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Working for yourself : law & taxes for independent contractors, freelancers & consultants / Stephen Fishman.
Fishman, Stephen.
2011
KF390.I54 F57 2011 (Map It)
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Access NoteThe Law Library in Jerome Greene Hall is currently closed for renovation. Please log in to request pickup from the temporary circulation desk in William and June Warren Hall.
Author
Fishman, Stephen.
Title
Working for yourself : law & taxes for independent contractors, freelancers & consultants / Stephen Fishman.
Published
Berkeley, CA : Nolo, [2011]
Copyright
©2011
Call Number
KF390.I54 F57 2011
Edition
Eighth edition.
ISBN
9781413313314 (pbk.)
1413313310 (pbk.)
9781413313574 (ebook)
1413313574 (ebook)
Description
360 pages : forms ; 28 cm
System Control No.
(OCoLC)664115048
Summary
"Offers the strategies and information needed to become an independent contractor, freelancer or consultant. It explains how to structure a business, negotiate contracts, ensure payments, and understand and pay taxes. The 8th edition includes the most current legal rules for contractors, as well as up-to-date tax information"--Provided by publisher.
Bibliography, etc. Note
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Record Appears in
Onsite Print Resources
Shared Records
All Resources
Your Legal Companion for Working for Yourself
1
1.
Working for Yourself: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
3
Working for Yourself: The Good
4
Working for Yourself: The Bad
6
Working for Yourself: The Ugly
7
How to Use This Book
8
2.
Choosing the Legal Form for Your Business
9
Sole Proprietorships
10
Corporations
16
Partnerships
31
Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
32
3.
Choosing and Protecting Your Business Name
37
Choosing a Legal Name
38
Choosing a Trade Name
38
Choosing a Trademark
42
Choosing an Internet Domain Name
45
Conducting a Name Search
45
4.
Home Alone or Outside Office?
47
Pros and Cons of Working at Home
48
Restrictions on Home-Based Businesses
51
Deducting Your Home Office Expenses
55
Pros and Cons of an Outside Office
63
Leasing a Workplace
63
Deducting Your Outside Office Expenses
65
5.
Obtaining Licenses, Permits, and Identification Numbers
69
Business Licenses
70
Employer Identification Numbers (EINs)
71
Sales Tax Permits
74
6.
Insuring Your Business and Yourself
75
Health Insurance
77
Disability Insurance
85
Business Property Insurance
87
Liability Insurance
89
Car Insurance
91
Workers' Compensation Insurance
91
Other Types of Insurance
94
Ways to Save on Insurance
94
7.
Pricing Your Services and Getting Paid
97
Pricing Your Services
98
Getting Paid
104
8.
Taxes and the Self-Employed
121
Tax Basics for the Self-Employed
122
IRS Audits
129
Ten Tips to Avoid an Audit
132
9.
Reducing Your Income Taxes
135
Reporting Your Income
137
Income Tax Deduction Basics
139
Business Use of Your Home
149
Cost of Business Assets
149
Car Expenses
154
Travel Expenses
159
Entertainment and Meal Expenses
162
Health Insurance
163
Start-Up Costs
166
10.
The Bane of Self-Employment Taxes
169
Who Must Pay
170
Self-Employment Tax Rates
170
Earnings Subject to SE Taxes
171
Computing SE Taxes
172
Paying and Reporting SE Taxes
172
Outside Employment
173
11.
Paying Estimated Taxes
175
Who Must Pay Estimated Taxes
176
How Much You Must Pay
178
When to Pay
180
How to Pay
182
Paying the Wrong Amount
183
12.
Rules for Salespeople, Drivers, and Clothing Producers
185
Statutory Employees
186
Statutory Independent Contractors
189
13.
Taxes for Workers You Hire
191
Hiring People to Help You
192
Tax Concerns When Hiring Employees
193
Tax Concerns When Hiring Independent Contractors
200
14.
Record Keeping and Accounting Made Easy
207
Simple Bookkeeping
208
How Long to Keep Records
219
If You Don't Have Proper Tax Records
219
Accounting Methods
220
Tax Year
223
15.
Safeguarding Your Self-Employed Status
225
Who Decides Your Work Status?
226
What Happens If the Government Reclassifies You?
226
Determining Worker Status
228
The IRS Approach to Worker Status
229
Tips for Preserving Your IC Status
234
16.
Retirement Options for the Self-Employed
239
Reasons to Have a Retirement Plan (or Plans)
240
Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)
241
Employer IRAs
244
Keogh Plans
245
Solo 401(k) Plans
246
Roth 401(k) Plans
247
Retirement Plans If You Have Employees
248
17.
Copyrights, Patents, and Trade Secrets
249
Intellectual Property
250
Copyright Ownership
251
Patent Ownership
258
Trade Secret Ownership
258
Using Nondisclosure Agreements
259
18.
Using Written Client Agreements
267
Reasons to Use Written Agreements
268
Reviewing a Client's Agreement
270
Creating Your Own Client Agreement
271
Putting Your Agreement Together
272
Changing the Agreement After It's Signed
275
19.
Drafting Your Own Client Agreement
277
Essential Provisions
278
Optional Provisions
288
Sample Client Agreement
296
Using Letter Agreements
296
20.
Reviewing a Client's Agreement
305
Make Sure the Agreement Is Consistent With the Client's Promises
307
Make Sure the Contract Covers at Least the Basics
307
Provisions to Avoid
307
Provisions to Consider Adding
313
Client Purchase Orders
313
21.
Help Beyond This Book
315
Help Resolving Disputes
316
Finding and Using a Lawyer
319
Help From Other Experts
320
Doing Your Own Legal Research
321

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