RE: What's a good freelance rate for technical writers?

["Al Geist" <al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com>]

If you are freelancing, your rates should reflect your costs of doing
business, which include taxes, office expenses, equipment maintenance,
medical, and all those benefits you enjoyed as a staff employee; HOWEVER,
all these expenses need to be tempered with the reality of the marketplace.
You may need $100K a year, but live in a $50K market. Medical costs are so
high that most of us in the freelance (contract) realm cannot afford it. I
set aside a certain amount each month into a medical account. I pay for
regular dental and medical expenses (teeth cleaning and diabetic
supplies/checkups) from that account and leave the rest for emergencies. If
you live in that $50K market, this may be a better option than spending
thousands on medical insurance.

Al Geist-Geist Associates
Technical Communication, Help, Documentation Management
Mobile: 231-301-5770
E-mail: al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com
Website: www.geistassociates.com 
Facebook: Geist Arts

See Also:
Geist Arts - Fine Art Photography - Exceptional Note Cards
www.geistarts.com
 
"...I walked to work, quit my job, and kept walking. Better to be a pilgrim
without a destination, I figured, than to cross the wrong threshold each
day." (Sy Safransky)


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