1. Going Independent Going Independent WSA Internet Business SIG January 22, 2002 Linda Merrick Co-founder, P5 Group LLP

2. ® Our Story: P5 Group, LLP Freelance marketing services for technology companies since 1998. Partners each have 18+ years of technology marketing leadership experience.  Marketing communications  Product management Freelance marketing services for technology companies since 1998. Partners each have 18+ years of technology marketing leadership experience.  Marketing communications  Product management

3. ® Our Story: P5 Group, LLP Why did we go independent? We love doing marketing Why did we go independent? We love doing marketing

4. Getting Committed Economy Risk tolerance Isolation Self-promotion Self-sufficient Economy Risk tolerance Isolation Self-promotion Self-sufficient Confidence Willingness to run your business

5. Getting the Attitude Regardless of the business agreement between you and a company, it’s about What is it that you do… better than anyone you know? “You need to imagine yourself working through a series of projects, adding value for specific customers, internal and external.” - Tom Peters

6. Getting Started Collateral  Business cards  Backgrounder  Samples of your work  Web site and domain name Office  Away from kids/noise  Well equipped Collateral  Business cards  Backgrounder  Samples of your work  Web site and domain name Office  Away from kids/noise  Well equipped

7. Getting Started: Legal Form of Business Business License/UBI number Form of Business Business License/UBI number

8. Getting Started: Accounting Separate bank account Professional invoices Accounting software Taxes  Self Employment Tax  Washington Business & Occupation tax, city taxes  Estimated Tax payments Retirement funds  SEP/Keogh Separate bank account Professional invoices Accounting software Taxes  Self Employment Tax  Washington Business & Occupation tax, city taxes  Estimated Tax payments Retirement funds  SEP/Keogh

9. Getting Started: Insurance Health, life, disability insurance Business insurance  Errors and omissions  Trademark, copyright, patent infringement  Virus coverage Health, life, disability insurance Business insurance  Errors and omissions  Trademark, copyright, patent infringement  Virus coverage

10. Getting Started:

11. Getting Work Who do you know?  Co-workers, freelancers, agencies  Neighbors, friends, workout buddies… Ask for referrals Other methods  Conventional promotion  Placement agencies Freelance-Seattle.net & other lists Who do you know?  Co-workers, freelancers, agencies  Neighbors, friends, workout buddies… Ask for referrals Other methods  Conventional promotion  Placement agencies Freelance-Seattle.net & other lists Sell solutions.

12. Getting the Message Across Clients get exactly the expertise they need, when they need it  Without adding head-count  Without paying a full-time expert  Without training or management burdens  Without layoff pain, unemployment expense  Without operations overhead All while extending their budgets Clients get exactly the expertise they need, when they need it  Without adding head-count  Without paying a full-time expert  Without training or management burdens  Without layoff pain, unemployment expense  Without operations overhead All while extending their budgets

13. Getting Paid Contracts, proposals Hourly rates  Your old salary, with the decimal moved 3 places to the left -or-  Your hourly pay x 2  Billing rate calculator Contracts, proposals Hourly rates  Your old salary, with the decimal moved 3 places to the left -or-  Your hourly pay x 2  Billing rate calculator

14. Getting the Rewards Increased flexibility in work hours Increased productivity Less politics Fewer complaints about management True understanding of Brand YOU Increased flexibility in work hours Increased productivity Less politics Fewer complaints about management True understanding of Brand YOU

15. Good Luck! Linda Merrick lindam@p5group.com Download these slides at www.Freelance-Seattle.net Linda Merrick lindam@p5group.com Download these slides at www.Freelance-Seattle.net

16. Getting Help Freelance-Seattle.net  Freelancers discuss insurance, accounting, etc.  Clients seeking freelancers post their projects Business License www.wa.gov/dol/bpd/buslic.htm Running a Freelance Business www.creativebusiness.com for creative and marketing types Starting & Operating a Business in Washington www.oasispress.com/smartstart/ Freelance-Seattle.net  Freelancers discuss insurance, accounting, etc.  Clients seeking freelancers post their projects Business License www.wa.gov/dol/bpd/buslic.htm Running a Freelance Business www.creativebusiness.com for creative and marketing types Starting & Operating a Business in Washington www.oasispress.com/smartstart/

17. Billing Rate Calculator Example ONLY!

18. Billing Rate Calculator * This is an aggressive example