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Why not just add it to your business expenses? nm

Posted By: Grace on 2006-01-24
In Reply to: What would you do re this MTSO? - MDmt

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One thing also - keep all your receipts of any business related expenses

I have a folder and everytime I buy anything related to work whether it be a pen, a printer ribbon, a book, a keyboard, etc.  I put in that folder.  Those things add up and they are all deductible which comes off of your gross.  This is in addition to the home use of your office.  A statutory IC is a great way to go because you don't have to pay the entire social security but you are still IC and can utilize the business deductions.  If you pay your own health insurance and it is in your name that is also deductible.  Keep good records...this is the most important I have learned being an IC.  Also you will probably have to file quarterly if you make over a certain amount.  If you don't you will be penalized by IRS and have to pay the penalty fee with your April 15th filing. And also remember to figure your state taxes for the year.   However it does depend on your personal situation and if you file jointly with your husband that may change things.  Good luck.


Personally I think IC is great but unless you have some really good deductions you can end up paying a lot in taxes.  If you have to pay your own social security at 15% and you were taxed at 20% rate for federal and let's say 6% for state you would be paying 41% of your income in taxes which is no fun.  But you only pay on your net income and not your gross so it sort of comes out in the wash.


 


Any help on form 8829*Expenses for Business Use of your Home would be greatly

Hi All,


I was a statutory employee last year but not now.  I usually do my own taxes but am having trouble with form 8829 and am not sure if the accountant can squeeze me in at this late date.  Thought I would try here first for help.  I use my den exclusively for work (almost) and am going to take this 7% of our home as a business expense. 


Under Part II... Lines 10 and 11.  Deductible mortgage interest and real estate taxes...I am going to take the entire amount on schedule A, so, hopefully, do not have to enter anything here. 


line 17. Insurance.  Are we allowed to take a portion of our homeowners insurance as a deduction? I have no separate business insurance. 


Line 19. Utilities.  I know I can take 7% of my electric, gas, water, garbage (I think), but what about phones? We have both cell and regular phone.  When I call, I use the regular phone for toll free numbers, but the cell phone to my boss who does not have a toll free #. 


Then, I need to find the value of my home for Part III. I guess I will check home sales in the neighborhood and go by that. 


Geez..sorry for sounding like such a dummy.  I can do all the other...capital gains, etc, just not sure what is allowed for home expenses.


As I say, I will try to get in to the accountant, but any advise for any of this form would be greatly appreciated.  I cannot complete schedule A until I have my Profit or Loss done, which I cannot complete until I do this form.


Thanks.


I have no expenses except to buy my
computer, desk and chair, which after time becomes a wash and are nominal expenses. All my references are online paid for by the company (all Stedman electronic word books, my free personal subscription to Monthly Prescribing Reference, etc.)
Maybe you can cut your expenses? sm
If you are using telephones for dictation, maybe switch to handheld units? Or use a TASP to save money on calls? Use the Internet more to cut down on expenses. Hope this helps. If you can, keep your clients. They are hard to come by nowadays.
Unfortunately it is legal..so yes it is business and they will continue with bad business practices
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Remember that's $40 before all expenses. nm
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Medical expenses

January, 2000 - DH tore rotator cuff, needed MRI/arthrogram, followed by rotator cuff repair.


January, 2001 - I had foot surgery in podiatrist's office. 


January, 2002 - DH had cervical MRI/myelogram, followed by anterior cervical diskectomy with fusion, two levels.


January,  2003 - DH had knee MRI, followed by arthroscopy.


January, 2004 - I had LASIK surgery. 


OMYGOSH, it's almost January again! 


