Freelancing From a U-Haul
Posted on May 23, 2011 in Freelance Life, Productivity | 13 comments
So, I’ve got less than a week in the wonderful land of Chicago. My plane leaves on Saturday night and before Sunday arrives, I’ll be a New Yorker once again. And while I may have many reservations about this move, my freelance writing business isn’t one of them. One of the best parts of being a freelancer is that you can often run your business from just about anywhere. All I really need is a computer and a little peace and quiet to get my work done. Still, moving as a freelancer requires a few preparations for everything to run smoothly.
My first concern was, of course, my clients. (That’s because I always have my eye on my money, and they’re the ones that send me money.) At this point, I only have one small client in Chicago and rest are spread out around the country. I started with notifying the local one first because I know they hired me partly because I’m local. I basically just called them up and explained I was moving. Although, this is going to put an end to any of our in person meetings, they don’t seem too fazed by the whole thing so I’m assuming it’s all good. All the other ones are getting an email explaining the move, my new mailing address and my new number, because we do business over the phone and email anyway. They really just need to know my new mailing address so they can send the checks to the right place.
Speaking of mailing address, I may do a lot of business through PayPal but I still work with agencies and publications that pay me with good old fashion check in the mail. That’s never really been a problem in the past unless I was completing one of my many, many, many moves. (Remind me to tell you the story of me chasing down a $900 check from DC to Chicago to Virginia Beach to NYC one day.) I’ve already made sure that the invoice payments I’m expecting in the next couple of weeks go to my temporary New York address. I’m also filing a change of address with the post office so they’ll forward my mail. (And I filed it two weeks ago because those things take forever to start for some reason.) And finally, when I get to NY, I plan to go get a mailbox from UPS since it’s obvious I will be moving every ten minutes until I die. Well at least for the next few years, anyway.
The other thing I’m thinking about is my business name. I work under P.S. Jones Communications and in Chicago I didn’t need a DBA or Assumed Name Certificate because it’s my first two initials and last name. That may change depending on the county in New York I’m settling in. I’ll let it ride the first three months since I don’t know where my final destination is, but when I have my brand new address I’ll have to figure out the requirements for doing business in that county.
The last part is just all the little packing and errands that go along with moving. I’m also spending a little time saying goodbye to the people and places in Chicago I love. For example, I MUST have a few pork tacos at Burrito Joint before I head out. As a freelancer, I almost always have the freedom to move my schedule around to fit the needs of my life. That comes in really handy in these moves. For example, I worked this past weekend because I knew I’d have to take several days this week for a few things. This coming week is full but I’m confident I’ve planned accordingly so right now my worry bone is taking a rest. Well, until I get there that is.
I know that many of you have moved while freelancing in the past and that some of you have moved pretty recently. I’d love to hear your thoughts on moving as a freelancer.
Photo Credit: Asurroca
13 Comments
I’m so jealous . . . you’re a New Yorker again. I love that dirty city like nobody’s business!
And, I’m dying to hear the story of your chasing the $900 check. Thank goodness ALL of my clients finally got on the PayPal bandwagon (just happened this year).
Living internationally (I live PT in Atlanta and PT in Jamaica), I’d be a chasing money fool if they hadn’t!
Yuwanda Black recently posted..Freelance Writers- The Easiest Way to Bill and Get Paid – Quickly!
Yuwanda, I am jealous of you! I read your posts and wonder what it would be like to freelance outside of the U.S. You make Jamaica sound like paradise sometimes.
Sounds like you got everything set up really well. I haven’t had to move while running my own ship, but I like how you’ve done it. I hope you enjoy your last week in Chi-town!
Mahesh Raj Mohan recently posted..5 Things You May Not Know About Me
Why thank you, Mahesh
I haven’t moved recently so nothing to share there. It sounds as if you’re making this move very carefully and the right way. Best of luck to you as you get settled in with hubby!
Walker recently posted..Password Management-Irritating and Necessary to Life on the Internet
Thanks, Walker. Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. But it was easier because I’d mapped out everything and could adjust to the changes easily.
Believe it or not, I’ve never moved. But, wishing you well in yours!
Jennifer Brown Banks recently posted..Teachable Moments – Lessons on Writing From Celebrity Apprentice
What? Lucky duck.
When I moved from Florida to Texas last year, keeping my freelance business going was my top priority. I didn’t want to stop working because I didn’t want to have a gap during my first months in a new town. I remember sitting in the backseat of my car while my husband and father-in-law took turns driving. Somewhere between Florida and Louisiana, I prepared a proposal for a new client, and sent it off when we stopped for lunch and got free wifi.
Luckily, what state I lived in made very little difference to my clients, so I’ve managed to keep working for the majority of my Florida clients. I’d say the biggest challenge is just getting acquainted in your new town. I went to a lot of networking events at first before realizing that I didn’t need to go to all of them–I just needed to go to the ones where I felt I was connecting with the right people. And I dedicated a huge amount of time to social networking, to the point that the majority of my clients aren’t actually local.
Moving as a freelancer doesn’t mean everything’s business as usual, (especially because of all the added stress of packing, coordinating, etc). But I think we’re definitely very lucky because we don’t have to close our doors unless we want to. There’s always smartphones, and internet tethering via your phone, and deadline management. If you can coordinate a move, you can coordinate moving your business with you.
Natalia Sylvester recently posted..17 Movies To Watch Without Feeling Guilty About Not Writing
Dude, I’m imagining you working in the backseat while moving. I’ve been there, too! “Honey, can you please turn down the music and roll up the windows? I’m about to make a client call.”
Congrats and good luck on your move! Hope it goes smoothly.
I’ve made 2 major moves so far (from New York to Florida, then from Florida to California) but my next move, which I expect will be next year to North Carolina will be the first time I move where I’ll also be freelancing. So far, I’ve quit my day job and moved sans a gig already lined up. Moving while meeting client expectations at the same time will definitely be a new experience.
Really grateful for your advice re: the UPS mailbox and their mail forwarding benefits. I’d signed up for Google Voice last week but didn’t know about the UPS mailbox services. That will be very handy!
Sonia Quinones recently posted..Why not Baltimore
Well I’m glad I could help a fellow mover, Sonia. And wow, you’re crisscrossing the country just like I was. I don’t want to live in New York but I’m so tired of moving, I’ll stay here if it means I don’t have to rent another U-Haul.
I hear ya. I’m fully expecting next year’s move to be my last. I’m finally ready to just settle down somewhere I can breathe and enjoy the view.
Re: NY, having grown up there (in Brooklyn), I know it’s got its pluses & minuses. As much as I miss it–once an east coaster, always an east coaster, the ‘tude doesn’t go away–I really can’t see myself ever moving back, for a number of reasons.
However, if I can help you figure anything out about the city, please feel free to shoot me an email.
Sonia Quinones recently posted..Bitch More- Write More- The case for unreasonable goals