I hate keeping up with taxes and bookkeeping. And “hate” is an understatement. I didn’t even like doing taxes when I was a regular salaried employee with a handy dandy W2 and a couple of 1099s from my weekend freelance side hustle. When tax time arrived each year, I marched myself over to H&R Block, … Read More
When we launched our blog, TheSmokies.com, in April 2020 we had no idea what we were doing. A month later, we made our first $6. I remember jumping up and down in the living room that morning like it was the most important $6 of my life. Fast forward to today, $6 has grown into … Read More
I left my corporate career behind in 2017 before it was the popular thing to do. Back then, my friends and family thought I was crazy. “I could never work for myself,” they said. “And I could certainly never work from home!” Yet, by the end of 2020, over 36% of the American workforce had … Read More
The only thing I like more than freelancing is knowing how to get in on the ground floor with trending SEO terms before the playing field becomes too crowded. With that tip in mind, welcome to my “Best Tools for Freelancers Guide, 2022”. For first-time readers, allow me to introduce myself. I’m Morgan Overholt and … Read More
If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you’ll know that I absolutely despise doing my own taxes. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t trade freelancing or running a small business for the world. The benefits to freelancing are numerous. I work on my own schedule, get to be my own boss and I set … Read More
Rates are a subjective thing, especially for a freelance graphic designer. And there’s no “right way” or “right amount” to charge. At the end of the day, every freelance graphic designer should figure out what works best for themselves and their business. But with that said, it can still be a tricky topic even for … Read More
I love being a freelancer. I get to be my own boss, set my own hours and control my own destiny. But I admit, I hate worrying about taxes. And I doubt I’m alone in that sentiment. The truth is, taxes can be a bit more complicated for a freelancer than they might be for … Read More
Hi, I’m Morgan. I’m an Expert Vetted freelancer who has earned over $500,000 on the Upwork platform since joining 2017. I’m also a self described fan-girl and Upwork evangelist. Upwork has changed my life in ways that I never imagined possible. And I largely credit the Upwork platform, which continues to make up about half … Read More
As a freelancer who’s been making 6-figures per year since I left the corporate world behind in 2017, people often assume that I’ve mastered the art of rate negotiation. But the real secret to my success isn’t in the negotiation process. In fact, I don’t negotiate at all when it comes to my rates. You … Read More
There are currently a couple of different ways to increase your hourly rate as a freelancer on Upwork. First, I will walk you through the official method recommended by Upwork. After that, I’ll share a slightly more unconventional method (that I personally use) and the rationale behind it. But before we begin, there are a … Read More