, and you start slowly. That’s what I’ve always done. Starting with nothing is where the big bucks are made. When you need to raise money, the best way to do it is slowly, surely, organically. Question 4: What’s the first step to making a business legitimate?Mark Cuban: Let me give you a piece of advice. We live in a very litigious society these days. And one of the best things you can do is to incorporate. The best form of incorporation is what they call an LLC. It limits your liability when you do business. With an LLC, you are protecting your personal assets, like your own car, house, and savings. Question 5: What should new business owners do when they get intimidated by aspects of business they’ve never had to deal with before?Mark Cuban: All entrepreneurs get to the point where there is something they don’t know. No matter what it is, you have to learn. Agility and loving to learn are great skills every entrepreneur needs. Because you’re the final decision maker. The balance of that is how fast you go. You have to slow down. Don’t rush. Be willing to learn new things. And if you need help, take the time to partner with someone who has experience. Question 6: What’s the best way to get new customers?Mark Cuban: If you’ve got a great product or service, the question becomes: do your customers feel the same way? If they do, they’ll be your marketers. You don’t need an MBA. Be organic. Just sell. Selling is not convincing. Selling is just opening a door and saying, “Do you love it as much as I do? Or, can I help you?” If not, you keep knocking on doors until someone says yes. Question 7: How can business owners make sure they are including diverse perspectives?Mark Cuban: I’m a big believer that diversity is good business. It’s not a check box. You want your workforce, particularly your salespeople, to be able to connect with your customers. Whether it’s age, gender, location, or ethnicity, it’s easier to do customer service and make a sale when there’s a commonality between people. We all have things about ourselves that make us connectors. This connection leads to genuine success Before we wrap up, how do you feel about the future of entrepreneurship?Mark Cuban: America is built on entrepreneurship, period, end of sentence! Summary: Mark Cuban’s Top Seven Tips to Start a Business
If you’re ready to take your freelancing to the next level, ZenBusiness can help. Start your own LLC in a matter of minutes, and save up to 20% off with you Freelancers Union-exclusive discount. Members can also learn more about LLC formation in our Freelancer’s Guide to LLC Formation. Disclaimer: The content on this page is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2023/04/26/mark-cubans-top-seven-tips-for-entrepreneurs/
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IRS Tax Tip 2023-53, April 19, 2023 After filing a return, taxpayers due a refund are usually eager for that money to hit their bank account. They can check the status of their refund easily and conveniently with the IRS Where's My Refund? tool at IRS.gov/refunds and with the IRS2Go app. Refund status is available within 24 hours of the IRS letting the taxpayer know that they got the e-filed return. The tool also gives the taxpayer a personalized refund date after the IRS processes the return and approves the refund.
When the status changes to "refund approved," the IRS is preparing to send the refund, either as a direct deposit to the taxpayer's bank account or directly to the taxpayer by check in the mail to the address on their tax return. Taxpayers don't need to check the status more than once a day. The IRS updates the Where's My Refund? overnight in most cases. Calling the IRS won't speed up a tax refund. The information available on Where's My Refund? is the same information available to IRS telephone assistors. Taxpayers should allow time for their bank or credit union to post the refund to their account or for it to arrive in the mail. Refund timingThe IRS issues most refunds in fewer than 21 days. Some tax returns require more time to review, and this can delay a refund. It takes longer to process a return if the taxpayer: via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2023/04/25/this-online-tool-helps-taxpayers-track-their-refund/
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If you didn’t quite finish your tax return by April 18, filing for a tax extension was a smart move. It’s easy to complete Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File, and get another six months to put everything together. In fact, it’s a little too easy. And the extension of time is often more time than most of us need. The new Oct. 16, 2023, deadline may seem far away, but be cautious! It will be here before you know it. Here are a few tips to help you keep your tax return on track. Do as much as you can on your return.If you haven’t already, prepare as much of your return as you can now. If you’re waiting for information from someone else, make an estimate. Mark estimated amounts on your return, so you’ll remember to go back to them later. Keep track of your tax notes.As you prepare your return, you should keep a notebook or list on your