You can still deduct your MT expenses if your and IC - sm
regardless of taking the standard deduction. Your write offs for MT are on the Schedule C (not B). My husband and I take the standard deduction as we don't have enough on our Sch. B; then I write off all my IC deductions and report my income on the Sch. C.; putting the bottom line (income minus IC write-offs) on the 1040 line 12. So I am not quite clear on what you are talking about but I know how I do it is how most of us (if not all) do our deductions. You may want to do an amended return.
Tax Deductible Expenses
We ran a business for years from our home.  As far as I know, you can take the base rate of your telephone bill as an expense (which includes FCC taxes) and any long distance calls related directly to the business.  As for Home Owners Insurance, you can take 7% of the insurance because you use 7% of your home for your business.  Also, anything related to the business such as equipment, paper, tapes or special software programs can be taken as well.  If you have to travel to deliver the finished reports, I believe the rate is 28 cents a mile.  If you travel, you can also deduct any maintenance on your vehicle.   Hope this helps. 
Taxes, Expenses
I would have internet anyway; now I get to write it off. I would have long distance anyway; now I get to write it off. Everyone pays taxes and insurance, it is just a matter of who is doing the bookkeeping. Walmart STARTS at $8/hour and then when they pay all that same stuff they are really making $5- $6. You can write off ALL your health insurance, a portion of your utilities and the area you work in, computer, software, and other supplies.....save on gas (this is HUGE right now), work clothes, make up, day care, and and and. There's always more than one way to view something.
Also, are these figures before tax/expenses or after? sm
Some ICs might be quoting their pay before taxes and expense deductions, which isn't their ACTUAL pay for the year. If someone has their own accounts and says they bring in $50K per year, that's possible, but probably not the amount they receive free and clear.

I find it hard to believe anyone makes that much free and clear unless they are working 12 hours a day, every day, and pulling in a significantly high per-line rate. I'm not saying it can't be done, but I base this opinion on the fact that I make a very good line rate, type over 100 wpm for easy accounts I've had for years, and still don't bring in that kind of money free and clear. I come close with my gross income, but after taxes and expenses, it's only about 65% of that! And I work 9-10 hours a day with only one week of vacation per year.

Come to think of it, that's pretty sad when I see it on paper. LOL I'm going to go look for a new line of work now.
What is the cost of your living expenses? sm

I would really like to know this as mine seem high.  My cost for the bare minimum, not including insurance, medical costs or entertainment, is about $1,800.00 per month.


Is that high to most people?  TIA.


$350 a month for my share of expenses.
z
get a credit card just for your IC expenses
it will keep all your expenses in one place and you won't need to keep receipts, just the credit card statements. Other than that, track mileage, though to be frank most people will just claim an average mileage and then create a mileage journal if audited. Also if you will take the home office deduction, you can claim percentage of heating, etc. but easy enough to do that. Might be worth your while to consult with a CPA if you take the IC job, and then the first year that you do your taxes. He can explain everything you need and then you can take it from there. Just one or two more forms to fill out, nothing earth-shattering.
Poll: Earnings vs Expenses

1.  What are your monthly earnings -- just you (no spousal income) -- doesn't matter how many jobs....monthly earnings?


2.   Do you work more than one job?


3.  What is your base line rate?  If you have more than 1 job, list all base rates.


4.   Now what is the minimum bring-home pay you need to survive each month?  This is your housing, energy, transportation, insurances, food -- what you have to have to make it. 


5.   What's the difference?  Are you in the hole?  Got surplus?  Breaking even?


My answers:


1.   About $3100 each month.


2.   One job.


3.   $0.095 cpl plus some incentive bonus each month.


4.   $2287 gets everything paid.  Savings and pocket money not included in that figure.


5.   Surplus but not much.  Trying to save as much as possible and have a few greenbacks in my wallet each week. 


 


 


Was told could deduct pet expenses. sm.
If it is a dog and is over 50 pounds, you can claim its food, vet bills, pet insurance, vaccinations all that as long as your business is run from your home. It applies as a guard dog. It does not matter which breed the dog is either. This is the state of Missouri, not sure about other states.

