Working for Yourself: Law and Taxes for Independent Contractors, Freelancers & Consultants » (REV)

Stephen Fishman is the author of many Nolo books, most recently Tax Deductions for Professionals. Other titles include Deduct It! Lower Your Small Business Taxes, Every Landlord's Tax Deduction Guide and Home Business Tax Deductions: Keep What You Earn-plus many other legal and business books. He received his law degree from the University of Southern California in 1979. After time in government and private practice, he became a full-time legal writer in 1983.

Whether you re an independent contractor, freelancer, or consultant, it all adds up to the same thing: you need to be more aware of laws and taxes than the average person.

Fortunately, Working for Yourself provides all the information you need to stay on top of it all. An independent contractor himself, author Attorney Stephen Fishman shows you everything you need to know to:

*meet business start-up requirements

*set up home or outside offices

*comply with strict IRS rules

*establish sound business relationships

*avoid unfair contracts

*draft good agreements

*get paid in full and on time

 

The 5^th edition now provides information on leasing space for work, Health Savings Accounts and solo 401(k) plans. It also examines how to choose a business name, deal with audits, take a home office deduction and much more.

Des Moines Register

Whether you already work for yourself or are thinking about making the move, Working for Yourself will help make sure it's done right.

1. Working for Yourself: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
2. Choosing the Legal Form for Your Business
3. Choosing and Protecting Your Business Name
4. Home Alone or Outside Office?
5. Obtaining Licenses, Permits, and Identification Numbers
6. Insuring Your Business and Yourself
7. Pricing Your Services and Getting Paid
8. Taxes and the Self-Employed
9. Reducing Your Income Taxes
10. The Bane of Self-Employment Taxes
11. Paying Estimated Tax
12. Rules for Salespeople, Drivers, and Clothing Producers
13. Taxes for Workers You Hire
14. Record Keeping and Accounting Made Easy
15. Safeguarding Your Self-Employed Status
16. Retirement Options for the Self-Employed
17. Copyrights, Patents, and Trade Secrets
18. Using Written Client Agreements
19. Drafting Your Own Client Agreement
20. Reviewing a Client's Agreement
21. Help Beyond This Book
A1 Appendix 1: Forms and Documents
A2: Appendix 2: Sample Agreements
A3: Appendix 3: Agencies