Debe
Forum Replies Created
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Mac will read files off of a FAT32 or NTFS drive. If you’re trying to use it as a media drive, FCP won’t like that, but if you’re just shuttling media around, you shouldn’t have any issues, other than the 2 or 4 GB file size limit of the drive.
A PC will not read a HFS+ or Mac OS Extended drive. No way, no how.
debe
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Playstation Portable.
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I just wanted to let you know that I can’t add any more. Your questions have surpassed my very basic understanding.
Sorry to squander the bandwidth, but I didn’t want to leave you hangin’ hoping for more info from me….
debe
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Well…for attorneys and accountants, I usually go with referrals. Does anyone else in your area do the same things you do, and are you on good enough terms with them to ask for a referral? A huge competitor probably won’t be willing to share, but someone working in the same vein may.
Otherwise, is there a local production guide? Often attorneys advertise in there.
You could try calling the small business or entrepreneurial business department at a college or university nearby. They might be willing to give you direction, but few will probably be willing to give actual legal advice. If they’re not a lawyer, they won’t want to give legal advice.
There may be a Small Business Administration near you. You could look that up in the yellow pages. I think that’s a national group. Google might not be a bad place to look.
Another place to call may be your local Chamber of Commerce or Rotary Club. They may want you to join, but it very well may be worth it!
As for costs, I can’t really help you there. I know there are filing fees, but I don’t know how much, and I don’t know if you have to “re-up” every year. Getting an appointment with an SBA representative may be the best place to start, actually. I’m a sole proprietor. I looked into starting an LLC a few years ago, and it wasn’t right for what I do. I have faint memories of all that stuff, but nothing I’d want to try to explain, ‘cos I don’t think I’d do very well.
For insurance, I’d start with whomever handles your homeowners. Get a quote on their small business liability insurance so you have a reference point. The SBA may be able to give you guidance on finding insurance companies that may specialize in production insurance. I always try to get 2 or 3 quotes, you wouldn’t believe the difference in premiums and services for things that are essentially called the same thing.
Sorry I can’t be of more help. I will tell you that if you go forward, if you aren’t already doing so, be SURE to pay your quarterly estimated taxes on time. Nothing gets you scrutinized faster than late estimated taxes and an April 15th payment or refund greater than 10% of your total tax. You also get charged a penalty for not paying quarterly, unless you over-pay one quarter or have a bust of a quarter and you hardly make anything.
But don’t over-pay! It’s your money, keep it in the bank!
debe
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Sorry about the double post!!
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https://www.wiebetech.com/products/cardbus.php
This page has both FW PCMCIA cards and at the bottom is a SATA PCMCIA card.
If the link doesn’t work, just go to http://www.wiebetech.com and in the Products Finder dropdown in the upper right hand corner of the page, go to the bottom of the list, in the Miscellaneous category, and choose CardBus host cards.
Good luck!
debe
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https://www.wiebetech.com/products/cardbus.php
This page has both FW PCMCIA cards and at the bottom is a SATA PCMCIA card.
If the link doesn’t work, just go to http://www.wiebetech.com and in the Products Finder dropdown in the upper right hand corner of the page, go to the bottom of the list, in the Miscellaneous category, and choose CardBus host cards.
Good luck!
debe
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I’m not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV.
The independent contractor issue is sticky. Those you hire have to prove they are independent contractors, by advertising, having business cards, letterhead, and a business phone line and all sorts of other things. It’s better if they supply their own equipment, but not unheard of for a bona fide freelancer to come in and drive an event companies’ gear. The line is murky, and is different almost project by project. You may want to consult a real entertainment attorney.
If you really want to protect yourself, set up an LLC. If it is really a one-gig event, and you’re not anticipating any more of them, then you might not need to go through the LLC hoops. If you think this may lead to more, though, it’s probably better to sooner rather than later start setting up yourself as an LLC.
As far as paying taxes on what you actually net, you can either require your crew to give you receipts and you will reimburse them. Then you have the receipts for your records and can deduct them accordingly, or you can give them per diem, and what they spend is their business and you just deduct $75 a day per freelancer as per diem, or whatever it is you give them. (I’ve gotten anywhere from $40 to $90 a day, depending on the location of the event). The less than $13 a day thing only goes so far. It’s better if you have all the receipts for all the $3 cups of Starbucks. That way, you’re sure to get the maximum deduction you are entitled to, and you don’t run the risk of having “too many” undocumented expenses that may make someone raise an eyebrow. You’re certainly allowed to deduct tips that you don’t get receipts for and such, but if you have too many things that you COULD have receipts for but don’t, that can get touchy.