computer of tax items you still need (use a tax return checklist) and questions you have. As you find the information you need, check it off the list. Additionally, jot down how you arrived at different amounts, such as the square footage of your office or how many days you spent at a vacation rental you own. Keep these notes with your tax return. That way, if the IRS ever questions anything on your return, your notes can help explain where you got your information. Keep your tax documents organized.Before you file your tax documents, take a few minutes to arrange them so they’re easy to find later. Make notes on credit card statements and receipts as necessary. Place check marks on tax documents to indicate the information you already entered on your tax return. A little preparation now will save you from starting all over when you get back to working on your return. Finish up as soon as possible.Trust us, you’ll enjoy summer vacation a lot more if you know you already filed your tax return. This is especially true if you’re worried about how much tax you’ll owe when you file. Don’t hold onto your return forever hoping to find more deductions. Simply do the best you can and file. It won’t get easier to remember deductions and other information as time goes by. If you find something important later, you can always file an amended tax return. Also, as you complete your return, don’t forget to enter any payments you made when filing your April 18 extension. This article is for informational purposes only and not legal or financial advice.All TaxAct offers, products and services are subject to applicable terms and conditions.via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2023/04/20/what-to-do-after-filing-a-tax-extension/
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We know it’s tempting, but don’t put off filing your taxes! Taxpayers must stay on top of tax deadlines to avoid possible penalties and interest charges for late filing. Falling behind on your tax filing obligations can be stressful. It’s better to file taxes early or on time so you can stop worrying about your taxes and move on to other (more fun) activities. But if you didn’t file your tax return on time this year, it’s not the end of the world. The worst that can happen in the short term is that you could now owe penalties and interest to the IRS — and even those may not be as bad as you think. In fact, there may be no penalty for filers in some cases. If you missed the tax deadline this tax year, here’s what you must do. If you didn’t file an automatic extensionIf you didn’t file an extension, don’t assume it doesn’t matter how long you wait to file now that you’ve missed the tax deadline. If you owe tax with your return, you will owe a hefty late filing penalty totaling 5 percent of your unpaid taxes for every month or partial month your return is late, up to a maximum penalty of 25 percent. Note that the late filing penalty is much higher than the late payment penalty (which we’ll discuss in the next section). You need to file an automatic extension by Tax Day in April. There is one exception for U.S. citizens and resident aliens who are out of the country on the April tax filing deadline — if you’re in this situation, you have two extra months to file a tax return and pay taxes due. It may be tempting to ignore your tax return and contemplate not filing at all as time passes. After all, you may think that the IRS won’t know it was filed late if you don’t file a federal tax return. But that’s not a good idea. If your employer or anyone else filed an informational return for you, such as Form W-2, the IRS will know you should have filed a return. The IRS system may take a while to match your informational return to your lack of a return, but it will happen eventually. When it does, you’ll get a letter, possibly with a tax bill including interest and penalties. Save yourself the stress! You don’t want to miss out on a tax refund. If you’re owed a refund, you have up to three years to file a return and claim your money. If you don’t claim your money by year three, the government gets to keep it forever. There is no penalty for filing a tax return late when you have a refund or no balance due, so don’t miss out on that extra cash just because you missed the tax deadline. If you filed a tax extensionYou have extra time to finish your return if you filed for a tax extension with the IRS before the April tax due date. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean you have extra time to pay your tax bill. Even with an extension, you could owe a failure-to-pay penalty, which amounts to 0.5 percent of your unpaid taxes for every month or partial month your tax bill is overdue, up to a maximum of 25 percent. But here’s the catch — how do you know how much tax you owe if you haven’t completed your return yet? To help estimate your potential tax liability, completing your return as much as possible is a good idea, using estimations as necessary. If you e-file, you’ll be able to save your return and go back to update it as needed. You can replace estimated numbers with actual numbers as you receive more tax forms or information. If you determine you will have tax due, pay as much of your approximate bill as possible, even if you can’t finish your return. That way, you save on interest and penalties for underpaying tax on the total amount due. If you can’t afford a tax payment for the full amount, you can also set up an installment agreement payment plan with the IRS. Even if you think you’ll get a tax refund instead of owing money, completing your return as soon as possible is still a good idea. Don’t let the six-month tax extension tempt you to put all your tax files away only to get them out later. It will no doubt be harder to remember your tax details come October. If you have a complex income tax return, it may never feel like it’s done. There’s always the hope of one more receipt or something else you’ll discover to lower your tax bill. But, at some point, you have to file. And remember, if you discover something else later, you can always file an amended return. Filing state income tax extensionsIf you live in a state that charges income tax, don’t forget to file an extension for your state taxes too! In most cases, much like your federal taxes, a state extension gives you more time to file, not more time to pay. Some states will grant you an automatic six-month tax extension if you’ve filed for a federal tax extension, but not always. Reference this list to check your state’s rules and view any necessary tax forms you might need. This article is for informational purposes only and not legal or financial advice.via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2023/04/19/what-to-do-if-you-didnt-file-on-time/
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IR-2023-84, April 17, 2023 WASHINGTON — As the tax deadline draws near, the Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers who need more time to file that getting an extension is quick and easy. An extension gives taxpayers an automatic six more months – until Oct. 16 this year – to file their tax return. One of the easiest ways to get an extension is by using the IRS Free File program. While an extension allows for extra time to gather, prepare and file paperwork, it's important to remember that an extension of time to file taxes is not an extension of time to pay. Taxpayers who owe taxes should pay their entire obligation, or as much as they can, by the normal deadline to avoid penalties and interest. The deadline this year is April 18 because the regular date of April 15 falls on a weekend, followed by a holiday in the District of Columbia. Use IRS Free File to get an extension onlineA quick and easy way to get an extension is through IRS Free File on IRS.gov. All individual tax filers, regardless of income, can electronically request an extension on Form 4868 PDF by using the IRS Free File program partner software on IRS.gov. To get the extension, taxpayers must estimate their tax liability on this form and file it by April 18. Get an extension when making a paymentOther fast, free and easy ways to get an extension include using IRS Direct Pay, the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System or by paying with a credit or debit card or digital wallet. There's no need to file a separate Form 4868 extension request when making an electronic payment and indicating it's for an extension. The IRS will automatically count it as an extension. Important remindersThe IRS reminds taxpayers that payments are still due by the original deadline even if they request an extension of time to file a tax return. Taxpayers should file even if they can't pay the full amount. By filing either a return on time or requesting an extension by the April 18 filing deadline, they'll avoid the late-filing penalty, which can be 10 times as costly as the penalty for not paying. Taxpayers who pay as much as they can by the due date, reduce the overall amount subject to penalty and interest charges. The interest rate for an individual's unpaid taxes is currently 7%, compounded daily. The late-filing penalty is generally 5% per month and the late-payment penalty is normally 0.5% per month, both of which max out at 25%. The IRS will work with taxpayers who cannot pay the full amount of tax they owe. Other options to pay, such as getting a loan or paying by credit card, may help resolve a tax debt. Most people can set up a payment plan on IRS.gov to pay off their balance over time. Some taxpayers get automatic extensionsCertain eligible taxpayers get more time to file without having to ask for extensions:
via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2023/04/18/need-more-time-to-file-taxes-its-easy-to-get-an-extension-with-irs-free-file/
