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We’re publishing the freelancer Q&A series as a podcast. Hope you enjoy!
Episodes
80 episodes
Will ChatGPT Replace Freelance Programming?
I resisted talking about ChatGPT as long as humanly possible, but I did wind up getting a question in the backlog about it. So, will ChatGPT replace freelance programming?
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18:20
Freelancer or Self Employed: What Should You Call Yourself?
If you go into business for yourself, what should you call yourself? Freelancer? Self-employed? Something else? View this podcast as a video on YouTube.
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18:24
What Bookkeeping Software Should I Use to Freelance?
If you're thinking of hanging out your shingle or have just done so, you might wonder whether to use bookkeeping software and, if so, what to use. I have a surprisingly specific and opinionated answer for this one.
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23:37
How Freelancers Can Avoid Self Employment Tax
When you go off on your own, at least in the US, you might be in for a rude tax awakening. In this video, I talk about what self-employment tax is, and what you can do about it.
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Episode 77
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22:39
Which Meetings with Clients Should I Bill For?
You're a freelancer and doing regular work with your clients. If you bill by the hour or, more generally, for time and materials, which meetings should you bill the clients for?
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Episode 76
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17:17
When Do You Look Too Much Like an Employee?
Freelancers, especially newbie freelancers, can find themselves caught in situations where their only, large, 40-hour-per week client starts to treat them more like an employee than a freelancer. What should you do?
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Episode 75
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22:20
Is California a Bad Place to Start a Business or Practice?
I've been asked this more than once, but eventually got around to doing a video about it. Rumor has it that California is "business-unfriendly," and, if you live there, you should start a business in another state. What's my take on that?
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Episode 74
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23:42
Should I Run Away If Someone Offers Equity?
It's a situation that a lot of techies can relate to. Someone comes along and offers you a stake in their business, instead of money, if you build their vision for them. What should a freelancer do in this situation?
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Episode 73
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24:38
Is It Okay to "Fake It 'til You Make It?"
We've all heard the phrase "hake it 'til you make it." A reader asked me if this is a good mantra to live by. View this podcast as a video on YouTube. Links o...
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Episode 72
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21:36
What is the Best Way for Freelancers to Get Paid?
Wire Transfer? Check? Cash? If you're just starting out as a freelancer, what's the best way to get paid? View this podcast as a video on YouTube.
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Episode 70
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21:17
Should I Approach Freelancing Differently During a Recession
At the time of recording, there's a good bit of uncertainty about the economy. Against that backdrop, as a freelancer, should you approach your work differently? View this podc...
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Episode 71
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25:38
What is My (Erik's) Worst Client Experience?
One of the questions that came up in my reader/viewer backlog was specific to me and my background. What is/was my worst experience with a client? View this podcast as a video ...
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Episode 69
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26:57
Is Coaching a Good Line of Work for Independents?
There are all kinds of people billing themselves as (non-athletic) "coaches" out there. As someone looking to go freelance, is becoming a coach a good line of work to get into, specifically in the B2B/professional world?
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Episode 68
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23:53
Should Freelancers Have References, Like Employees?
It's common (at least in the US) for employees to furnish "references," which are essentially friends or colleagues who vouch for them as character witnesses. As a freelancer, should you also do this?
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Episode 67
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15:44
What Are Taxes Like for Freelancers, Compared to Employees?
When you're an employee, you probably only really think about taxes once per year. But what about as a freelancer? Well... it's a little more complicated than that. View this p...
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Episode 66
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19:26
How Many Hours Per Day or Week Should Freelancers Work?
In this video I field a question about how much per day or per week a freelancer should work. That's not really an easy question to answer because, in a sense, it's not the right question.
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Episode 65
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23:20
Is Freelancing Riskier Than Employment?
If you're a salaried employee, freelancing or starting a business can seem like a major risk. But just how risky is it, actually? View this podcast as a video on YouTube.
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Episode 64
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20:54
Should You Charge for Discovery Calls?
Once you start taking sales and discovery calls, sooner or later you might have the impulse to start charging people for your time during this process. Should you do that? View...
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Episode 63
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23:27
Is Data Science as Viable for Freelancing as Programming?
A lot of the questions I field about freelancing and business come from people that are programmers. But what about data science? Can that be as viable a trade for freelancing as programming is?
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Episode 62
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19:00
How Do You Win Long Term Clients?
Many freelancers, especially new ones, will want to earn long-term clients. How do you go about doing that, and is it actually valuable to do? View this podcast as a video on Y...
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Episode 61
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26:22
Is It Normal to Feel Guilty about Raising Rates?
One of the most important (and stress-inducing) times in the career of a freelancer/business-owner is when you increase your rates or prices. Is it normal to feel guilty when doing so?
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Episode 60
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20:49
Do You Need a Bookkeeper to Freelance?
If you're going off on your own as a freelancer, do you need to have a bookkeeper? If so, when should you hire one? View this podcast as a video on YouTube. L...
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Episode 59
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18:47
What to Say to "Freelancing Isn't a Real Job?"
This is an interesting one. How would should you respond to someone telling you "freelancing isn't a real job?" View this podcast as a video on YouTube. Link ...
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Episode 58
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15:47