I am gonna try it as we shelled out alot of money over a period of time for a dog that was poisoned. Luckily, he lived.
WORK-AT-HOME EXPENSES JUST AS MUCH - sm

as if I were working outside the home, if not more.  The only thing I would spend money on an outside job would be the $4.00 daily bus fare.  I have more than enough clothes for work, no problem there, maybe lunch or can brown-bag.  The company pays the office space, light, electricity, internet, cable, AIR CONDITIONING in summer (imp.)


On the other hand, even as an employee, I am not reimbursed for my high-speed, HIGH-COST cable/DSL/telephone I need to make these few cents a line, electric costs, lights, AC BILL JUMPS WHEN SITTING AT PC ALL DAY IN SUMMER, buy my own office supplies, books, references. 


Just another mind sc---ing they give you by telling you it's cheaper to work at home.  (I have no kids). 


6 months of expenses "tucked/socked" away? No way. sm
I am the owner of a small transcription company. We have 50 transcriptionists. We invoice $150,000 per month. Our payroll, taxes, manager salaries, postage, bank fees, overhead, etc run approximately $140,000 per month. That means that we should have $840,000 tucked away somewhere. No way. We depend on our customers to pay. Our employees are paid on time and paid a decent rate. Our bills are paid. To say that someone needs 6 months of expenses put away is unrealistic and naive. Where did I attend school? For undergrad, University of Michigan, for graduate school, Northwestern University, with a master's degree in Business Management and a Bach degree in Finance. The rule of thumb is to have one payroll worth of cash on hand or a line of credit available equal to that amount.

It's really annoying that people can toss out comments like that, stating them as if they were fact, without any basis of fact. Most companies do not have close to a million dollars lying around. If they do, it is foolish.
I also took home office expenses as an employee, but --
You can only get any good out of it if you are also a homeowner with a lot of mortgage interest or have a lot of medical expenses, etc., that would make it higher than the standard deduction.
deducting home office expenses -
For the home office expense - You would measure the amount of space you actually use to work (your desk area) and figure the percentage of that square footage to your total square footage. Then you would use that percentage of your utilities costs, etc., to count on your taxes.
I made my business your business by posting and...
I totally respect everyone's opinions. It is easier for others on the outside looking in. That's why I pushed the "post reply" button yesterday. I trust my fellow MTs and I know the more I read from you all, the more confident I am becoming. I just need that final push, not from him though. I also wanted to let you all know that the physical abuse while I was pregnant was documented by my doctor and the hospital. I only wish I had known then that it is a felony to abuse a pregnant woman. I also photographed my face from a couple of weeks ago and told several people in my circle. I had such high hopes for us. Now...not so much. I'm not saying that I won't try to get him to church, but I realize that God can only do so much for someone who isn't listening. j
Business is business. Internet forums are
.
I got into this because it paid more money and I didn't have daycare expenses.
I have more time for a social life now that I work at home.  I go to lunch or coffee with family and friends.  I used to run errands on my lunch half-hour at my old job and either pay my bills or balance my checkbook on my breaks.  I know all the other parents at the school now, so we get together on weekends or chitchat at the school.  When I used to work outside the home, I was so exhausted from dealing with crabby people all day long that I just wanted to isolate myself at home on evenings and weekends.  Now that I work at home, I actually seek out friends to keep from getting isolated.
You could take him to small claims to get expenses and pain and suffering.
:+
Need help with calculating expenses for bid on large account. At the moment I do not know *sm*
how many lines they dictate per day/week.  I am going to call the person who sent me the bid forms and ask.  I do not have my own call-in system and would be using a TASP. Can someone tell me that currently uses a TASP how to go about figuring my costs in so that I do not under bid.  I know that each dictator and the type of report is going to vary but on an average what would you say?  Bottom line is I need to know how many cents per line I need to charge to cover the call-in system and my other expenses.  Another thing they listed in the bid is that the vendor is to provide all other supplies including plain paper to complete each assignment.  The hospital will provide any special letterhead, envelopes, etc.  How do you provide the paper and probably the toner if you are doing this remotely?  Would there be any other expenses that would fall under other supplies that you can think of other than toner and paper?  How much toner and paper do I provide or should I ask the hospital what they use on a  weekly basis?  I would assume I have the right to ask questions as to how much paper, toner, how many lines they do each day or week on average.  I want this account very much but I do not want to have to pay a cheap line rate and I need to make this worth my while.  Thank you very much for you help. 
home office expenses are still deductible if you are an employee - nm
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My cost of living expenses monthly is $2200/month
I'm self employed, so I'm killed in taxes AND I live in NY...but I wouldn't have it any other way

