Freelancers and Taxes: An LLC's Perspective


By Matthew Keegan


When I was laid off from my last “secure” paying job I mentioned to my wife that I wanted to go into business for myself. With two small children at home, a mortgage to pay, and enough other expenses hanging over our heads, this option seemed somewhat crazy. Fortunately, a severance package and unemployment helped to ease my transition to freelance work and I managed to have some additional work lined up to get me started.

One of the first things I did was to set up my business as an LLC: a limited liability corporation. I used the services of LegalZoom to organize my company, saving myself some money over the services of a tax attorney. The advantages of running an LLC include: legal protection from suitors in the event I am sued for work that I have done. They can go after my business assets, but not my personal assets. In addition, the whole way of paying myself has changed: I don’t receive a paycheck, but I do make disbursements. These disbursements are not subject to social security taxes, but they are taxed on the federal and state level. Still, with tons of deductions every year [I pay our family’s medical bills for starters], our disbursements are fairly low. Livable, but low. Plus, I take advantage of IRA contributions for my wife and me. We are a one income family, something we decided to do even before children arrived on the scene.

The disadvantages of an LLC are few. Start up costs are more and you have to register with the state to keep everything in order. Still, the little extra legwork is worth it and marketing myself as an LLC has been useful especially when I tell employers that I have officially set up myself as a business. Employers seem to appreciate that I made a little extra effort to formally organize myself. In addition, some are happy not to have to furnish 1099 forms for work that I do for them.

Is an LLC right for you? That depends on what you want from one. Contact a tax accountant to gain more information. After nearly four years of business, I have grown to appreciate what an LLC offers and my customers seem to recognize that advantage as well.


More Resources

How To Get More Clients and Customers; Dont Sell Be of Service
Whether you are just starting your business or focusing on growing it, I'm sure you are like most small business owners you are looking for ways to get more clients and customers. There is a lot of information out there on selling, persuasion tactics, and gimmicks to get people to buy.
Empathy - Not Business Plans - Key to Your Home Based Business Success - Do You Have Empathy?
EMPATHY is a Natural Talent, you were born with it and you will never loose it. It can be a blessing or a curse in a home based business.
Double Your Income Automatically
It is a common known fact that it is far cheaper to keep an existing customer then it is to acquire a new customer. With this fact in mind you need to do everything possible to keep your existing customers happy and find complimentary products to offer your existing customers.
Why I Should Go In To Business
Rohit Kochgaway was very upset with his boss for his rebuking him today in office. He was very upset with his job.
The Ideal Length of Your Business Plan
How long should a business plan be? A business plan needs to be whatever length is required to excite the investor, prove that management truly understands the market, and detail the execution strategy. From surveys of investor needs, Growthink has found that 15 to 25 pages of text is the optimum length in which to accomplish this.
Face The Fear, Ladies
Okay, I'll begin by telling you that I've been divorced for about 5 years, have an amazing family and by anyone's standards, I have a wonderful life.I worked in the film industry for almost 9 years for my ex-husband's company.
10 Ways Entrepreneurs Shoot Themselves In The Foot
