10 Money Tips For Voiceover Freelancers – The Not Silent Blog 4/25/17

by Tom Dheere · Published April 25, 2017 · Updated April 24, 2017

Last week my friend Michelle Falzon curated an article on Facebook about the plight of voiceover freelancers. You can read it here.

Disconcerting, ay?

Over the years, it has been become clear that regardless of the ideology of the administration in power, the government doesn’t give a rat’s nose about freelancers. Here’s an article that talks about that in more detail. Beyond the Freelancer’s Union we have no representation of consequence, little to no lobbying power in Congress, and contribute virtually nothing to political campaigns. Ergo we’re invisible, unheard, and useless to them. That means it’s up to you as voiceover freelancers to do right by you.

How?

TIP OF THE WEEK

Make, save, and spend money like a business, not like a clueless rogue artiste. Here are 10 tips:

Hire a freelance-savvy CPA to help you file your taxes.
Schedule Quarterly Estimated Tax payments so you don’t get hammered when you file your taxes. You can download the form here.
Self-garnish your checks by putting 20%-30% in a savings account for said Estimated Payments.
As Robert Kiyosaki once said: pay yourself first! Put away money for yourself every month, even if it’s $10.
Never skip any bill payment, even for just a month. Most billing companies for things like medical bills are happy to set up a payment plan you can handle.
Make your credit score your friend. Know what your scores are and nurture them. I use Credit Karma to keep an eye on mine.
Interest is the enemy! Pay your credit cards bills once a week. Paying in full regularly helps your credit score.
Keep an eye out for “derogatory remarks” on your credit score and address them immediately.
Never cancel a credit card. It actually lowers your credit rating.
Open a Health Savings Account. Use pre-tax (W9) income to make deposits. The money you deposit does not get taxed and it’s a write-off. Opening an HSA last year made me go from owing money to getting a refund!

NEWS AND NOTES

Save The Date! I will be leading the Voiceover Xtra webinar “Voiceover Workflow and Analytics” on Wednesday May 17th. More details to follow…!

More Madballs Madness! This time the competition is fierce. And gross…

Lightseekers now has it’s own commercial! It’s totally freaky cool to hear my voice come out of something that isn’t me.

HAPPY HAPPYS

Happy Pig In A Blanket Day and Hug An Australian Day! I’m talking to you, Matt Cowlrick and Larissa Gallagher…!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

From my village to yours; this is Tom Dheere, The H is Silent, but I’m Not.

Tom Dheere is a 20-year veteran of the voice over industry who has narrated thousands of projects for clients in over a dozen countries. He is also a coach at Edge Studio, voiceover business consultant known as the Voice Over Strategist, and is currently producing the comic book “Agent 1.22”.

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Paul Payton says:

April 25, 2017 at 1:24 pm

Re: your tips, amen times ten! Freelancing and genuine independence may be simple concepts, but they are not easy.

Re: Dr. King’s quotation, I’d like to still believe it, but with the current irrational political situation, my belief is strained.

We are truly living in interesting times. Entrepreneurialism and individuality are simultaneously being encouraged and tamped down. The only solution I’ve come up with is to try to keep my corner green and lead and live by example. I only hope that someone will see me doing something good and do their version of it – and thus carry forward a positive message.