Presents a guide to legal issues for independent contractors, explaining how to draft contracts, price services, and maximize tax deductions. Whether you're starting a full-scale consulting business or booking gigs on the side, Fishman provides all the legal and tax information you need in one place. From forming your business (LLC or other?) to keeping accurate records and learning to write legally binding contracts and letter agreements, he provides the information you need to start and run your business. -- adapted from back cover

Includes index. "With downloadable forms"--Cover.

Working for yourself: the good, the bad, and the ugly -- Choosing the legal form for your business -- Choosing and protecting your business name -- Home alone or outside office -- Obtaining licenses, permits, and identification numbers -- Insuring your business and yourself -- Pricing your services and getting paid -- Taxes and the self-employed -- Reducing your income taxes -- The bane of self-employment taxes -- Paying estimated taxes -- Rules for salespeople, drivers, and clothing producers -- Taxes for workers you hire -- Record keeping and accounting made easy -- Safeguarding your self-employed status -- Special concerns for gig workers -- Copyrights, patents, and trade secrets -- Using written client agreements -- Drafting your own client agreement -- Reviewing a client's agreement.