As long as you can show a paper trail of where your expenses are for the event, you shouldn’t have to worry about paying tax on money that went to other people or back into the event as an expense.
Just be vigilant about having and maintaining the paper trail, and you shouldn’t have too many tax issues.
But talk to a real attorney and a real tax advisor. They can guide you ways that someone who just does it can’t.
debe
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I’m not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV.
The independent contractor issue is sticky. Those you hire have to prove they are independent contractors, by advertising, having business cards, letterhead, and a business phone line and all sorts of other things. It’s better if they supply their own equipment, but not unheard of for a bona fide freelancer to come in and drive an event companies’ gear. The line is murky, and is different almost project by project. You may want to consult a real entertainment attorney.
If you really want to protect yourself, set up an LLC. If it is really a one-gig event, and you’re not anticipating any more of them, then you might not need to go through the LLC hoops. If you think this may lead to more, though, it’s probably better to sooner rather than later start setting up yourself as an LLC.
As far as paying taxes on what you actually net, you can either require your crew to give you receipts and you will reimburse them. Then you have the receipts for your records and can deduct them accordingly, or you can give them per diem, and what they spend is their business and you just deduct $75 a day per freelancer as per diem, or whatever it is you give them. (I’ve gotten anywhere from $40 to $90 a day, depending on the location of the event). The less than $13 a day thing only goes so far. It’s better if you have all the receipts for all the $3 cups of Starbucks. That way, you’re sure to get the maximum deduction you are entitled to, and you don’t run the risk of having “too many” undocumented expenses that may make someone raise an eyebrow. You’re certainly allowed to deduct tips that you don’t get receipts for and such, but if you have too many things that you COULD have receipts for but don’t, that can get touchy.
As long as you can show a paper trail of where your expenses are for the event, you shouldn’t have to worry about paying tax on money that went to other people or back into the event as an expense.
Just be vigilant about having and maintaining the paper trail, and you shouldn’t have too many tax issues.
But talk to a real attorney and a real tax advisor. They can guide you ways that someone who just does it can’t.
debe
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In general, I don’t charge for meetings, unless they really do take up half my day. I’m usually up front about it both ways.
I don’t charge for driving time, either, unless it’s a courier run that could’ve been handled a different way and I want to make sure they don’t get into the habit of thinking I’ll just do it because I did it once. Of course, many times, if it’s on my way, I volunteer to deliver, and don’t charge, but I make sure I have said at least once, “Oh, it’s no big deal. It really is on my way home. What’s a couple of minutes more north?”
That being said, I don’t have that many meetings. Most of my stuff is done over the phone and/or through email or iChat. I also don’t charge for that time, either, unless it takes up an inordinate amount of time and it keeps me from doing things that could be earning me money.
If you anticipate this being a significant number of days’ worth of your time, perhaps you can find a way to work that into the bill for the event. Many of the event companies I work for have a “pre-production planning” charge. You don’t necessarily have to break it down into hours, unless that seems like a good idea to you. If the client asks about it, the guys I know just say it’s to cover all the time you put in before the event, which is usually substantial. They can’t really expect you to put in a week’s worth of work and not be compensated for it. Unless your markup is huge and you make a huge margin. Then, no, don’t charge. If your margins are small, then charge for your time.
I should’ve started with that. What’s your anticipated profit? (I’m not expecting a real answer, mind you. That’s none of my business). If you’re expecting to make a lot more money on this event than your regular day rate, then don’t charge, that WILL look like you’re nickel-n-diming them. If you’re only making your day rate during the course of the event, then consider charging them meeting time or adding a pre-pro planning charge. Unless it adds up to only a half-days worth of your time or so over the course of the planning. If it’s that little time, I’d just chalk it up to good client relations. If they ask for more of your time than that, then I’d be more likely to charge, if I were you. More than a day, charge, less than a day, don’t charge, I’d guess is what I’m saying. Unless you’re making a big profit on the event, then don’t charge at all.
Gee, could I have made that more circular?!?
debe