The Self Employment Support Center

Every person is unique, but when you face a challenge like self-employment, you are never alone.  Countless men and women have faced the exact same career change and have survived and thrived. The following guide is designed to help you navigate your journey with the best information and resources that helped other folks when they faced the same challenge. 

TSC has scoured the Internet and assembled links to the very best self-employment resources: articles, blogs, forums and tools that can help you make better decisions and take action to overcome the range of physical, emotional and other challenges that you face.

As you’ll see, we always welcome your ideas and suggestions to make this Self-Employment Guide even more helpful to survivors like you.   

JUST FOUND OUT 

Survivors Say: Best Resources for Self-Employment

• Mindtools: Working For Yourself - Surviving and Thriving in Self-Employment
• BusinessWeek: A Guide to Self-Employment
• USA.gov: For the Self-Employment - Financial Assistance

The Big Picture

With the current instability in the job marketplace, more and more people are taking a proactive stance with their careers and deciding to go into business for themselves. Although there are many challenges with becoming self-employed there are also many rewards. You’ll be in a stronger position to manage your own schedule and decide where to focus your skill sets. Instead of deciding by committee, all the decisions pertaining to your self-employment career will be made by you. In essence you will become your own boss.

Once you decide to embark on this venture, you will be taking on new responsibilities with regard to paying your taxes. Simply put, without the government taking out taxes from your paycheck it falls to you to pay the government. However, this is not as intimidating as it might sound. This government link lays out all the necessary requirements:

Social Security Online: If You Are Self-Employed

To better understand the most common challenges to self-employment payroll taxes, be sure to read:

Internal Revenue Service: United States Department of the Treasury - Self Employment Tax

Your Self-Employment

More and more people are turning to self-employment as a career choice. Whether you start their own home based business or provide services as an independent contractor there is a whole host of resources available for the self-employed:

The Riley Guide: Considering Self-Employment

Since self-employment means you’ll be paid directly without having the government take out taxes then you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the specific tax codes for independent contractors. If hired for your services you’ll be filling out a 1099 tax form instead of the standard 1040 tax. Any business who hires independent contractors will have those forms available but you should be informed as well.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Considering Self-Employment - What to Think About Before Starting a Business [PDF]

Your World

After decided to embark on the path of self-employment you will no doubt be faced with a flood of emotions and have many decisions to make. It's important to talk with your loved ones and reach out to support centers during the initial stages of your journey. For advice on dealing with all the challenges you may be going through, visit:

National Association for the Self-Employed: In Business on Your Own, Not Alone

This overview of self-employment will help bring into focus the benefits and obstacles you might face in this new endeavor.

The New York Times: Smoothing the Way To Self-Employment

Self-Employment Myths

• Self-employed people have to work really long hours
• The only reason to build a business is to sell it
• Self-employment is much riskier then getting a job
• Being self-employed is stressful

Information and Recommended Links for being Self-Employed

• Business.gov: Self Employment - Starting a Business
  
• U.S. Department of Labor: Self-Employment Assistance
• Suite 101: Self-Employment

Types of Self-Employment

On Line At Home Work

There are at lot of legitimate work at home opportunities for the self-employed. These might take some research to find but you can certainly build up a solid customer base with specific skills such as freelance writing and editing, transcription or customer service.

Franchise Business

Owning a franchise business means you are buying into an established entity and making it work for you. There are numerous nationwide chains that are available for franchise ranging from a Subway shop to a Dunkin’ Doughnuts. Typically these types of opportunities will mean a larger personal investment. However, you’ll be provided with all the tools and resources from the franchise to help you flourish.

Franchise Expo: Business Opportunity Directory

Independent Contractor

Being an independent contractor means taking your specific skills and offering them to your community. This could be in the form of house cleaning, gardening or dog walking. You’ll still need to meet all the necessary tax requirements but this can become the basis for a new business.

Nolo: Working as an Independent Contractor - FAQ

Insurance & Work Matters

Insurance Matters

As a self-employed worker you will now be responsible for your own health insurance. It is quite possible that you didn’t have a benefits package with a previous employer but that doesn’t mean you should continue to go without coverage. There are numerous insurance plans available for self-employed individuals and their families.

• Health Insurance
• eHealth Insurance
  
• Self Employed Group
  

Work Matters

As an independent contractor you still have rights as a worker. Knowing these rights before accepting any job will help make the experience a productive one.

