Telecommuting
If you find yourself becoming increasingly disenchanted with the idea of traveling to an office every day, wishing you could spend more time with your kids or just craving a little more freedom with your work schedule, it might be time for you to consider becoming a telecommuter. The telecommuting market is still unknown to some people but with the help of the Web, you can open yourself to new career possibilities.
Expand All Guide SectionsTelecommuting Basics
Once you decide to start exploring the idea of home-based work, you'll need to do some research to ... read more »
Find Telecommuting Jobs
Telecommuting jobs aren't always easy to come by, but you can search for work around the country ... read more »
Getting Started With Telecommuting
So you’ve decided that telecommuting is for you, and perhaps you’ve even found that job. The next step is to prepare for what is to come. The sites below can help you set up your home office, show you some of the valuable software and tools available, and inform you about the taxes associated with working from home.
Dulcinea's Insight
- It's very likely that your work as a telecommuter will be performed on an independent contractor basis. Consult your accountant or a financial advisor to determine how much money you need to reserve for taxes. Depending on your viewpoint and personal circumstances, the tax consequences of being an independent contractor can be an advantage or disadvantage. You won't have an employer paying part of your taxes, but you'll be eligible for a few tax deductions.
- According to The New York Times, some telecommuters are being taxed both by their home state and the state in which their employer is located.
- If you need to pay estimated taxes a few times a year, find the necessary tax forms at the Internal Revenue Service Web site.
Dulcinea's Picks
To set up the home office …
CNN.com
has a complete “Work at Home” guide that focuses on setting up a home-based office and working effectively from home. Find articles on how to organize your desk, make your home office childproof, and find just the right chair to complement that organized desk.
For helpful telecommuting software and tools…
FolderShare
is an application that allows you to share files with clients by dropping them into virtual folders. Download the free program and create folders to share with clients as if on a network server. As long as you’re online, you can update files or move them in and out of the designated folders from your computer; they’ll be instantly updated on the computers of everyone else who has access to that folder.
YouSendIt
allows you to "send, receive and track files, on-demand." This service streamlines and facilitates the process of sending large files to multiple people at a time, making overnight couriers, FTP transfers and bulky e-mail attachments a thing of the past. Use the program for free or pay for more advanced features.
For taxes associated with telecommuting …
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)
has an article explaining the difference between an independent contractor and a company employee.
The Internal Revenue Service
publishes "Business Use of Your Home," a guide that explains tax deductions available to those who work in a home office.
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