The Complete Guide to Working for Yourself: Everything the Self-Employed Need to Know about Taxes, Recordkeeping, and Other Laws (Book & CD-ROM) [Paperback]

Beth Williams (Author), Jean Murray (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 2008

Many people dream of starting and running a business of their own but often do not know HOW to start. Entering the small business field as an independent contractor, freelancer, sole proprietor, or consultant is not a single decision but a series of steps, each one bringing you closer to the day your enterprise is up and running, competing for customers, and making money. How will you organize and register your business? What are the regulatory considerations? How will you protect your intellectual property? Is your business plan adequate? Where can you find financing? What are your obligations as an employer? Do you understand your tax responsibilities? This brand new book includes the most current tax rates and changes in IRS regulations such as, "Is it a business or a hobby?" You will learn all about business operations: selecting a business structure, licensing and permits, employer identification number (EIN), business taxes, recordkeeping, self-employment taxes, paying estimated taxes (and calculating how much to pay), dealing with independent contractors and 1099-miscellaneous forms, client agreements, insurance, workers' compensation insurance, rights and intellectual property law, accounting periods, selecting an accounting method, checklist for starting a business plan, choosing a name, business plans, forms of business structures, financing, location, marketing and advertising, In addition, new entrepreneurs will appreciate this valuable resource and reference in their daily activities and as a source of ready-to-use forms, Web sites, operating and cost cutting ideas, and mathematical formulas to apply to their operations. The Companion CD-ROM contains all the forms in the book as well as a sample business plan you can adapt for your own use.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Atlantic Publishing Company (FL) (January 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1601380488
• ISBN-13: 978-1601380487
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #869,464 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive Guide, June 19, 2008

By 

FireBird28 "firebird" (Deltona, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Guide to Working for Yourself: Everything the Self-Employed Need to Know about Taxes, Recordkeeping, and Other Laws (Book & CD-ROM) (Paperback)

"Working for Yourself" provides an easy to follow process of setting up your own business if you are considering that course and is a good source for those who are thinking about going that route, but also for those who may already have started the journey.

What makes it a worthwhile read is not only that the book shows the advantages of working for yourself, but the disadvantages as well. This method is brought further into the different aspects of the set-up process as well.

It also shows what could make a business stand out from others, what it takes to run your own business, what your pitfalls could be, and - when finished with the reading - whether or not you have what it takes to go into business for yourself. It does not, however, try to discourage readers from taking the leap - just simply showing how much time, effort, and commitment it takes in order to begin - and the joy and satisfaction that will come from making the business work.

Accompanying CD-ROM includes legal forms, agreements, and contracts that can be used as needed and can be adjusted to suit individual needs.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A useful resource for entrepreneurs, August 3, 2009

By 

Janet Barclay "Organized Assistant" (Hamilton, ON) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Guide to Working for Yourself: Everything the Self-Employed Need to Know about Taxes, Recordkeeping, and Other Laws (Book & CD-ROM) (Paperback)

Just as the title says, this is a complete guide for anyone who is self-employed or is considering self-employment. Although the foundation of the book is US laws around taxation and business structure, there is enough general information provided to make this a useful resource for entrepreneurs in any country.

Rather than assuming that the reader has already made the decision to start a business, the authors cover the disadvantages of working for oneself, working from a home office, and working from a leased office, as well as a self-assessment to help determine whether he or she is even suited for self-employment.

This book would have been really valuable to me when I first started my business, as it deals with many of the topics I spent hours researching on my own, such as choosing a business name and domain name, effective yet inexpensive marketing strategies, determining operating costs and much more.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, May 22, 2009

By 

D. E. Alter (New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Guide to Working for Yourself: Everything the Self-Employed Need to Know about Taxes, Recordkeeping, and Other Laws (Book & CD-ROM) (Paperback)

There are no specific rules or guidlines for becoming an entrepreneur, but this book cna help you fulfill the dream. Working for yourself and starting your own business is a genuine, attainable, and gratifying goal. However, getting there can be a bit of a challenge. This book will not only help you make the right choices, it will also prevent you from choosing the wrong ones.
Not everyone is cut out to work for themselves, and by truthfully answering a few questions at the beginning of the book most will be able to see if it is the path they should be taking. Also detailed are legal concerns, tax consequences, liablity, naming your business, hiring, firing, marketing, location, and a plethora of other necessary considerations.
This book offers advise and shows you where and how to look for help when needed. It covers the basic and the not so basic. Aspects many starting out may never have contemplated are also discussed. Working for yourself is not easy, but it is possible and this book will guide you on your journey. Don't let fear, apprehensions, or lack of knowledge keep you from living your dream of working for yourself. Lucky are those who love what they do, because it never really then feels like work.