| | |  | Self Employment | Home » » Freelancing For Dummies | | | | | | | Description: | | Are you ready to fly the corporate coop and become the boss of you? Do you dream of busting out of the cubicle wasteland and finding greener pastures as a freelancer? If so, you’re in good company. The U S Department of Labor estimates that nearly one-fourth of the American workforce is self-employed and that number is sure to increase over the next decade. But do you have what it takes to succeed as a freelancer, consultant, or contract employee? Do you even know what it takes to make it on your own? Here’s your chance to find out.A total guide to starting and running a freelance business, Freelancing For Dummies is for anyone thinking about striking out on their own, or who’s already decided to make the move into self-employment. It’s also an excellent resource for established freelancers looking for ways to jumpstart their businesses. Written by a top corporate communication consultant, it features hard-won tips from a slew of successful freelancers, including an accountant, a wr iter, a computer trainer, a graphic designer, a market researcher, an event planner, a medical trainer and others who share what they know about how to: - Organize your home office and budget your time
- Create the ideal working environment
- Evaluate jobs and projects
- Land new business and manage client relationships
- Manage your money and pay your taxes
- Stay positive and manage the emotional uncertainties of self-employment
Here’s your chance to take the leap from employee to boss with minimal stress and minimal sweat. A survival guide to building a successful freelance career, Freelancing For Dummies features: - Self-assessments to gauge your skills and personality
- Critical “Get in, get out” information
- A gold mine of checklists, tear-out sheets, and sample forms
- Top ten lists
- War stories from freelancers who’ve made it
Do you long for the freedom of being your own boss? Relax and let expert Susan Drake help you make the transition to becoming a fulltime freelancer. | | | Features: | |
• ISBN13: 9780764553691
• Condition: New
• Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
| | | Product Details: | | | Author:
| Susan M. Drake | | Paperback:
| 360 pages | | Publisher:
| For Dummies | | Publication Date:
| June 15, 2001 | | Language:
| English | | ISBN:
| 0764553690 | | Product Length:
| 9.16 inches | | Product Width:
| 7.38 inches | | Product Height:
| 0.83 inches | | Product Weight:
| 1.3 pounds | | Package Length:
| 9.06 inches | | Package Width:
| 7.48 inches | | Package Height:
| 1.02 inches | | Package Weight:
| 1.63 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 9 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 9 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 18 found the following review helpful:
 Well written, comprehensive, funnyAug 03, 2001
By L. Kirk
"Crabseye"
My first "for dummies" book. I don't know if they're all this good, but I have found the Freelancing book to be top notch. It is very well written, well organized, comprehensive in content ... there are plenty of real-life examples; the advice is realistic and there's plenty of humor. The author did a lot of research among many different types of freelancers, which adds some nice diverse perspectives on the world of freelancing. This book is juuuuuusssst right for someone contemplating making the jump out of corporate life into self-employment.
8 of 8 found the following review helpful:
Should be "Freelance WRITING for Dummies"Feb 25, 2005
By TheCafeWriter
That's what the author is and that's the perspective she writes from. Which is fine with me, because that's what I'm looking to do.
For freelance biz writers, this is a good one-stop-shopping kind of book. I've seen plenty of freelance writing books, and this really addressed my needs transitioning from staff writer at a software company to contractor to freelancer. Too many of these books are all about breaking into magazines (VERY tough to do) or start off by suggesting that all you need to do is just open the Rolodex from your old job and start phoning those CEOs you know. Easy! Others have an aggressive, in-your-face "gonzo" approach to marketing that can be profitable or off=putting. If you're not comfotable with that style, it'll also be UNprofitable.
By contrast, I *like* the upbeat tone, professional tone of this book. I'm tired of all the negativity in freelance books of the "why you'll likely fail" variety. Nobody ever succeeded at something by believing from the outset that they would fail. And with so many others around us willing to say that, who needs a book to say it? The book covers that ground quickly and then gets on with it.
Much of the focus - such as setting up a comfortable work environment and tracking your billable hours - is really targeted to writers and others whose work is mainly sedentary and likely at home. If this doesn't describe you, you may find the book a little frustrating.
I'm just getting started in freelancing from contracting for others, but I found the information in it to be detailed, thorough and accessible. Besides "Freelancing for Dummies," I like Peter Bowerman's books ("The Well-Fed Writer" and "Back for Seconds") a lot, too, on the subject. By contrast, Bowerman skipped the whole "write a business plan" thing. If you're looking to go into freelance writing, these 3 books should be enough to get you off to a good start.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Great for those just getting into FreelancingJul 08, 2003
By Wendy Ponticello
I have been doing freelancing work on the side for years, but have recently decided to go at it full time. This book laid everything out as far as what it takes to make it in a situation where what you do directly affects how much food gets put on the table. It also details exactly how to go about everything from naming your company/freelancing, to how to getting paid for your work. It's a great book!
3 of 4 found the following review helpful:
 Same Old StuffJul 29, 2003
First let me say this: If you are a new "Freelancing for Dummies" will be helpful in putting you on path to getting published. But I do wish the author had put MORE into it, in terms of material that hasn't been seen elsewhere.I also find the author to be overly optimistic, and writing from the viewpoint of someone who has dipped in and out of the profession, and most likely has an alternate means of support. Then, too, the author tries to cover too much, and leaves this reader wondering whether she is addressing those new to writing for publication, or published writers who want to take a shot at writing for a living. (To be fair to Ms. Drake, one or more editors may have had too heavy a hand in the mix.) The bottom line: Don't ignore this title, but if you've read more than one other book for beginning freelancers you may do better to pick up some books for more advanced writers, and/or genre- or field-specific writing.
2 of 3 found the following review helpful:
You want a freelancing business? This is THE BOOK!Jun 04, 2004
By marsha
Frankly, Susan M. Drake has written extremely well. With 8 years of freelancing experience behind me, I can only nod my head and agree with her with every turn of the page. Written in a very simple manner and easily understood...no fanfare, no big words, just facts. She covered almost everything there is to cover for the topic of freelancing and you know what? It REALLY is a book for dummies.
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