Working for Yourself: Law & Taxes for Independent Contractors, Freelancers & Gig Workers of All Types

by Stephen Fishman J.D.

Overview

The all-in-one legal and tax resource every independent contractor and gig worker needs

Whether you’re starting a full-scale consulting business or booking gigs on the side, Working for Yourself provides all the legal and tax information you need in one place. This eleventh edition has been thoroughly updated to reflect all the changes under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act—changes that are largely beneficial to the self-employed. This excellent, well-organized reference will also show you how to:

• decide the best form for your business (sole proprietor, LLC, or other)
• make sure you’re paid in full and on time
• pay estimated taxes and avoid trouble with the IRS
• take advantage of all available tax deductions, including the 20% pass-through tax deduction for business owners
• choose health, property, and other kinds of insurance
• keep accurate records in case you get audited, and
• write legally binding contracts and letter agreements.

If you’re tired of doing endless web searches for the information you need to start and run your business, this easy-to-use and authoritative resource is for you.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781413325812
Publisher:	NOLO
Publication date:	12/28/2018
Edition description:	Eleventh Edition
Pages:	544
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 8.50(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Stephen Fishman is the author of many Nolo books, including 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 and after time in government and private practice, became a full-time legal writer.

Table of Contents

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 Taxes 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. Special Concerns for Gig Workers 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< Appendix Index

Editorial Reviews

"This thorough and well-organized volume will guide individuals through the legal and tax issues that come with the territory. From deciding on legal structures to drafting contracts to collecting payment from deadbeat clients, this is excellent information." Library Journal

“As an independent contractor, you are your boss. This is why Fishman’s book is so important.” New Orleans Times-Picayune

“Covers everything independent contractors need to know." Business Life

“Working for Yourself is the all-in-one, trusted, legal and tax resource every IC needs. It is ideal for readers who are tired of doing endless web searches for legal and tax information, who need one easy-to-use and authoritative resource. This well organized reference will help them successfully start and run their operations in a business-like manner." Savannah Jones, SirReadaLot.org

"Whether starting a full-scale consulting business or booking gigs on the side, this newly expanded and updated 11th edition of "Working for Yourself: Law & Taxes for Independent Contractors, Freelancers & Gig Workers of All Types" by Stephen Fishman provides all the legal and tax information needed under one cover. This comprehensive and instructive reference manual has been thoroughly updated to reflect all the changes under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — changes that are largely beneficial to the self-employed. "Working for Yourself" shows the self- employed how to: Decide the best form for a business (sole proprietor, LLC, or other); Make sure to be paid in full and on time; Pay estimated taxes and avoid trouble with the IRS; Take advantage of all available tax deductions — including the 20% pass-through tax deduction for business owners; Choose health, property, and other kinds of insurance; Keep accurate records in case you get audited; Write legally binding contracts and letter agreements. A complete, thoroughly, all-inclusive compendium, thoroughly 'user friendly' instructional guide and reference, "Working for Yourself" is unreservedly recommended for personal, community, college, and university library Business Management collections and supplemental studies lists. A 'must' for anyone engaged or contemplating having their own self-employed business of any kind, it should be noted that "Working for Yourself" is also available in a digital book format." The Midwest Book Review

From the Publisher