Entrepreneurs and their businesses have a tendency to ambushthemselves when they aren't looking. This affects how muchrevenue they can generate, how fast their business rises,and even if they survive after the first few years.
What is Entrepreneurship?
In discussing entrepreneurship and writing articles on the subject, I have found that it aids understanding when we begin by agreeing on exactly what the word means to us.Entrepreneurship is the process of creating or seizing an opportunity, and pursuing it regardless of the resources currently controlled.
Entrepreneurial Excerpt from a Speech to Small Business
Having built a business from a bucket of water and sponge, which started over 25 years ago in a National Franchise chain in 23 states, I feel comfortable discussing entrepreneurship.While building my company in the beginning we learned the value of grass roots marketing, being involved in the community and giving a little back as we grow.
Walt Disneys Failures Could Inspire Entrepreneurs
You are a struggling entrepreneur and sometimes it feels like you are pushing a 3 ton boulder up a steep hill. Costs keep mounting and you are considering giving up.
Defining a R&D Framework for Entrepreneurship and Innovation on Information Product Generation
IntroductionKnowledge is the key resource that forms the institutional basis of the post-industrial economy and society. It should be empasized that it is institutions of higher education that give tangible expression to this argument by acting as catalysts for knowledge and research-driven economic growth as well as well-being enhancement.
Top 10 Business Plan Myths of Solo Entrepreneurs
Don't let these stop you from having a business plan for success!A recent study of 29,000 business startups noted that 26,000 of them failed. Of those failures, 67% had no written business plan.
Chairman Greenspan and the FED, learn more you will be glad you did
So many people work their whole life to make money, but they know so little about out monetary system. They know so little about the Federal Reserve Bank and so very little about the brilliant minds, which make it all work.
Corporate Espionage in Franchising
Franchising Trade Journals do not do well, because today with all the industry regulations only about 1800 active franchise actually exist in the US. Down sharply over the past five years.
Franchising Companies Need New Franchisee Checklists
When franchise companies are moving fast in the market place they must pay attention to the details. If a franchisor fails to give the required items as outlined in the franchise agreement to the franchisees on the prescribed timeline they risk legal issues and regulatory issues.
Creativity & Entrepreneurship: The Secret to Discovering Your Purpose in Life!©
Hello Creative Entrepreneurs!In the second course on Creativity & Entrepreneurship we begin with a guided meditation that I created entitled: Dream Keeper-Gift Giver©. You ask: what in the world does this mean? Well, it's a very profound secret I discovered about myself fifteen years ago.
An Entrepreneur and a Life To Be Remembered
I was reminded of my own mortality today. I guess you can say I had a near death experience, though the death I experienced was not my own.
The Business and Life You Want to Build
In the early days of my first consulting business, I knew I needed some sort of plan to give me the greatest chance at success. I took many a wrong step, yet in the end I managed to put a solid business together.
The Power Of Personal Environments
I've got to admit, I'm a big fan of comfort. I like it when things in my world are stable and reliable.
5 TIPS for Home-Based Business Entrepreneurs
Have you ever heard that only a small part (5%) of 'all' Home-Based Business entrepreneurs achieve success?Do an online research on your favorite Search Engineand you will understand what I mean.In this article I'm going to show you the KEY to Home-Based Business entrepreneurs success; you'll find out what makes an entrepreneur succesful in the home-based business field.