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Being a freelancer is a lot like being a cowboy in the wild west. You have all of the freedom and flexibility to roam where you want to. You don't have to answer to anyone, you can decide which projects to take and you get paid well for the work that you do. On the other hand, when something goes wrong it lands on you, whether you are at fault or not. Do I need Freelance insurance?Among the types of freelance businesses that should have freelance liability insurance are web designers, graphic designers, programmers and photographers. Any business that provides a service or gives advice would benefit from the peace of mind that freelance liability insurance offers. Whether you’re a Mompreneur, who wants more time with the kids or just someone who prefers to make their own schedule, freelancing can be a great way to make a living. But you need to know how to protect your business, and freelancer insurance can help with that. Example Consulting/ Freelance professions we provide freelance insurance to:How Professional Liability Insurance protects FreelancersOne way that freelancers can protect themselves if something goes wrong is with a professional liability insurance policy. Professional liability insurance, sometimes called error and omissions or E&O coverage, can protect you against claims that you incorrectly provided a contracted service or that the work you did was faulty in some way. Freelancer Professional Liability claim exampleA freelance graphic designer took a project that included the design of a logo for a start-up technology company. The designer submitted several designs for the client to choose from. The client requested that elements of two different proposed designs be combined into the final logo. The designer didn't realize it, but the final design bore a striking resemblance to the logo of another company in the technology space. The established company sued the start-up for copyright infringement, and the start-up sued the designer. A professional liability policy could have covered the designer for the cost to defend against the suit as well as any settlement or judgement. How Professional Liability Insurance protects FreelancersIn addition to professional liability insurance, freelancers should consider general liability insurance. A general liability policy covers property damage or bodily injury to someone else. If you meet with clients in your office, or if you go to a client’s office or job site, a general liability policy will protect you if a client slips and falls on your icy side walk, for example, or if someone trips and falls over your laptop bag while you’re at a client site. How General Liability Insurance can cover your equipmentFreelancers, perhaps better than anyone, know that they are only as good as their equipment. If your freelance business includes equipment such as computers, printers, copiers and so forth, a business owner's insurance policy combines general liability coverage with coverage for these items. For example, You are finishing up a long day of photographing your client's conference. As you are loading your camera bag into your car, it slips out of your hand and hits the pavement. You open your bag to find that your 70-200mm lens and your portable hard drive are damaged. When you get home you discover that you can't even pull your photos off the hard drive. Your Hiscox Business Owners Policy could provide coverage for your damaged lens and hard drive and help cover the cost to recover your data from the damaged drive. Get Freelancer Liability Insurance today!As a freelancer you help your clients improve their performance by solving problems and improving processes. At Hiscox we make it easy for you to get professional liability insurance that's tailored to your field. Get a fast, free quote now and get that Hiscox confidence behind your consulting/ freelance business. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2023/04/17/freelancers-liability-insurance-what-you-need-to-know/
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A funny thing happens when you work for yourself: some clients try to take advantage of you. Maybe not on purpose. Maybe they just don’t know any better. Yet, it still happens. That’s why it’s up to YOU to set them straight. And it all starts by embracing your badassery. Shift the narrative of who exactly is in charge of your business. Sure, as a freelancer, you get to work:
That part’s great, no? That also means you get to make the rules. For example, you can determine:
Yet, for some reason, some clients—and prospective clients—will try to dictate the rules. Here’s the secret: Don’t let them. Earn the Respect You Deserve It all starts with you. You’ve got to be your own little badass. You’ve got to stop accepting this disrespectful behavior. So often we let fear and anxiety take over. We accept poor treatment because we don’t know any better … or we’re desperate for money. And we get in our own way when we don’t have good policies (read: boundaries) in place. Understand that being self-employed does NOT give others the right to walk all over you. As a freelance business owner, you are well within your right to determine your own policies, what’s negotiable, and what’s a dealbreaker. Start by Training Yourself You can’t train your clients until you’re trained yourself. So, start with number one.
Figure all this out ahead of time, be ready for different scenarios, and be prepared to stand your ground. Then Train Your Clients Be proactive by getting everything in writing and having any hard discussions upfront. Consider sharing a ‘Working with Me’ document or a ‘What to Expect’ section on your website.
