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One thing you might want to keep in mind when setting your rate:
Even if you don't need medical benefits right now, it's very difficult to
predict what could happen in a day/week/month, etc.
So you might want to leave yourself a bit of a hedge, just in case.
On Mon, Sep 12, 2011 at 4:18 PM, Mark Filiatreau <mfiliatreau -at- psi-it -dot- com>wrote:
> Yes, I agree, I would be "the enemy" by not having to afford health
> insurance. But what I wasn't clear about: Into the foreseeable future,
> I am only interested in doing this for my current company, so I won't be
> competing with anyone anytime soon. For additional income, I have other
> irons in the fire.
>
> I only hope outsourcing does not make the situation even worse in the
> future.
>
> Mark D. Filiatreau
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: techwr-l-bounces+mfiliatreau=psi-it -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+mfiliatreau=psi-it -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
> Behalf Of Peter Neilson
> Sent: Monday, September 12, 2011 5:15 PM
> To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Subject: Re: What's a good freelance rate for technical writers?
>
> Mark, your situation illustrates one of the things that tech writers
> (and
> perhaps others) are up against: The competition (for me, that's you)
> often
> have very low expenses.
>
> If I were to work in DC or NYC I would be looking at the expense of
> living
> there while maintaining my farm as well. If someone looking for a writer
>
> on an hourly rate can choose between me and someone who lives with his
> mother, the difference in rates can be tremendous. To stay in NYC on the
>
> short term, I imagine I would need at least $200 per day. That's another
>
> $25 per hour. The rates I've been quoted by agencies that say they want
> to
> place me in DC or NYC are around a laughable $35.
>
> Hmmm. I can make better than $10 per hour just by staying home and doing
>
> occasional stuff while still in PJs.
>
> Of course the DC jobs seem to want me to come equipped with Secret or TS
>
> as well.
>
> On Mon, 12 Sep 2011 16:52:08 -0400, Mark Filiatreau
> <mfiliatreau -at- psi-it -dot- com> wrote:
>
> > Connie,
> >
> > Thanks very much for this great advice. And thanks to the other
> > contributors, too.
> >
> > I will not need benefits like health insurance -- I mentioned that but
> > Margaret snipped it from her reply--because our family will be
> covered
> > by my wife's employer's plan.
> >
> > Mark D. Filiatreau
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Connie Giordano [mailto:connie -at- therightwordz -dot- com]
> > Sent: Monday, September 12, 2011 4:48 PM
> > To: 'Pro TechWriter'; Mark Filiatreau
> > Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> > Subject: RE: What's a good freelance rate for technical writers?
> >
> > Mark,
> >
> > If you're planning to be an independent freelancer, find yourself
> three
> > professionals who charge reasonable rates: an accountant, a lawyer and
> > an
> > insurance agent. Have your lawyer review the work agreement with your
> > soon-to-be former employer. Talk to your accountant about what you
> > should
> > do regarding your tax situation.
> >
> > Lawyer and accountant go almost without saying, a good insurance agent
> > can
> > do wonders as well. Over the past 15 years, the number companies that
> > pay
> > any part of insurance benefits has dropped significantly. As a result,
> > when
> > my last w2 gig ended, my Cobra insurance payments were EXACTLY THE
> SAME
> > as
> > when I was employed. The big problem I found was in going from group
> > coverage to individual coverage, not COBRA. Of course YMMV. Find an
> > independent agent who specializes in small business--they understand
> the
> > challenges, and will work with you to find rates and coverages you can
> > actually live with. Consider incorporating as an LLC to see if you
> can
> > get
> > a group of one health insurance policy, if individual coverage is too
> > high
> > (after being diagnosed with a condition that now appears in all my
> > health
> > records, I cannot get individual coverage. Group of one was
> expensive,
> > but
> > at least it was coverage. ) And remember, if you're in the US a lot
> of
> > your
> > insurance requirements will change over the next 24 months, so find
> > somebody
> > willing to stay on top of it.
> >
> > Depending on your level of experience, and the scope of work you being
> > asked
> > to do, you may be able to get a higher rate. I have done contract
> work
> > in
> > the past for DC area clients, and have been told that my rate, which
> is
> > very
> > high for Charlotte, is seriously below market for DC. Thus I learned
> the
> > lesson to base your rate on experience, scope, and market. You've
> > gotten a
> > lot of other good suggestions (especially the quick pay discount!)
> > Welcome
> > to independent contracting and good luck!
> >
> > Connie
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: techwr-l-bounces+connie=therightwordz -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> > [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+connie=therightwordz -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com]
> On
> > Behalf Of Pro TechWriter
> > Sent: Monday, September 12, 2011 3:45 PM
> > To: Mark Filiatreau
> > Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> > Subject: Re: What's a good freelance rate for technical writers?
> >
> > I would charge around $68 an hour, with a discount off the total
> invoice
> > if
> > paid in 15 days. I used to give around a 2% discount for a quick pay.
> >
> > You will want to stipulate up front that your invoices must be paid in
> > 30
> > days, but 15 days would be best. If they don't pay in 30 days, stop
> > work.
> > Many government contractors will assume that they can pay you in 90
> > days,
> > which just won't work for a small business.
> >
> > Dont' forget that insurance will be much more expensive than with an
> > employer. Even if you get a discounted rate through STC or another
> > organization.
> >
> > Good luck,
> > PT
> >
> > On Mon, Sep 12, 2011 at 1:27 PM, Mark Filiatreau
> > <mfiliatreau -at- psi-it -dot- com>wrote:
> >
> >> It will be 1099.
> >> Thanks, Margaret, that's the kind of info I'm looking for.
> >>
> >> Mark D. Filiatreau
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Margaret Cekis [mailto:Margaret -dot- Cekis -at- comcast -dot- net]
> >> Sent: Monday, September 12, 2011 2:22 PM
> >> To: Mark Filiatreau; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> >> Subject: RE: What's a good freelance rate for technical writers?
> >>
> >> Mark Filiatreau asked, "What's a good freelance rate for technical
> >> writers?
> >> ...in a place like the hyper-expensive Washington, DC, area?... my
> >> company has already asked me to be available as a contractor on an
> >> as-needed basis.
> >> I was asked, "What's your rate?"...My "gross rate" on my paycheck is
> >> about $40/hour,
> >> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> >> Mark:
> >> Will it be on a W-2 or a 1099 contract? If it is a W-2, the company
> >> will pay half your FICA and Medicare taxes, and you will be covered
> by
> >
> >> unemployment insurance. The company can/will withhold funds toward
> >> your Federal, State and municipal income tax, if applicable. If it is
> >> a 1099, you will have to pay all of the FICA and Medicare taxes, you
> >> will not be covered by unemployment, and you will have to file
> >> quarterly estimated US income taxes to the IRS. This makes a big
> >> difference in the rate you should charge.
> >> For a
> >> W-2, I'd up my hourly salary by 35-50%, or ask for $55-60. If it is a
> >> 1099, I'd double it, or ask for at least $75-80.
> >> Margaret Cekis, Johns Creek GA
> >
> >
> >
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> >
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