Even if you are a freelance writer, you may not be 100% on exactly what freelance writing means. After more than 20 years as a freelance writer, I think I’m qualified to help you out. So, I’m going to break it down for you.

You’re a contractor

A person that is a freelance writer writes one or more articles, blog posts, or other forms of writing for clients. Some other forms can include:

Whitepapers
Ebooks
Emails
Ghostwriting
Brochures
Ad copy (People who write words that are used to advertise something are usually called copywriters.)

Freelance is another way of saying someone is a contractor. It can also be used instead of saying someone is self-employed or an independent contractor. Freelance means that, basically, you are not someone’s employee. Typically, you and the person you write for have a contract, but they can’t really tell you what to do (we’ll get more into that in the next section). Here are some contract tips.

Your have rights

As a freelancer, you have certain rights under US law. Here are some of the rights and laws for freelance writers (these can vary from state to state):

You are considered self-employed by the IRS
Your client can’t tell you what times you have to work.
Your client can’t tell you where to work.
Your client can accept or reject the finished product (or milestones), but otherwise they don’t have control over the work.
You can work with as many, or as few clients as you like.
You pay your own business expenses.
The client can’t force you to use their computers or other equipment.

Should freelancers have business names?

As a freelance writer, you get to pick a name for your business…or not. You can just use your own name and you don’t have to register a business name, if you don’t want to. For example, I use my name, Alina Bradford, on my tax documents instead of a business name. Just using your name saves money when you start up, and you can always register a business name later.

I’ve never picked a business name because, well, I’m a writer. People see my byline on my finished product and I want them to be able to find me to hire me. If I run my website under a business name, it would be harder for potential clients to find Alina Bradford.

You should, however, sign up to get an EIN. This is your tax identification number and you can use it instead of your Social Security Number when filling out paperwork for clients. This will keep your SSN private and secure. You can sign up for an EIN on the IRS website.

Want more information on how to get started as a freelance writer? Get your copy of The Fluff-Free Freelance Writing Master Course Workbook on Amazon today.

Note: This article is not legal advice and should not be taken as legal advice.