I LOVE NEW YORK!!!!
I too question you overhead expenses. I work for a company that only gets 11-12 cpl and pays us 8-8.
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True but that is to cover the expenses like rent, office supplies, sm
manager salaries. That does not include payroll that is based on service.

A good example woould be this: You are starting a book store. You need to plan the original inventory and six months worth of expenses. If you sell that inventory, you use the money from that to buy more books. If you do not sell any at first, you can stay in business for six months while you get noticed.

With transcription or any service business, you need enough in the bank to cover the same expenses, those that can keep you afloat while building your client base. However, you only hire more people as you get more customers. The payroll does not figure into the 6 months as it is based on what you provide, whereas the 6 months takes into account what it takes to get it going even if you do not have 1 employee.

Very, very few companies can have $800,000 lying around. If they did, they probably would need to invest it in equipment or spend it in other ways or the IRS would consider it profit and tax the heck out of it!
I figure income minus expenses, send 23% for federal and 7.5% to state--sm
quarterly. The state probably differs state to state, but that is the percentile my accountant came up with. Have never had to pay and additional.
I deduct all expenses that relate to my home office-% of utilities, taxes, repairs to that room, --s
mortgage (we do not plan to sell our house so this deduction will not affect us)as my office is used only for that purpose, internet, phone, I print out a daily schedule so paper/ink, computer repairs, pens, pencils, tape, staples, file cabinets, storge bins for tax recepts/tax returns,file folders. Anything/everything I use to do my job.

I was using mileage for another account where I pick up tapes every day, but found for me the time it took to keep track of the mileage, write it down, add it up was not worth the effort so I quit doing it this year.
For a business ad?! A business that deals
''Transcriptsis'' x2

''with good track record''

''serve our clients of all sizes'' (I know what they mean, but I just think the wording is funny)

''strive to achieve highest possible quality'' (once again, they never met an 'article' that they didn't hate)

''all departments including H&P...'' (or a comma, for that matter)

Is that really any of your business?
I would think that it would be very wrong of you to spread the information you found on Google while searching for the patient's name. Are you 100% certain that it is the exact same person you are transcribing? Even seemingly oddball names can be duplicated and how would you look spreading around gossip? Even if it is court-documented, it really is not your story to tell, IMO. I would love to know who is telling you to put it on the news. That is about the craziest thing I've heard in a while, although quite good for a laugh.
MT business
It depends on how large a business you want.  There are still some small accounts, (10,000 to 18,000 lines) per month that are still on tape that you can get.  Also the digital is not that hard but I will not pay for anyone to transfer my files, I can do that.   I do not have a phone in system but if someone were to ask I would probably start out with the ones that charge so much per minute and use their system until I knew for sure the account was staying.   Where are you located, have you networked with anyone in the area?  Are you set up for tapes as well as digital?  If you start out alone, you have no back-up, you have to do everything.  When you hire I/C's sometimes they are dependable and sometimes not.   You will not earn much off of them if you want to keep your accounts.   You will not be able to charge as high as the larger companies nor go after the larger accounts at first.   It is a fine line as to having enough help and enough work and that is why you hear the complaints all the time, "We have run out of work" as you have no control over how much or when a doctor dictates or if he takes time off.  But would I give it up, probably not as the money is good to me.   You can E-mail me with any specific questions, I have been doing my own small MTSO for over 20 years.   Been through it all, ups, downs, good times, bad times, and everyting in between.   My accounts have been with me from 6 years to 20 years so I feel that they are pretty stable. 
Well I am sorry that you are using this business as sm
your excuse, but hospitals pay their people for holidays and if by chance you have to work them, they pay you time and a half.

