Lately I've been making some very important moves to get my business off the ground officially. I kinda had to - I received a check from a client that was made out to "Anzidesign" ... and I should have seen that coming! So now I have to register with the County Clerk's office to establish my business as a sole-proprietership and I have to open a business checking account. Which wouldn't ordinarily be a problem, but I need my bank to be in my neighborhood. I use a large well-known bank for my personal accounts, but I'm looking at some smaller local banks for my business account - notably Amalgamated Bank and Carver Bank. It depends who can give me the best offer (like FREE!) but I'm leaning towards Amalgamated (no minimum deposit required, $15/month) ...
I haven't had health insurance (or consistent medical care) in about 6 years. Health insurance is just something that I haven't been able to afford on my own (update: this might make it a bit easier). About a month ago, my friend Bernie sent me some information about Working Today, a non-profit that advocates for New York City-based freelancers and offers them many benefits - one of those is health insurance. To be eligible, I have to proof that I've made a certain amount of money on my own and/or be affiliated with certain membership organizations. I can do the former with no problem and be eligible, but I think I'm still going to look into joining some of these organizations (like the New York New Media Association). Freelancers certainly need to network their asses off in this economy! So pulling out these old invoices isn't going to be a problem, not like pulling out all my tax stuff. I dread even beginning THAT process.
But things are coming along very well. I'm even going to switch Internet providers sometime within the next two weeks (update: next Tuesday), from Verizon DSL (which tops out at a 768Kbps download speed in Harlem) to Earthlink's Cable Modem service (who offers a 2Mbps download speed - 2.7 times faster). I'll be glad to diversify some of this - it feels kinda odd to be giving Verizon ALL my communication business (especially when they SUCK at a lot of it - guess that's why they're easy to hate). We'll see how that goes.
It's funny how things you said you were going to do (and don't) revisit you. A couple of months ago I said I was going to get a new, smaller desk. I ended up waffling, spending the money I allocated for it and forgot about it. Last night I was on the phone with Earthlink and the guy wants me to look for the coaxial jack and where is it? Right in the space where I said my new desk was going. And what do you know ... Sam Flax has my chair on sale for 30% off! Fate, I tell you ...
And what's going on that desk? Well, while I'm pretty happy with my current setup, I fear that technolust is taking me over. I must have that new Power Mac G5 with Panther! They created Exposé just for me and my mess! And built-in faxing! FINALLY! And iChat AV, the brand-spankin-new beta update of their instant message program, works alright with my old camera and microphone, but iSight is calling my name!
handle it, handle it. :)
i started my job 6+ years ago and have never gotten a new computer (just hand-me-downs when everyone else got new computers). so a new g5 is on its way to me when they’re available in august. i am nearly drooling in anticipation, and i’m not even a computer geek!
I should follow your lead and finally get my paperwork out of the way for my anemic business (anybody in need of editorial/publishing services?!).
And baby, I can’t wait to test drive one of those G5s. If I had $10K to spend…
Freelancers certainly need to network their asses off in this economy!
You are soooooo right. I did the freelance web design thing a few years back, but it fell through due to cheap ass clients. Bummer.
BTW, thanks for the biz links, I may just finally get my ish together (Taylor Literary Consulting soon come!).
And check me out this weekend. I’m going to d/l the iChatAV software. Besides, ain’t George already the software?
it’s really interesting…remember how glbpoc used to clown everyone for not having a mac? i generally ignored them because of that and as a side effect thought that getting a mac was detrimental. seeing as there are 10+ computers which actually belong to us and none of them are apple [related], i’m really interested in getting a mac for christmas…
hey there.. i live in harlem and i absolutely hated having earthlink. i just recently went to road runner…no complaints!
i’m really looking into buying a MAC once i move and you’re tempting me with this post. lol