Ask HN: How to do freelance jobs and a full time at the same time

SurfScore · on June 24, 2013

Talk to your friends/colleagues and find a good lawyer to talk to about this. The legal situation could be all over the map depending on your employment contract.

Taxes are usually done after the fact. I.e you get a 1099-MISC from each person who has paid you, and you are liable for that.

Speaking of payment, learn to be a squeaky wheel about it straight off the bat. Freelancing is notoriously inconsistent, expect 60 day swings between receiving payment. DONT BILL BY THE HOUR. There's plenty of reasons why online.

Lifestyle-wise, figure out a way to be productive. You have to enforce accountability in yourself, you don't have a boss or a team counting on you. It doesn't matter when you work, you don't need to show up 9-5, you just have to get your shit done.

sown · on June 24, 2013

Thank you for your input. :) I was expecting 1099, just not sure about the specifics. Thanks for the tip about hours.

tagabek · on June 24, 2013

Time

Make sure you set your hours (preferable a week in advance) and follow them. For example, if you work 9am-5pm Mon-Fri, set 6pm-9pm (an example) Mon-Fri and 11am-4pm on weekends for freelancing projects. In addition, realize that a freelancer is always thinking about his/her business, so you will 'always' be working. You will be emailing clients, marketing yourself, and building your brand at all times.

Legal

Consult a few lawyers for about 30-60mins each (they usually offer this for free) about your situation. You are essentially interviewing them at this point, and finding the right one. If you don't feel quite right, move on. They should be able to accurately explain the answers to your questions thoroughly. Taxes, incorporation, setting up contracts, etc. should all be covered.

Also, they should be able to tell you what their fees are!

Money

Watch this: http://vimeo.com/22053820

"F*ck You. Pay Me." is a talk about how to make sure you're getting payed what you are owed as a freelancer. The speaker's lawyer comes up and also gives fantastic advice.

jf22 · on June 24, 2013

I did this for a while. Now I freelance more or less full time.

Contrary to popular advice I billed per hour.

Don't do any contracting work at your job and you should be fine legally. Don't tell anybody you are working on the side though. Raises eyebrows you don't need raised.

Best tip: Find businesses that actually need a problem to be solved and not somebody that just has a budget.

They'll appreciate you more, pay faster and generally love all over you if you let them.

Companies with budgets to spend but no pressing problems to solve are a real pain.