I do not know why a business owner cannot take these things into consideration when setting up a business. This is a business just like any other business and if you have employees, those employees need to be given the same consideration as any other business. IC status is different, but I find using the nature of this business as an excuse just a little weak.

A good business head would enable you to provide benefits for your employees and if you have already made up your mind it does not, then I think probably it is because maybe you need someone else to do that figuring for you.

I am not being mean in saying these things, but even small business owners I know are able to work it out that a holiday is a holiday (whether you have to work it or not) and an employee needs to be compensated in some manner. To me, there is no excuse for not doing so.
new business
My opinion would be to let them either work at home or at the company.  I prefer to work at home, but some people may not.  As far the pay issue--when I started doing transcription I made .06 cpl and I think that is a fair rate.  Hope I helped
This is really none of my business, and I know that,
but the more I read of your story, the more absurd it becomes to even think of staying with this man.  I'm truly sorry.  I know how hard it is to leave, as I had to that in my former life, and believe me I wanted my marriage to last "til death do us part," but that ain't always possible.  I too TRUST in the Lord with ALL of MY HEART and SOUL, and as I said, sometimes it just ain't possible.  The Lord will guide you through this.  Guess it is just that as an outsider it is easier to see the forest for the trees.
Been there on business
I used to work retail management and my company had a resort there. I have been there several times to meetings and we always had some time to do things. I always enjoyed it and would like to go some day just for pleasure. There is lots to do there.
New business
I have a small transcription company that kind of fell into my lap, luckily.  It has been a year now, we have five girls and are doing a really good job with one large account.  I had tons of experience as a transcriptionist, but never as a business manager, so I took my time.  Now I am looking to get more work.  Anybody have any thoughts as to how to reel them in?
I have been in this business for
always been cherrpickers and probably always will be, just like bad drivers,  you can't get away from it.  I have given up and just do what comes up.  Saying anything doesn't seem to help.
I would say the same - none of your business
nm
None of their business......sm
I am an IC for 3 companies, and pick up another prn. They just want the work done as agreed up front...none of their business how many or who else you work for.
own business

Is there anyone out there kind of enough to point me in the right direction of starting my own MT business.  I have been doing a lot of research but found some outdated books online.  I need to know how to write up the contract. Can I do this myself or do I need it done legally?  the choice of software and line counting software.  It would mean so much to me.  I know a lot of you have done everything on your own, but don't I need to have a good starting point?  If someone could e-mail me with some or little info, it would be greatly appreciated.   Thank you again.


As if anyone's business
I was on my way out the door for an appt and no, not for an interview with someone else and prior to that was working. It came about because we are not getting paid for specials on an acct that included interventionals but yet are in the pool and wanted to know what constituted a special or interventional for you all. Plain and simple to answer.  With coding changes through the years things have changed. Obviously gave some pea-sized brains something to "not" think about. It is funny how so many can read something into nothing.  Nice bunch that answered though.  Trying to stir up a pot.  Not any more.  So for all of you other there that thought otherwise, oh well.  You all look like fools.  Tee-Hee.
as an IC you are a business
Rates are lower now than before, but as a company for yourself you need to make adjustments. If you treat this status as a job you will never be satisfied.

I hear a lot of people talking about how much they make - I would love to know where they work for that - they have to be employees. The nationals and smaller companies are not paying it most times to IC, and private clients for the most part aren't putting out 14.00 an hour to start.