And get comfortable saying no. Plain and simple. It’s hard at first, sure, yet it’s super empowering once you’re able to master it. Act Like a Business, Get Treated Like a Business Getting treated with respect starts with you. You’ve got to command respect. And you can do that with the above suggestions. Just like in life, in business, people will treat you with what you allow. They’ll walk all over you if you let them. Don’t let them. Get your ducks in a row, get educated, train yourself, and train your clients. If something feels wrong, it probably is. Ask questions. Trust your gut. And have a gameplan in place. If all else fails, walk away. There’s plenty of work out there—with people who WILL treat you fairly. You just have to find it. Think about:
The more we band together collectively as freelancers and start accepting nothing less than fair treatment and respect, the better off we’ll all be. Find the confidence. And embrace your badassery. -- via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2023/04/13/embrace-your-badassery/
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If you are a freelancer who has received restricted stock units (RSUs) as part of your compensation, you need to ensure that you are withholding taxes appropriately, or else you could end up owing money to the IRS at the end of the year. In this article, we’ll break down why, and what you can do about it proactively to avoid the situation. First, let’s define what an RSU is: Essentially, it is a substitute for an actual stock grant. This means that when a company gives you an RSU, it is in lieu of company stock, but it will be exchanged for actual stock in the future. The vesting date for these assets is the time at which you take ownership of the actual shares, which is often at a specific time or based on specific performance parameters. There is no immediate tax liability incurred when you first receive an RSU,it is when your RSU vests that you have a tax obligation, based on the payout of stock shares.This is the income you need to report on your taxes, based on the fair market value of the stock. A potential problem can arise if your tax withholding (or estimated tax payments) are not adequate when your RSUs are vested and you have to pay income tax on it. This situation can really mess with your marginal tax rate, considering that typical Federal withholding is a flat 22% (or 37% if an individual’s income is over $1million). However, for many people who are below $1 million in income, this rate for tax withholding is inadequate and can lead to an unexpected tax bill. The solution to a potential tax obligation related to RSUs is to withhold taxes at your marginal tax rate. The marginal tax rate is the tax you pay on an additional dollar of income. In the United States, the federal marginal tax rate for individuals increases as income rises. This means that your marginal tax rate will likely be lower than your actual tax bracket. You will also owe payroll taxes on your RSU, which will add to the amount of tax you should set aside. Another consideration are any capital gains or losses based on when you sell your vested RSUs. For example, if you sell the stock at a higher price than its fair value at the time of vesting you will need to report a capital gain. If you have held the RSU for less than a year, you will be on the hook for your regular tax rate. After a year or more the gains will be taxed at a lower tax rate. If you pay estimated taxes on a regular basis and your RSU becomes vested you will be expected to include this as part of your income and pay income tax accordingly during the next quarter. Beware of the differing RSU tax triggers. RSUs can be offered with different restrictions such as being subject to only a vesting schedule; these are called single-trigger RSUs. For some RSUs, called double-trigger RSUs, additional conditions must also be met along with vesting. Another way to reduce taxes on RSUs is to invoke the IRS regulation related to Section 83(b) Elections which allows holders of RSUs to report the fair market value of their shares as ordinary income on the date that they are granted, rather than when they become vested. Any capital gains are still taxed, but they are taxed at the time of grant. This can help you pay tax on usually a lower value stock since it is often expected that RSUs will appreciate over time. This also means that you may want to sell RSU shares at tax time, especially if you believe the stock price will increase. However, there are no guarantees that this will be the case, so you may want to keep tabs on the value of your RSUs throughout the year and check with a tax professional to ensure that you won't be charged tax penalties for underpaying your taxes. Jonathan Medows is a New York City based CPA who specializes in taxes and business issues for freelancers and self-employed individuals across the country. He offers a free consultation to members of Freelancer’s Union and has many guides and resources covering tax, accounting and business issues relevant to freelancers on his website, www.cpaforfreelancers.com. Jonathan is happy to provide an initial consultation to freelancers. To qualify for a free consultation you must be a member of the Freelancers Union and mention this article upon contacting him. Please note that this offer is not available March 1 through April 18 and covers a general conversation about tax responsibilities of a freelancer and potential deductions. These meetings do not include review of self-prepared documents, review of self-prepared tax returns, or the review of the work of other preparers. The free meeting does not include the preparation or review of quantitative calculations of any sort. He is happy to provide such services but would need to charge an hourly rate for his time. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2023/04/12/learn-how-to-avoid-owing-unexpected-freelance-tax-on-restricted-stock-units/
