Being your own boss usually means you tend to have more flexibility in terms of where, when and how you work.
But working for yourself can have its own set of challenges as well. When you work for a company, a lot of details are usually taken care of for you, like schedules, payroll, business expenses, insurance and retirement savings.
However, being your own boss typically means that you’ll have to pick up these responsibilities yourself. In other words, you may have a lot more “stuff” to keep track of besides just getting the client work done.
But striking out on your own to do what you love doesn’t necessarily have to create headaches – especially on the money management front. As with other areas in life, staying organized and planning ahead are keys to success.
Whether you’re new to the self-employment world or a veteran, we want to share a few tips that could help you manage your money effectively and keep you moving towards your financial goals, like a boss.
Salaried employees usually have pretty predictable paychecks – in that you generally know how much you’ll receive each pay period.
But self-employed work can be a little more variable. Business tends to ebb and flow based on your clients’ needs and the time of year.
Depending on the industry you work in, certain months may be busier than others, which means that your income could vary month to month. For many, this is a big change from having a fixed salary and could take some time to get used to.
One way to get a clear picture of your self-employment cash flow is to have a separate bank account(s) for your business.
To help get a handle on your self-employment income, it’s important to track your cash flow. Knowing how much is coming in each month can not only help you maintain your business budget (more on this later), but it also allows you to see how your income fluctuates throughout the year.
For instance, are some months busier than others? This could help you plan for the year ahead
One way to get a clear picture of your self-employment cash flow is to have a separate bank account(s) for your business work. That way, your business income and expenses aren’t mixed in with your personal expenses.
Having a bank account dedicated to your freelance work may also be helpful when tax season rolls around and you need to report details like your income and business expenses.
Knowing what kind of expenses you may have to account for while you’re self-employed can help you put together a budget that provides a comprehensive look at your total monthly income and expenses. And having a self-employment budget can help you better understand the cost of doing business and determine how much to charge your clients to cover that cost.
As we mentioned, when you work for a company, the human resources department typically takes care of your benefits and payroll. You generally don’t have to worry about setting up your own retirement and health care insurance plans, and the money to cover those expenses is usually automatically deducted from your paychecks. Your employer also typically withholds income taxes from your pay and sends the tax payments to the IRS for you.
When you work for yourself, however, you have to manage these expenses in your self–employment budget. For example, how much would it cost to buy your own health care insurance? How much do you want to contribute to your retirement plan? These are the costs you’re likely going to have to consider and allocate for each month.
Also, when you receive payments for your client work, you’ll want to get into the habit of setting aside a portion of your pay for quarterly estimated tax payments because remember, you no longer have an employer withholding and paying taxes for you.
Paying estimated taxes takes a little more work, but don’t worry, we’ve unpacked some of the basics for you here.
Bottom line: Having a self-employment budget can give you a better sense of how much income you’d need to bring in each month to cover your bills – plus how much you could set aside for any financial goals you may have.
Taxes can be a complicated matter when you’re your own boss. There are a lot of self-employment tax rules to be aware of regarding what you can and cannot do. (Not to mention all the forms!)
A tax professional could help you better understand your new tax obligations and answer any questions you might have about your particular situation.
Given that self-employment can come with some new tax considerations, it may be worthwhile to hire a tax professional to help you with your taxes, especially if you’ve just started working for yourself. There are a lot of details to navigate – like estimated tax payments and which self-employment deductions you’re eligible to claim.
If you participated in your company’s workplace retirement plan (e.g., 401(k)), it was probably a pretty straightforward process. Typically, during each pay period your employer would deduct a certain amount, specified by you, from your paycheck and put it into your 401(k) account.
Even though you may not be able to contribute to your workplace 401(k) once you leave the company, you can still save for retirement by opening up your own retirement account(s).
An IRA is a common example of a personal retirement account that you could sock away money in for your golden years.
Other retirement plan options for self-employed people that you may also want to consider include:
Keep in mind that different retirement plans have their own contribution and deduction limits as well as eligibility rules, which are subject to change each year. Visit IRS.gov or consult a tax professional for the most up-to-date information on rules and eligibility. You may also want to speak with a financial advisor if you have questions about choosing a retirement plan that’s right for you.
People who have been in the self-employment business for a while know that the availability of work can fluctuate. On top of this, even if you do have enough business for a set period, you may still have to contend with late payments or non-payments from your client(s).
In short, your flow of income can be quite unpredictable. That’s why in addition to tracking your income, it’s important to plan for these ups and downs by building an emergency cash reserve.
Having emergency cash on hand can help you cover essential expenses if you find yourself in a slower work period.
Even though the general rule of thumb suggests saving enough to cover three to six months of your essential expenses, you may want to consider stashing away a little more given the unpredictable nature of self-employment work. Having a bigger reserve may also help you feel more financially secure.
For those who have been self-employed for a while, consider reviewing your flow of income and expenses from previous years. This historical perspective could help you settle on a savings target for your emergency fund.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized professional tax advice. Individuals should consult their own tax advisor for matters specific to their own taxes. This article was prepared by and approved by Marcus by Goldman Sachs, but does not reflect the institutional opinions of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC or any of their affiliates, subsidiaries or divisions. Goldman Sachs Bank USA and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC are not providing any financial, economic, legal, accounting, tax or other recommendations in this article. Information and opinions expressed in this article are as of the date of this material only and subject to change without notice. Information contained in this article does not constitute the provision of investment advice by Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC or any of their affiliates. Neither Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC nor any of their affiliates makes any representations or warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of the statements of any information contained in this document and any liability therefore is expressly disclaimed.
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