Find Law: Independent Contractors & Self Employment

Self-Employment Counselors Who Can Help

Becoming self-employed means taking on a lot of responsibilities for yourself. You no longer will have the protection of a corporate entity. But you’ll also experience the benefits and freedom associated with working for yourself. As with most professions, there are experienced counselors who can help you navigate through the self-employment course.

• Self Employment Key: Your Decision - Career Counseling FAQ
• Business Plan Analysis Services: Self Employment Counseling & Evaluation 

The Emotional Roller-coaster

Anytime you make a career change you’re setting yourself up for a certain level of upheaval both personally and for your family. Circumstances in your current work environment might dictate that you make the change to self-employment but that doesn’t mean it will always be a smooth transition. As with any major life decision, the more informed you are the better you’ll be able to cope with the ups and downs of self-employment.  Beyond the various government resources there have been some knowledgeable books written on the subject of entering into the world of the self-employed.

Books Self-Employed Workers Recommend

• Working for Yourself: Law & Taxes for Independent Contractors, Freelancers, and Consultants
  
• Self-Employment: From Dream to Reality
• How to Start Over: 101 Self-Employment Businesses
  
• Secrets of Self-Employment
  

What Survivors Wish They’d Known

• Certain neighborhoods and communities might have zoning restrictions with regard to home businesses. Make sure to check with your local city officials before opening up a business.
• Paying off your taxes quarterly will help you better manage your finances. Figure out what percentage should come out of every payment you receive for your services and set it aside in a savings account.
• Work isn’t going to magically appear. You have to market yourself in order to find new work.

Dealing with Self-Employment: Information and Recommended Links for Family Members

How you can help

• Assist your partner or family member with their new day-to-day duties. It will take a bit to adjust to new work schedules and you need to be patient.
• Spread the good word of the new services being offered by your partner or family member's new career. Word of mouth is a very effective marketing tool.
• Pitch in whenever possible to help pick up the slack of the work load.

What to say   

• "I will support your decision in whichever self-employment path you choose."
• "Do you want to talk about your concerns?"
• Tell them how much you care about them

What not to say

•  "Do you really know what you’re getting into?"
•  "You’re putting us all at risk."
•  "This is a crazy idea."

After settling into your new career as a self-employed worker you’ll want to share with others how you feel emotionally, mentally and spiritually about your success and decisions. Creating a successful self-employment business is a very uplifting endeavor and helps to stimulate all facets of the local economy. By telling your story, you can not only put into perspective your thoughts and feelings but you can provide hope to others who are going through a similar journey themselves.

Successful Self-Employment

Many great and profitable companies started out as small, local businesses. It could be baking cookies in the kitchen or planting flowers for the neighbor. The entrepreneurial spirit thrives on exciting ideas and determination. Those who have made a name for themselves are happy to share their successes.

Ezine Articles: Introducing the 15 Frameworks of Successful Self-Employed Professionals

Most successful self-employment stories can be attributed to one word: passion. In order to make a success you have to love what you’re doing. And when you’re doing it all for yourself, then the benefits are especially rewarding.

The Freedom Bus: 10 Tips for Successful Self-Employment

When you declare yourself to be self-employed you might find a couple of naysayers surrounding you. Don’t let them discourage your dreams. If you have a well researched and thought out plan for your self-employment there is no reason why you cannot achieve success.

Start Up USA: A Self-Employment Success Story - Don Whittecar

Nearly every city and local community want to help new businesses start up. Through grants and assistant programs you’ll find there are plenty of opportunities for you to thrive. Here is one such local business success story. There is probably another right around the corner from where you live.

Oregon.gov: Self Employment Assistance Program Helps Enterprise Entrepreneur   

Give back

What helped you while you were dealing with the transition to self-employment? Take a look back at your journey and share with other what helped you and what you wished you would have known/done during your experience. You can create a profile, reach out to others embarking into self-employment, join support circles or share your story by following the links at TheSurvivorsClub.org.

Job Hunt: Networking and Job Search Support Resources by State

Making the career change to self-employment means taking on a certain amount of risk. You could start out by building your home business slowly before quitting your “day job.” This will allow you to see if being self-employed is the right path for you. You should make a complete and informed assessment of your work potential and financial situation before making any drastic change in your life.

Self Employed or Bust: 10 Things To Do Before You Quit Your Day Job

The same need for being informed applies to taking on the responsibility of investing into a franchise business. Although there are certainly benefits to having an established company stand behind your new business venture, there is still the risk of failure. Knowing the pitfalls before investing can help you avoid unnecessary complications.

Gaebler: Resources for Entrepreneurs - Why Franchises Fail