You are thinking of becoming a consultant. Should I incorporate? Is setting up as a sole proprietor better or forming an LLC? How do I pay myself? How to save taxes? Should I hire an accountant? Is social media the best option to promote myself?
Fear no more. Come and attend our Freelancers Forum. This half-day forum provides freelancers and those hoping to learn more about starting a business the opportunity to get an intensive education on how to be successful. With everything from nuts and bolts specifics to advice on how to network, this event is a can’t-miss chance to get your business up and running.
Our speakers include an IRS representative, a CPA, and several experienced business owners who have done it all. They are all eager to share their knowledge with you!
Tuesday, May 16, 2023 - Golden Gate 6-7
| Time | Presentation Title (click for description) | Speaker(s) |
| 8:00 - 8:10 AM | Introduction | Raymond Lee and Margaret Hung |
| 8:10 - 8:25 AM | Why Incorporate is Smart Business | Margaret Hung |
| 8:25 - 8:40 AM | Comparison of My Experience Between an Independent Consultant and an Employee | Kriss Harris |
| 8:40 - 9:00 AM | Soft Skills to Master as a Freelance Consultant | Kirk Lafler |
| 9:00 - 9:30 AM | Record Keeping | Alexa Lam, IRS |
| 9:30 - 10:00 AM | Break | |
| 10:00 - 10:20 AM | Do's and Don'ts of Being an Independent Consultant | Raymond Lee |
| 10:20 - 10:35 AM | How to Promote Yourself | Josh Horstman |
| 10:35 - 10:55 AM | Pros and Cons of Freelance SAS Programming | Pradeep Bangalore |
| 10:55 - 11:05 AM | Rate Setting | Josh Horstman |
| 11:05 - 11:35 AM | IRS Audits - How to Beat Them | Larry Pon, CPA |
| 11:35 AM - 12:00 PM | Open Floor Discussion - Tips | All |
Presentation Descriptions
Why Incorporate is a Smart BusinessMargaret Hung, MLW Consulting
8:10 - 8:25 AM
Reasons to incorporate your business; pros and cons of different entity types – Partnership/LLC/S Corp/C Corp and Sole Proprietorship.
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Comparison of My Experience Between an Independent Consultant and an Employee
Kriss Harris, WCG Clinical Endpoint Solutions
8:25 - 8:40 AM
Are you curious about becoming a freelancer? Have you ever thought of working overseas? I've been a permanent employee for 8 years and a freelancer for 10 years, and I have worked in the United Kingdom, and in the United Arab Emirates. In this session, I'll share with you my experiences of the benefits and drawbacks of being a freelancer compared to a permanent employee.
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Soft Skills to Master as a Freelance Consultant
Kirk Lafler, sasNerd
8:40 - 9:00 AM
Soft skills represent an important set of skills that the freelance consultant should be aware of, develop, and apply in the workplace. In contrast to hard skills like programming and data analysis, soft skills comprise a combination of people skills such as communication, teamwork, time management, and problem-solving just to cite a few examples. This presentation will focus on what soft skills are, why they are important, and the the top ten soft skills to master as a freelance consultant.
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Record Keeping
Alexa Lam, IRS
9:00 - 9:30 AM
Good recordkeeping is critical to managing the health of your business and staying in good graces with federal authorities. Join us for a session focused on record keeping for small businesses, featuring IRS Stakeholder Liaison, Alexa Lam. Alexa will review basic record keeping requirements essential for every small business.
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Do's and Don'ts of Being an Independent Consultant
Raymond Lee, Ray Information Systems, Inc.
10:00 - 10:20 AM
When someone becomes an Independent Consultant, one would need to understand the shift from being a client over to being a vendor although still working in the same industry. As a vendor, there are some Do’s and Don’ts and some examples will be discussed.
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How to Promote Yourself
Josh Horstman, Nexted Loop Consulting
10:20 - 10:35 AM
Once you've decided to strike out on your own as an independent consultant, you need work. Without it, you can't stay in business! In this session, we'll discuss various tools and methods you can use as an independent consultant to market your business and generate work. As you get established and gain some momentum, your clients will find you and you'll enjoy a steady stream of work that will provide the revenue your business needs.
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Pros and Cons of Freelance SAS Programming
Pradeep Bangalore, Cesta, Inc.
10:35 - 10:55 AM
Freelancing as a SAS Programmer/Analyst has become an increasingly popular career choice in recent times. This shift in work patterns are driven by technological advances(Secured remote logins/seamless communication modes), demand for SMEs in CDISC compliance/Graphics), and evolving work culture. This presentation aims to provide a balanced perspective by highlighting this career choice's potential rewards and challenges.
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Rates Setting
Josh Horstman, Nested Loop Consulting
10:55 - 11:05 AM
How much should an independent consultant charge? It's a tough question and the answer is … it depends! As a consultant, you want to remain competitive but also don't want to leave money on the table. This session will discuss a number of factors to consider when trying to come up with that elusive hourly billing rate.
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IRS Audits - How to Beat Them
Larry Pon, CPA, Pon & Associates
11:05 - 11:35 AM
As a small business owner, your odds of an IRS audit are higher than most other people regardless of your income. We will talk about what triggers an IRS audit and how to beat them. If not handled correctly, they can be quite painful.
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