smonster, do you know about TaskRabbit? I wonder if you can get paid to do other's errands until you land something permanent? I thought of MsBelle too. But it's possible I learned about it from MsBelle for I can't remember anything these days.

Who are you people again? Who am I?

Anyway: [link]

javachik, that looks cool. they aren't currently serving NOLA, but I could post an ad for something similar on CL.

Question:

I am preparing a PR campaign for a new endeavor for a friend. It involves preparing press releases, contacting local media outlets, pitching radio, placing notices in local businesses and possibly setting up an affiliate program for local stakeholders.

It should take about 3 weeks.

How much do I charge?

Take into account that this is a a good friend, and the success of this project could fund my going to work of her on a high level in a business that could solve my _only_ problem.

I'm more aware than ever that I need to be partnered. This is an unexpected opportunity. I want to take complete advantage of it at the same time, I need to make money!

3 weeks of how many hours?

The press release should take about an hour, hour and a half max to write and edit -- you could go with a pretty low-range standard $30/hour rate or 1 to 3 cents a word.

Track your media contact time -- your could charge about $25/hour for that, low-balled. Street marketing -- time, about $15/hour and mileage? or average it out and say $20/hour + mileage. (Remember mileage is also tax-deductible.)

I don't know about the radio pitching and setting up affiliate program.

I'd maybe ask your friend what range of budget she has to work with, and say "This is what I can do for that budget." I don't know if you want to go hourly, or charge a set project rate.

Huh -- this sparks a query of my own. If you charge a client for mileage, and they pay those costs, can you STILL claim that mileage on your taxes?

If you charge a client for mileage, and they pay those costs, can you STILL claim that mileage on your taxes?

No. Any reimbursed business expenses are not eligible to be claimed as deductions on your taxes. The IRS considers it double-dipping and it's one of the top audit triggers.

That seems logical. Thanks, Maria.

My only mileage costs have been non-client but business related, so it's moot so far, but I'm glad to know this before September.

Erin, you can charge your clients for the time you spend driving to them, though.

All my clients have been strictly e-based so far.

I AM tracking mileage to post office and office depot, and I'll track it for when M leaves and I go out and do some notice posting and F2F networking events.

I really DO have "study taxes" and "get accountant" on the to-do list, I swear.

Erin, thanks for that. It's a good frame to work from. Cheers!

Also, I've had yet another bad experience with SCORE that you might benefit from.

I wrote to them, asking for an appointment...radio silence. So, today I called and was greeted by the most charming of phone answerers.

She asked what I did, the complimented me lavishly. She assigned me a counselor without another question. I assumed that 'I'm a life coach, counselor and canine behaviorist' meant something to her.

After hanging up, I looked at the bio page for my new adviser.

He's a tax specialist and economist.

Sigh.

I need marketing, lead generation and lead conversion.

ARGH.

I dug through my contacts from a Constant Contact event and wrote to the director of the DC SCORE OFFICE and requested (as advised by a colleague of his) that he help me find a counselor who would meet my needs. I was, at the same time, wildly complimentary of the charming phone answerer.

She left me a message a couple of hours later in a very dour voice. I hope she didn't get into trouble but I will be double dog damned if I will repeat the experience I had with them 10 years ago.

Why can't this just WORK OUT?!

Erin, sorry, what I meant by all that is that you could get some good advise about business taxes for free from your area SCORE or SBA.