This is my business, and like any business I do what I have to - work long hours, have other US MT's to back me up and take a lap top with me when I am on vacation.

Not like the manager of my grocery store goes on vacation and the store closes, or my doctor and no on-call. I am a professional business woman and work as such. I want more money and give them the quality so I get it. But I never run out of work either. Does not matter how much you make if there is no work.

Can't get more when they do not want to pay - you negotiate like any other business and if you want to work, you will.

If you want to be an employee - then you can demand the benefits, pay etc, and they can decide someone else can do the work - lets just hope that person is an American.

Either way - good luck to all - it is a challange
We have business name and tax ID #
and same companies do have a problem especially since HIPAA.... some have wanted me to become a SE and others have refused to pay me under company name - claiming I need to sign the confidentiality paperwork under my name and if I use my name and then a dba - it opens me up to being able to subcontract out my work....it has gotten much more complicated since HIPAA.  In the eyes of the IRS you should have a dba and advertise and work for more than one MTSO and be independent - both for your sake and your MT company... not sure it is necessary to incorporate but that is your decision.
POV IS EVERYTHING IN THE MT BUSINESS

I empathize with all of you.  The MT industry is definitely going downhill.  What makes me especially angry is that it seems that the hospital HIM departments are responsible for a lot of what goes on, especially the misunderstandings between doctors and MTs.  During my very short time of working at a hospital, I noted that the department manager was too chicken to actually communicate with the doctors.  All she did was speak softly and flatter them whenever they would call to complain, and she would go in to that familiar rhetoric about being so sorry and having a talk with the offender, etc., etc.  It made me sick to listen to it. 


In a few short years, I will attain the label of geriatric.  I guess I lived my life backwards.  I was an RN first.  I really wanted to be a psychiatric nurse, but was stuck in Med Surg.  Just couldn't find the right opportunity, though I did get to work on one temporary assignment at the jail with the alcoholics and drug addicts.  Then, I did word processing.  Twenty years ago, I was commuting via subway and bus 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening, earning about $10 per hour as a word processor.  I made more money then than I do now, but I also had expenses for transportation and wardrobe, and I was not paid for those 4 hours a day of commuting.


I've been an MT for almost 2 years.  I went into it blindly.  AS has been my pattern in life, I always believe the good reports and think that a situation is going to be wonderful; I am often disappointed.  I've been waiting for my supposedly dream job, for a company that, one year ago when I took their tests and scored 97, required 2 years of experience.  Now that I have 2 years of experience, I see that they are requiring 3 years of experience. 


I live in a rural area.  The local jobs are mostly all just a bit over minimum wage.  So, I am thankful that I can work at something at home.  I just could not afford to earn minimum wage, while still needing to provide gas and wardrobe, not to mention the commuting time. 


I did work as an MT at a local hospital; not so local, as it is 60 miles round trip.  Talk about office politics, it was awful.  The manager had no clue what medical transcription was all about.  She was not a very good leader, and her top priority was to make herself look good.  The health insurance benefits were wonderful.  But, I couldn't stand working there.  Working at home is so much better in my case, in my opinion, at this time.


I feel lucky that I bought a home a few years ago and now my mortgage is a little less than the rent for a local one bedroom apartment.  I realize that, if I have to work another 10 years or more, I should change professions, too.  I figure that I could become a psychiatrist if I wanted to go through medical school.  I guess I might try for a PHD in psychology and become a therapist or something.  Unfortunately, I am now spoiled and don't want to commute to work.  I know of no way to be a psychologist from home unless I move to a home that is set up for seeing patients; this one will not work for that.  


I think that I am going to become a professional nutritional consultant.  That way, I can be a nurse and a psychologist all at the same time, without having to stick needles into anyone.  Blood tests have their place, but I am not one that ever was good at drawing blood or starting IVs.  I might have to consult with someone's MD, but not all of them are bad.  They can often be trained to treat you with respect.  I never allowed a doctor to talk down to me when I was a practicing nurse, and I certainly will not allow it now.  It makes me seeth when a doctor spells easy words for me.  This morning, a doctor spelled FLATUS, as if he thought I wouldn't be able to figure that one out!! 