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In my recent conversations with fellow freelancers in the Creative Lounge at the Hub, one of the questions that eventually comes up is how to best to gather and visualize the ever-expanding set responsibilities, projects and aspirations that we carry as solo business owners. While growing my digital studio, Methods, I've experimented with and (mostly) abandoned a decent number of task management systems, reminder lists and flashy new apps that promise more intentional daily organization. You've likely been through a similar song and dance cycling through various forms of structured planning and rituals to get your most important work accomplished. Personally, I eventually arrived at a place of being honest with myself that my work as a freelancer will always be a bit messy and improvised regardless of how hard I try to mold it into a singular system. So it was with this perspective that I came upon a refreshingly unconventional approach to building a daily practice with an app named Sunsama. In only a few short months of use, my relationship with daily organization has been reinvigorated. Sunsama is an extremely accessible daily planner that enables me to articulate, anticipate and assemble all of the building blocks that shape my work. Whenever I tried implementing a new task management app in the past, there would always be that one thing that felt like it was missing. Now I've come to realize it wasn't one more inventive feature that I needed, but a tool like Sunsama that overhauled the entire dynamic — acting as my collaborator — to encourage me to have a consistent open dialogue and feedback loop with myself. As a freelancer who works primarily remote, I've had to develop my own unique working rhythms, generate activation energy and coach myself through the dips in motivation that inevitably come along during my day. In the early weeks of settling into Sunsama, I observed that I was suddenly having a realistic conversation about my workload and began to better appreciate the iterative progress I was making in the small things day-to-day. If you've ever used a kanban-style (visual board) app before such as Trello, Asana or Notion, you'll feel at home with the Sunsama interface. Beyond this brilliant structure to visualize your week — the unexpected relief of having an automated co-pilot guide your planning and reflection at the beginning and end of your day with thoughtful suggestions is its most delightful feature. At this point, I'd highly recommend you pause reading and set up your Sunsama. Experiencing Sunsama's calm and mindful daily practice will be the best 15 minutes you can gift yourself today. Get 30 days of Sunsama for free as a member of the Freelancer's Union. A brief guide to getting started with SunsamaWelcome back! Now that you're in the flow with Sunsama, here’s a handful of features that have come to shape my relationship with time management and progress as a freelancer: Daily Planning & ShutdownAt first, I felt the automatic settings to plan and reflect on my daily tasks, events and weekly objectives was a bit heavy handed. But within a few days, it became obvious that this was quickly becoming an essential ritual to help me acknowledge the purpose and priority of my daily work. As I adapted to estimating and tracking the actual time I contributed to tasks, I noticed my ability to anticipate the effort necessary to accomplish bigger objectives becoming a lot more accurate. Time Blocking & FocusEvery time I settle into a new task in Sunsama, I instinctively start the timer and enter Focus mode. With the desktop app installed, you can use the handy Focus bar that hovers on your screen as you work. I use Focus constantly as a mechanism to notify my brain it's time to concentrate on a singular objective. Rather than feel self-critical when I don't fully achieve my goal in the time I blocked, I've began to proactively add bite-sized subtasks and track subsequent focus sessions to see a single task though to completion. Channels with ContextRather than having to manage endless tags and folders for projects, using the concept of "adding context" for each of my tasks and events with #channels makes identifying and narrowing down responsibilities much more intuitive as I move through my day. Connect External SourcesThis deserves an entire separate post, but by having direct access to the most common task creation sources outside of Sunsama gives me a far more tangible sense of what I have to take care of. One of the topics I mentor fellow freelancers on is how to overcome the magnetism of using email as a checklist. By connecting Sunsama with your Gmail or Outlook, you can mindfully stay out of your inbox during the day and selectively action important messages without being caught up in a whirlpool of distraction. Auto Archive & BacklogAs a new user of Sunsama, this feature was invisible to me for the first week. But as I got in the rhythm of using Daily Planning & Shutdown, I realized that rather than endlessly guilt me for unfinished tasks, Sunsama began to intelligently auto-archive or recommend that I adjust priorities to future days or the backlog. This small feature reflects the realities of life in a way that I’ve seen few apps ever take into consideration. ConclusionThe longer you use Sunsama, the collaborative perspective it provides will only continue to grow with you. This is my favorite type of app, one that adapts to the realities of life while gently encouraging you to develop new rituals and clarity along the way. If you want to explore Sunsama or other topics related to embracing creative tools & techniques in your freelance journey, come meet with me in-person at the next Creative Lounge & Tech Bar at the Freelancers Hub. Can't make it in person? I offer dynamic 1:1 creative sessions for freelancers in my virtual studio at Methods. Have questions or feedback about this guide? Drop me a personal email at [email protected]. How I center my daily planning with Sunsama via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2023/04/11/how-to-center-your-daily-planning/ |
AuthorI have 5+ years experience working as a medical transcriptionist. When I am not working, I enjoy sports like playing basketball or judo. I love making friends and connections. Archives
April 2023
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