-- To be assured of payment for their work, many veteran freelancers stick to bidding sites that provide an escrow service: The labor buyer deposits freelancer payment with the site after a deal is made, and the site pays the freelancer upon the buyer's confirmation that the work has been done to specification.
-- Some veteran bidders advise newcomers to go low a few times, do high-octane work and develop devoted clients who'll later pay higher rates.
-- If you're collecting unemployment benefits, verify that freelancing won't affect your eligibility by quizzing your state department of labor.
-- Two pages of nitty-gritty are well worth reading: Browse for "How freelance job bidding sites work" by Michelle L. Devon, an article that originally appeared on the Web site Helium.
NEW SERVICE. The full-time contract/project approach is a variation on the freelance way of working. When starting a "business of one" is appealing but you can't stand thinking about all the required paperwork and back-office computer chores, check out a new comprehensive solution named BOTH, which stands for Back Of The House.
Designed for freelancers and other independent professionals, the company's package of services includes hosted information technology with tech support, billing and collections, online banking, bookkeeping and tax services, a core health plan plus optional health insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan and a personal advisor serving as a single point of contact. The cost is $1,995 to sign up, plus a monthly charge of $399.
The idea sounds like a winner, but remember to be cautious about signing any long-term contract for service.
WINNING BID. Coming to an employer's attention through your top-notch performance in a freelance gig could prove to be just the spotlight you need -- if and when the employer is ready to hire someone for a full-time job. If you want the regular-status employment, you won't have to compete with a thousand resumes generated by a job-board posting. These days, that's a royal flush.