Also, one of my pet peeves is that people take way too many prescription drugs for chronic diseases that could be corrected nutritionally.  So, this is probably going to me my next profession.


I've often wondered how a person gets a audience in front of the US Congress?  Do you submit a request or do you have to be invited?  I think I know how to send out press releases, and I bet we could find the email addresses of major newspapers and start submitting.  Remember that big report that one of the major morning shows had about how great it is to work at home as an MT?  Well, I wonder if they would like to hear the rest of the story?  Actually, I realize that many of their feature stories are promoted by the advertisers.  So, unless some big group backs us up, it is not likely we will get that type of coverage.  I guess we will have to contact some news journalist who covers stories regarding the underdogs of the world.  Did anyone contact Oprah yet?  I think this is not just an MT issue, but a woman's issue, since most of us are women, and as such, seem to have less respect in this country.  


I usually edit my postings, but decided to just let this one go through as written.  Recently, I read a story about life decisions and the theme was that, whenver we make decisions, we must be aware of how our decisions will affect the next 7 generations.  I really wish that the last 7 generations would have considered that.  And, as MTs and as mostly women, we must stand up for our rights to be treated with respect.  Consider the impact on the next 7 generations.  


Thank you for reading my message.      


 


From a business POV...

Employees are most costly in terms of benefits, taxes and equipment. As IC is personally responsible for all of the above but not at your beck and call, either. Personally, as an IC, I prefer it that way, but I have the luxury of a hubby whose company can provide medical/dental benefits. You may find that when you notify your employees that they are now ICs some will find other work because they need the benefits (if offered).


Hope this helps in your decision-making process.


Most likely. Or else gotten out of the MT business
=
I am looking to get out of this business for the
can't afford to take a day off because of "no work, no pay", and I don't exactly have a shift that allows me to have time with my husband. Our son is grown and I want my evenings with my hubby, is that so wrong? Anyway, I can make more money doing data entry and the position is close enough to home that I can walk to work and get exercise.
Your business sm
It's your business and you are the owner. Your OP was not as clear as it appears to be now. So they are asking a little more of you. If you are happy with them and with the pay, and also with driving, etc., then accommodate them. Just beware that the wife sounds like she is trying to save money and money is the bottom line here. Never expect because you bowl with these people that it's going to make a difference either way. You are right never to discuss business with ANY of them. Just be professional about it all. I know some hate tapes and they hate deliveries but if you are okay with that, and you're happy with the money, then you have answered your own question. As far as the travel, with the price of gas, I would certainly cut down to twice a week, but is is after all, YOUR business. Good luck with it. Sounds to me like these changes were made without consulting you. If they really cared about you personally, they would have asked you to come into the office and sit down and discuss how change could benefit all of you. Everybody wants change but nothing beats discussing it with you in person. Good luck with it, only you can decide what to do - it is something you have to live with. If you ask others' advice, you are going to get different opinions, of course, but it's your livelihood and your decision to live with in today's economy. If you're happy with the client otherwise, then read the boards about those who sit and wait for work, etc. None of it, and I mean none, is easy. In the end, it's all up to you. Hope you make the right decision. I loved getting out of the office, I didn't mind doing extra steps, and I wrote everything off with the help of my accountant, miles, paper, phone calls, etc., it's all legally deductible. Going digital will also be deductible, whether it's just for your office or yours and theirs. Hope you find your answer. I am a dinosaur so I love tapes and in 30 years only had one break and the client paid to have it spliced and nothing was lost. I didn't worry about losing information over the Internet. Also, when you are traveling with records, be sure they are locked up and secure, it's the law now. Hope it all worksto your benefit, no matter what you decide!