More Entrepreneurialism Information:

Related Articles

Build Your Own Board Of Experts
The most successful entrepreneurs rely on their advisory boards to help spot new opportunities and potential pitfalls.Now you can have your own advisory board: a shadow board of directors.
10 Tips for Would-be Entrepreneurs
Every evening as the sun sets beyond the mangroves that line the shore along the western bank of Lake Myakka, Florida, herds of wild deer and wild black pigs come down to the water's edge to drink and slake their thirst.I have seen them up close and it is a beautiful, peaceful and inspiring sight!Every evening as the sun sets beyond the mangroves that line the shore a horde of hungry alligators wait just below the surface and watch for their prey.
From Bank Clerk to Entreprenuer
What seems like a century ago, I left school and joined a well-known High Street Bank. In those days working as a bank clerk was a well-established route for many school leavers and perceived to be a proper job with prospects.
The Ideal Length of Your Business Plan
How long should a business plan be? A business plan needs to be whatever length is required to excite the investor, prove that management truly understands the market, and detail the execution strategy. From surveys of investor needs, Growthink has found that 15 to 25 pages of text is the optimum length in which to accomplish this.
Bonsai Marketing
Site location analysis of regional service areas and planning for mobile businesses is just as important as choosing a fixed site for any business. The region must be scouted out whether you are simply adding another service unit or deciding to open an entire new marketing area.
Business Startup Checklist
Use this comprehensive checklist to plan each step of your new business and transform your dream of entrepreneurship into reality. These steps may not necessarily be completed in the order listed, however, you can use them as a guideline for completing all of the necessary business startup tasks.
Drive Website Traffic Unconventionally, Force Your Children To Do It
If you believe that every little bit helps then keepreading..
Opportunity Does Not Knock
Q: I'm graduating this year with a degree in business and would like to start my own business rather than get a corporate job. I have a few business ideas, but none of them really gets me excited.
An Entrepreneur and a Life To Be Remembered
I was reminded of my own mortality today. I guess you can say I had a near death experience, though the death I experienced was not my own.
Seven Key Qualities of Successful Entrepreneurs
A recent poll conducted by Forbes magazine shows that majority of its readers would prefer to become a billionaire rather than a Nobel peace prize winner, a great scientist or a famous athlete. There is no secret that most of the average people dream about getting rich albeit very few makes any real effort to become one.
Entrepreneurship Story; Over Regulation in Franchising Final Chapter
Sally and Jim have launched their automotive franchise business and are now selling franchises; problems arise as lawyers and over regulation threaten to ruin their life's work, see how it ends; tragedy or success. A realistic story of modern day franchising.
Staying Ahead of the Perils, Excerpt of Entrepreneurial Motivation Speech
Running a business is not an easy endeavor, it takes courage, hard work and a strategic mindset. I feel now that I am retired looking back on it all, that it is my duty to provide to new entrepreneurs a few of the secrets of how to get things done.
Raising Entrepreneurs: What to Do When Your Kid is Born to Think Differently
Adolescence brings with it many challenges - for both parents and kids. Young people, still new to the world, are embarking on a journey to discover their passions, joys, and authentic self-images.
Veteran Entrepreneurs Are Growing In Ranks
When I'm not running my own business, writing articles about business, speaking to groups and organizations about business, or consulting with companies who want my advice about the running of their business, I teach a weekly class on the subject of (care to guess?) starting and running a business.To quote my frequently-mentioned and wise-beyond-her-years teenage daughter, Chelsea, "Dad, you really need to get a life.
Are You Sure You Want To Start Your Own Business? Part Two of a Series
Why, exactly, do you want to go into business for yourself? Is it because you cannot stand the thought of working for an uptight, demanding, and perfectly dreadful boss?Is it because you cannot bear the thought of going through another downsizing or restructuring, knowing that your job could be on the line?Is it because you want to be your own boss, call your own shots, or see more up side in your earning potential, with the possibility of financial self-sufficiency? These are all good reasons for wanting to go into business. In fact, studies have shown that many entrepreneurs get their start due to some life-altering experience such as losing a job or finally walking away from a dead-end job or a demoralizing work environment.
Cut to the Quick - What is an Entrepreneur? The Inside Story
Enjoying the title of entrepreneur is a hollow feeling.If you have ever been out of work and joined a multi level marketing outfit, or joined the ranks of "commission only" sales reps you are considered to be an entrepreneur.
5?4?3? 2...1?
A streak dating back more than three decades came to an end at midnight on New Year's Eve. For the first time since 1972, as America rang in 2005, "America's Oldest Living Teenager" was not in Times Square to count down the dropping of the giant ball.
What Qualities Do Franchisors Need?
When I got into business I wanted to build a company, which helped people and provide a product and service that people loved and were willing to pay for; one I would not have to sell or convince anyone of. Something that people truly wanted to extend and enhance their pursuit of happiness.
How Entrepreneurs Succeed - The 5 Qualities Needed For Business Success
What is it that sets a successful businessperson apart from an average businessperson? Is it down to pure and simple luck, or is it all about having an amazing idea and a successful and strategic business plan in place?Well, these factors do indeed go a long way to turning a good business idea into a successful business operation, but they have nothing to do with what makes the 'person' succeed at business.Every great entrepreneur naturally has 5 key attributes that sets them aside from their competition and that ensure they will succeed where others may fail.
16 Vital Traits Shared by All Successful Entrepreneurs
The first step in deciding whether to start a business is to ask yourself this important question: "Do I have what it takes to be an entrepreneur?" A variety of experts have documented research that indicates that successful small business entrepreneurs, whether male or female, have some common characteristics. How do you measure up? It will be up to you — not someone else telling you — to develop projects, organize your time and follow through on details.