Accessing Digital Files Online vii Preface ix Acknowledgments xiii GENERAL INFORMATION 1. INTRODUCTION 1 Filling in the Gaps in Your Education 2 What Is Freelance? 4 Don't Wait until You Graduate 4 About This Book 6 2. WHY SHOULD YOU FREELANCE? 9 Balancing Creativity and Commerce 9 Escaping the Project Mode Mentality 10 Working for Money 18 Working for Trade. 23 Enhancing Your Portfolio 24 Learning to Fail 25 Experience the Thrill of Owning a Business 27 3. PLANNING YOUR BUSINESS 29 Writing a Business Plan 30 Performing a SWOT Analysis 31 Identifying External Factors 39 4. I HAVE A BUSINESS PLAN. NOW WHAT? 43 Choosing a Business Name 43 Talk to a CPA and Fill Out Your LLC Paperwork 49 Apply for an Employer Identifi cation Number 50 Opening a Business Checking Account 52 Getting a Business License 53 BEGINNER LEVEL 5. THERE'S A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING 55 Goals for Beginning Freelancers 55 Equipment to Purchase 56 How Do You Find Your First Client? 60 What Type of Work Should You Do? 61 Writing a Contract 68 Understanding What's in Your Contract 70 Meeting Your Client 76 Creating Sketches and Concepts 78 Showing Your Client Your Concepts 82 Delivering Your Proof 83 Delivering the Final Product 86 Sending an Invoice 88 Lather, Rinse, Repeat 88 INTERMEDIATE LEVEL 6.

GAINING MOMENTUM 91 Goals for Intermediate Level Freelancers 91 Equipment to Purchase 92 How Do You Find Clients? 96 What Type of Work Should You Do? 109 Establishing an Internal Work-Flow System 116 Creating a Master Client List 116 Creating a Master Job Tracking List 117 Tracking Your Jobs 118 Archiving Your Work 120 Creating a Business Card 123 Working with Vendors 127 Managing Your Time 130 Documenting Your Process Work 131 Finding an Internship 137 Ethical Considerations 138 ADVANCED LEVEL 7. STRETCHING YOUR WINGS 145 Goals for Advanced Level Freelancers 145 Equipment to Purchase 146 Types of Clients You Should Work With 151 Creating a Web Presence for Your Company 156 Planning for What Comes After School 158 Choosing the Right Portfolio for the Job 159 Choosing the Right Portfolio Pieces 165 Creating a Monthly Budget 171 Creating a PDF Portfolio 173 Submitting a PDF Portfolio 174 What to Say in Your Letter of Interest 175 LANDING A JOB 8. MOVING FORWARD 181 Getting a Job 181 Writing a Resume 183 Preparing for an Interview 191 Negotiating an Offer 200 Tips from Professionals 202 EPILOGUE 9. EPILOGUE 211 Looking Back on Your Experience 211 Resources 215 Index 221.