Two quick things:
Taking notes from newsletter writers that I look up to, we're evolving the newsletter a little bit.
Given my experience as a financial planner, business owner, and freelancer, I'm going to lean into sharing more actionable advice, telling stories from my journey, and making this newsletter more interactive and engaging.
The first change is a new section called Free Financial Advice* where I answer reader's questions about money and creative entrepreneurship.
You probably didn't become a creator or freelancer to run a business or manage money, so I want to help in any way I can to make the financial and business side of things less confusing.
And last thing, if you're a creator and you don't know who Justin Moore is, allow me to introduce you. He helps creators find & negotiate their dream sponsorships and he sends paid brand deals directly to your inbox via his Creator Wizard newsletter - check it out:
Join 3,871 creators & get weekly updates on paid brand deals & sponsorships (+ dumb memes only influencers understand)
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Business: Business Loan or Line of Credit: Which is Right for You? [Article]
It's commonly believed that all debt is bad. However for a creative business, a line of credit can be a godsend. For other businesses, a loan may be the right fit.
Because financial stress can put pressure on the creative process, using debt effectively can give you the financial wiggle room you need to confidently create.
A line of credit is designed to provide affordable short-term cash. The easiest way to think about it is like a credit card. Unlike a loan, you don't receive a lump sum of money that you're required to pay back. Instead, you spend funds from the line of credit as needed and only then are you required to pay anything back.
Interest generally starts accruing as soon as you use the line of credit and then once it's paid off, you are no longer charged. Lines of credit provide more flexibility than loans and can be a helpful tool to have in your pocket.
Any time you take on a form of debt, be sure that you understand the fees, the interest rates, the potential penalties, and the payback guidelines. Debt can be an effective tool to grow your business, but it must be managed with caution to avoid getting yourself in financial trouble.
Money: How to Stop Worrying About Money [Article]
This article walks through a few mindset shifts needed to alter your relationship with money. Ramit Sethi is the author of I Will Teach You to be Rich and meets with people all over the world to talk about their views and beliefs around money. A few takeaways from the article:
At the end, he reveals 3 things that he's noticed from people who don't worry about money:
Question of the Week: Can I write off "business" expenses without having an LLC?
Short answer: Yes
Long answer: Yessss
As a sole proprietor, if you receive business income, you’ll report the income on IRS Form 1040 (Schedule C). If you have business expenses to deduct, they will be included within that Form 1040.
As long as the expenses are necessary for your business, they can typically be written off in full. I recommend using an accounting software as it will help you easily add up and categorize deductible business expenses.
Since tax season just ended, here are 17 deductions you can use next year to reduce your taxable income:
❓ Have a question about money or business? Submit it here!
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Keep creating,
Treyton DeVore
