NABJ LEARNING LAB

The Business of Freelancing

8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday, August 5, 2009

8:00-8:15 Check-in

8:15-8:45 WELCOME, SEMINAR OVERVIEW & PANEL INTRODUCTIONS

Mashaun Simon

8:45-10:15 PANEL DISCUSSIONS I with Q&A

How to get started & making contacts in your field from the journalist’s
point of view.
Amani Channel, Gina Gayle, Katti Gray, Mario Page and
Patrick Riley

Background-second career

Decision to quit

Lessons learned and what not to do

Handle your business

Everything you have done for another employer, do for yourself
Marketing
Know your business cycle
Educate
Professional orgs
Know your SWOT
Study different business structures

Keep re-inventing yourself

Make yourself more marketable

Take care of yourself, treat yourself well surround yourself with supportive people

12:45-1:30 OVERVIEW OF BUSINESS

Amani Channel, Gina Gayle, Mario Page

-What Makes This A Business & Business Structures

Do a simple business plan even if it’s on a napkin
You are in business to make money
Sole prop, LLC, S-corp, C-Corp, Corp
 Taxes

-Your Cost Of Doing Business (CODB) & Pricing Your Work

NPPA Calculator
Things to take into consideration

-Licensing & Copyright

Protecting your work

-Accounting, Insurance, Salaries, Retirement, Equipment & Supplies

Get professional help
Don’t buy everything new at once
Rent per assignment if you can and build cost into each job
Accountants used to working with creatives

-Getting Good Legal Advice

If you can find someone who works in the arts/intellectual
property
Volunteer lawyer for the arts