Collective

100+ of you registered for our Collective x Harlow event this afternoon to talk taxes, business structures, and the real emotional, mental, and time burden that comes with managing it all as a solopreneur. We went beyond the legal and financial mechanics and got into the honest conversations people don't have enough: the stress, the confusion, and what it actually takes to figure this out on your own. Marissa Achanzar is a trained accountant who knows this space inside and out, and she came prepared to answer the tough questions without sugarcoating the reality of it. That expertise is exactly what backs Collective's approach: they're an all-in-one financial solution built specifically for self-employed folks, helping with everything from business structure and S-corp elections to bookkeeping and payroll. Because they live and breathe this space, they can have the real conversations, tell you upfront whether they're the right fit, and help you figure out your path either way. Wherever you're at, I want to make sure you leave with the right next step: - Missed the event and want the recording - Want an intro to the Collective team to talk business structure, S-corp elections, tax filing, bookkeeping, or payroll - Have questions about the emotional side of self-employment or growing your revenue as a self-employed individual Drop a comment or DM me and I'll point you in the right direction. At Harlow, we're building a home for freelancers. We're glad you're here with us on this journey, and as always, I'm here whether you need a sounding board, have questions about growing your revenue, or just need someone in your corner as you navigate self-employment.

Hot take: tax season should not feel harder than building the business itself. For years, mine did. Not because I was careless, but because being a fractional consultant didn’t prepare me for also being my own bookkeeper and tax preparer. Every spring looked the same: • digging for receipts • second-guessing deductions • wondering what I messed up this time • losing days of focus to financial admin And that chaos is expensive: not just in your tax bill, but also in the billable hours you lose. What changed was switching to Collective. I was tax-ready way before the deadlines. Business & personal transactions are already separated. Reliable data helped me make decisions based on data, not on vibes. And because I have access to a team of experts, I have fewer mental tabs open. The real win was that tax season stopped being a fire drill. It became, dare I say, almost boring. And boring is underrated when you are building, shipping, and running your own business. If you are a solopreneur or fractional operator whose finances only make sense once a year, that is not flexibility: it is friction. Boring systems, with clear numbers, and better decisions: that is the real flex now. Partnered with Collective.

Thinking about why you started your business? It probably wasn't to spend your weekends managing spreadsheets. That’s why we’re co-hosting a live tax workshop with self employment finance pros Collective to help you navigate the leap from "freelancer" to a true Business-of-One. We want to help you figure out the back office so you can get back to your passion. Just show up with your questions and we'll give you the real talk on: 1. How to separate your personal and business finances 2. Ways to spend less time on bookkeeping 3. Why your business deserves a professional setup 4. We’ll also reveal the top write-offs solopreneurs overlook.  No fluff, just honest advice for solopreneurs. Register here 👇 👉 https://lnkd.in/eivah2uU

Currently crushing on our friends Collective after our amazing Office Hours session last week. 🥰 Thanks to Marissa Achanzar and the team for supporting the design community! We dug into some of the most important (but often confusing) topics for freelance designers: business structures, self-employment tax, and setting up your practice for long-term success. Key takeaways for designers: 💼 Business Structure 101 Start simple with a sole proprietorship, but consider an LLC or S-Corp election once you're consistently earning $60K+ annually. The tax savings can be substantial, but the complexity isn't worth it until you hit that threshold. ✅ Self-Employment Tax Reality Check You'll pay both employer and employee portions of Social Security and Medicare taxes (15.3% total). Plan for this by setting aside 25-30% of your income for taxes quarterly. 💰/💰 Best Practice That Pays Off Separate your business and personal finances from day one. Open a dedicated business checking account and use it exclusively for client payments and business expenses. This simple step will save you hours during tax season and protect you legally. We loved Marissa's encouraging approach—she reminded us that simply being curious about these topics means you're already ahead of the game. No question is too small when it comes to protecting your creative business. 🏁 MUST READ! For those who missed the session, Collective's Self-Employment Primer is an excellent foundation: https://lnkd.in/e3DUgqPJ -- Note: This information is not to be taken as legal, tax, or financial advice. You should consult with your attorney and/or tax advisor to get answers to your specific questions. -- What's your biggest question about freelance business structures or operations? 🤓