As someone who is technically self-employed (thanks, US government), I am getting a kick out of these replies.
I'm _really_ looking forward to paying estimated taxes this coming year... especially if the .gov doesn't solve this payroll tax cut shenanigans

Self-employment in some productive enterprise of my own making is one of my ultimate goals in life.

Hell yeah, being self-employed is awesome. Everything is done *right*. Taxes and all that kind of stuff is a mild pain in the ass but that's why we have accountants.

I've never received a bonus per se but I've received a number of gifts from clients over the years.

Self employed for 12 years now.
"The universe will provide" is my motto.
Boss is an idiot, but I've got him wrapped around my little finger and I always know when he's going to call in sick.

I'd do it if I could but that would be my fourth career overhaul and I'm running out of time.

I work in industry, but not on the design side. Unless you're an EE or ME with god-like skills and/or a good network, it isn't the sort of world where you can launch a solo career.

(sigh. . .)

I don't understand. For those self-employed, what is it you do? Is it all tech stuff? Sure I know one can be self-employed in nearly any field, but I see most self-employed working in some type of tech field.

MBA Whore: I don't understand. For those self-employed, what is it you do?

I'm a CPA.

Atomic Spunk: MBA Whore: I don't understand. For those self-employed, what is it you do?

I'm a CPA.

I'm a CPA as well, but I only got 2.5 years out of college. Definitely need a lot more experience before striking out on my own. How long did you work for the "Man" before becoming self-employed? You mostly do taxes?

MBA Whore: For those self-employed, what is it you do?

Tech stuff. :-) Specifically, create custom software (everything from AS/400 stuff to web stuff).

MBA Whore: I don't understand. For those self-employed, what is it you do? Is it all tech stuff? Sure I know one can be self-employed in nearly any field, but I see most self-employed working in some type of tech field.

Guilty as charged. Tech stuff.

Mr. Lepage: MBA Whore: I don't understand. For those self-employed, what is it you do? Is it all tech stuff? Sure I know one can be self-employed in nearly any field, but I see most self-employed working in some type of tech field.

Guilty as charged. Tech stuff.Mr. Lepage: MBA Whore: I don't understand. For those self-employed, what is it you do? Is it all tech stuff? Sure I know one can be self-employed in nearly any field, but I see most self-employed working in some type of tech field.

Guilty as charged. Tech stuff.

Don't forget that you can always pimp.

MBA Whore: For those self-employed, what is it you do?

Research, mostly. Some drafting and editing. (TONS of drafting for lobby work.) Also some legwork stuff from time to time, like faxing, mailing, shipping, etc. Mostly research, though. Mostly legal, some governmental, and mostly boring.

Obviously, the money is coming from some external source, so "self-employed" doesn't really mean I pay myself, it just means that I'm my own contractor for those external jobs, and I'm not anyone's "employee," in the sense of being on a payroll. (I'll get a 1099 instead of a W-4 to report earnings.) It also doesn't mean that I make my own schedule, in the sense of always being able to do or not do what I want, when I want. There are meetings with clients, and they often decide when and where, and it's never glamourous: I've had plenty of late-night meetings at McDonald's. And when the work is on, that's all there's time for, no matter what else is going on. I spent the hottest weekend of this summer, in a flat with no air conditioning (not mine -- I was catsitting), pounding out the several drafts and then the final version of a fifteen-page polemical for a federal agency, with footnotes, refs, required formatting, the whole shebang. Whee.

'Jobs' are projects with their own deadlines, including incremental ones. I'll have to deliver a draft by a particular time, for example. More than a few times, I've also been asked to expedite the final version directly, which might mean electronic, mail, or both. I'm also fully answerable for the results. If there's an error, I own that. If it didn't get there on time, I'm to blame. It does mean that I get to set my own rates and terms, but only to the degree that I can negotiate them, meaning what the client is willing to agree to.

So it's not really the stereotype, where I work unwashed in my jammies with music blasting, and take a break to rub one out when I get bored. Most of the time, anyway.

MBA Whore: I don't understand. For those self-employed, what is it you do? Is it all tech stuff? Sure I know one can be self-employed in nearly any field, but I see most self-employed working in some type of tech field.

Painting/finishing contractor and interactive science exhibit design/fabrication. After 32 years doing one and 10 doing the other, I can't imagine working for someone else. The best part is that I can be picky about what jobs we take on. A number of farkers have mentioned dealing with taxes, etc., which, I'll admit can be a pain. For self-employed, I think the biggest hit was when "Income Averaging" was removed from the tax laws in 1986.

TheSelphie: Atomic Spunk: MBA Whore: I don't understand. For those self-employed, what is it you do?

I'm a CPA.

I'm a CPA as well, but I only got 2.5 years out of college. Definitely need a lot more experience before striking out on my own. How long did you work for the "Man" before becoming self-employed? You mostly do taxes?

Hey, fellow bean counter! I spent 4 years at PwC in both audit and tax. I spent another 8 years in private industry as Controller and CFO. I did a little over a year doing consulting startup companies. Started on my own about 4 years ago, mostly taxes, but I also do a little teaching and some agreed upon procedure stuff.

I started my practice from scratch, so the first year was a struggle. At this point, I'm pretty close to capacity. My wife is office manager and we don't have any employees. I like it because of the freedom to do what I want. I wear shorts and t-shirts to work, only changing into nice clothes when clients come in. I love taking afternoon naps, which is something I could never do at any other job.

The downside is that I get paid about 1/2 of what I'd probably have made if I stayed on the CFO track, so it is a sacrifice. I could bring on employees and expand to make up the income difference, but I like not having to supervise anyone.

Atomic Spunk: TheSelphie: Atomic Spunk: MBA Whore: I don't understand. For those self-employed, what is it you do?

I'm a CPA.

I'm a CPA as well, but I only got 2.5 years out of college. Definitely need a lot more experience before striking out on my own. How long did you work for the "Man" before becoming self-employed? You mostly do taxes?

Hey, fellow bean counter! I spent 4 years at PwC in both audit and tax. I spent another 8 years in private industry as Controller and CFO. I did a little over a year doing consulting startup companies. Started on my own about 4 years ago, mostly taxes, but I also do a little teaching and some agreed upon procedure stuff.

I started my practice from scratch, so the first year was a struggle. At this point, I'm pretty close to capacity. My wife is office manager and we don't have any employees. I like it because of the freedom to do what I want. I wear shorts and t-shirts to work, only changing into nice clothes when clients come in. I love taking afternoon naps, which is something I could never do at any other job.

The downside is that I get paid about 1/2 of what I'd probably have made if I stayed on the CFO track, so it is a sacrifice. I could bring on employees and expand to make up the income difference, but I like not having to supervise anyone.

Hey man, thanks for the post! At this point in my career I've done mostly audit and prefer it to tax, but we'll see what the future brings.

MBA Whore: I don't understand. For those self-employed, what is it you do? Is it all tech stuff? Sure I know one can be self-employed in nearly any field, but I see most self-employed working in some type of tech field.

3D animation, visual f/x.

MBA Whore: I don't understand. For those self-employed, what is it you do? Is it all tech stuff? Sure I know one can be self-employed in nearly any field, but I see most self-employed working in some type of tech field.

I get hired by landlords to help build and bring to market new rental buildings and condos in NYC. When the market crapped out, I took over building management for a select few of my developers. Now I have 3 landlords I mainly work for, with 1 being my bread and butter. I have a 3 year contract with him for building management, and assuming the market picks up it should be renewed. The rest of my landlords/developers, I just do random rentals.

I'd like to go back to new developement marketing. It is much better money and more "exciting" and glamorous. But building management is more stable.