Freelance Accounting Software

There are many accounting software programs from which to choose and QuickBooks seems to be the most popular. QuickBooks software is expensive and their monthly online program can quickly add up. There's another popular online program called Xero but they also charge just to use their software. NetSuite's price is outrageous and would probably work better with larger firms. But, if you are just starting out as a freelancer or are already years into this career, your accounting needs are usually just accounts receivable/payable, business expenses, and financial statements.

One such program that gives you everything that QuickBooks can give you and is truly free is an online program called Wave. I've been using it for four months and am completely satisfied. You're probably asking, "Well, how do they make their money?" That's a really good question. They have two services for which you can choose to pay. The first one is their credit card system. They will take an average of 3% for each payment you receive which is a standard industry. And, the second paid service is a payroll system. If you need to pay employees, then you can sign up for this service.

The software is intuitive. Once you open the program, you are immediately directed to your dashboard which gives you a snapshot of your net income. It comes loaded with journal transactions and makes it easy to add any that are not included. At the end of the year, there are about twelve reports you can run to help with your taxes.

If you are tired of copying your receipts or scanning them to your computer, there is a cell phone app that captures your receipt and sends this picture to your account. This receipt is always stored in the cloud and makes it easy to record to the correct expense account. There is also another app that can easily invoice your customers.

I know that other software programs can probably perform just as well as Wave, but most of them are not free. This program is great for freelancers and owners of small businesses.

For other free online accounting software programs, click here.

Freelance Job Blast

Part-Time Remote Jobs 8-28-17

Executive Recruiter/Business Developer

Computer Aided Design & Drafting Technician

Investment Banking Research Analyst

Health Services Management Instructor

Medical Sales Representative

Grant Writer

Law Enforcement Transcriber

Freelance Graphic Designer

Soccer Coach

Freelance Web Designer

Health Report Writer

Bar Head Representative

Social Media Intern

Certified Tumor Registrar

Securities Instructor

Curriculum Content Editor

Daring Tech Brain Wanted

Freelance Writers

Sales Representative

Testing Evaluator

Sage Consultant/Technician

Social Media Manager

Graphic Artist

Science Evaluator

Full-Time Remote Jobs (so many to list so I’ll just give you the link)

Click Here for full-time remote jobs

Freelancing and Consulting Careers

There are so many things about which to think when deciding on a freelancing/consulting career. This post will dive into consulting. Some questions you need to ask are: can I afford it, how much do I charge, is there a market for my skillset, what about taxes, can I afford healthcare, and what are my financial responsibilities (family, home, loans, etc.). It's a big step but I recommend that you spend at least a year figuring out all the obstacles and benefits.

Here are a few of my tips:

How much do I charge?
I had no idea on how much I was to charge for my services. I am in the engineering field of construction so after I told my boss that I was quitting, I then asked him how much I should charge as a consultant. He laughed about that because he knew that I was hoping to be a consultant for him. He said that most consultants will charge 1.75% of their hourly wage because of taxes, healthcare and other benefits. That seemed reasonable to me but also seemed kind of pricey for just starting out. I lowered my rate and, so far, companies are content.

Along with a wage, you can charge for car mileage, copies, and all other reimbursable expenses.

Is there a market for my skillset?
This is very important because your income will be totally dependent on your selected market. In my construction career, I built a very positive reputation among a large construction "family." Plus, there are not very many people who do what I do so I knew that my skills were in demand. I knew that I would be able to make a comfortable income almost immediately while, at the same, building up more clientele.

What about taxes?
This is a big question. I am a sole proprietor with an EIN number. I have a dedicated room at my house as my office and I have no employees. I had to search for information on Google and found some great articles on home-based businesses. You can do a Google search too but this article was very helpful. It is crucial that you find out as much information as possible on this subject.

Conclusion:
These are just a few things about which to think before setting off on a consulting adventure. Next week, I'll dive into a great accounting program that is free, online, and cloud-based.

This week's part-time freelance jobs:

Online English Teacher

Grad Admissions Consultant

Accounting Clerk

Appointment Setter

Medical Summary Underwriter

Insurance Underwriter

Project Manager

BAR Head Representative

Content Writer

Business Journalist

Boxing/Fighting Sports Scorer

Technical Editor

Medical Editor

Quality Coordinator

Online Tutor

Reality TV Writer

Technical Writer

Law Enforcement Transcription

Radio DJ

Solutions Specialist

Student Support Coordinator

Social Media Customer Care Rep

Professional Learning Facilitator

Salesforce Professional

ESL Teacher

Customer Service & B2B Sales

Full-Time Remote Jobs (so many to list so I’ll just give you the link)

Click Here for full-time remote jobs

Starting a Freelance Career

I spent over 25 years in the construction industry as an engineer and estimator. It was a challenging career but also very satisfying. In the last five years, though, I started to be discontent and maybe even a little bored. Once people do something for a long time and become proficient, the same duties can become tedious.

Once I felt the discontent bug, I started thinking, "What do I want to do?" Financially, I had the luxury to ask this question as my husband had a good-paying job. I was about 5-8 years away from retirement and just couldn't seem to stick it out.

So, what did I want to do? First, I wanted leisure. I've been working long hours, commuting long distances and enduring much pressure in a male-dominated, pressured industry. I wanted to wake up, drink some coffee, read the newspaper and browse the computer. I wanted control over my schedule.

Second, I didn't necessarily want to leave the construction industry but maybe be a consultant. Being in this industry is like being in a very large family. Most everybody knows each other and I had a positive reputation among my construction family. I was hoping to have the opportunity to consult but knew that I couldn't depend on it.

Third, I was intrigued by freelance opportunities. I have always had excellent admin skills and am proficient with all manner of computer software. Along with these skills, I have a degree in English and edited all of the construction proposals, letters and emails. I also edited my husband's novels and friends' novels.

Once those ideas came to me, I started investigating the freelance gigs and found so much more than I expected. I quit my construction career in May of 2017 and am continuing to learn even more about the amazing freelance opportunities out there in our big world.

 I started this blog because I am going to write about these opportunities and resources that have helped me jumpstart my freelance/consultant career. I do have to mention that because of my positive reputation, most of my income comes from consulting. So, I will also write about the tools that have helped me keep organized.

Cari on...so you can carry on.