The Self-Employed Man

Be your own boss and still pay the bills: clients, pricing, taxes, tools and time for your family.

The BRO Code. What to do, what not to do, and a few laughs on the way.

Do's & Don'ts: Men Do's & Don'ts: Business Owners

Gutter cleaning pays twice a year if you build a route

One cleaning earns you a Saturday's wage. A route of repeat customers earns you a second income. Here's the math, the risks, and when to pass.

NewsNewsBRO DeskNov 7, 20261 min

Trump presses Senate to act as it returns for post-election session

Trump says the chamber "must act" when senators come back next week, following Republican losses in the midterms.

Ask BRO

Pressure-test my business idea

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GuideSelf-Employed WomenNina CastellanNov 7, 20265 min

Your busy months are where seasonal income goes wrong

The slow season gets the blame, but the damage is usually done in the good months. Set a floor, pay yourself a steady check, and stop guessing.

Coconut.com — Tell us when. We find where the sun is.

PartnerCoconut.com

Money6 min read

The tax bill that ambushes self-employed men every April

Nobody withholds for you when you work for yourself. Here's the arithmetic on quarterly payments, the safe harbor, and a separate account that does the work.

Poll

How many days a week are you actually training?

GuideSkillsWes DunbarNov 7, 20266 min

Fix the fuel first, then adjust the carburetor

Most small engines that won't start or run right don't need a screw turned. They need clean fuel. Here's the order to work in, and how to set the screws when they do.

GuideTradesAde FisherNov 6, 20266 min

Live on Year-One Pay and Finish the Apprenticeship

Apprentice wages start low and climb on a schedule. Housing is what decides whether you're still around when they do.

GermProof.com — An invisible germ barrier on your skin for hours

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GuideSelf-Employed WomenNina CastellanNov 6, 20265 min

Hire help when you can write the job on one page

The right moment to bring on your first contractor has little to do with how busy you feel. It has to do with what you can hand over in writing.

Quiz

Does your wardrobe actually fit you?

Five questions, honestly answered, and a plan for the next two weeks.

GuideMoneyRay OkonkwoNov 6, 20265 min

Ask your agent who pays after your limit runs out

One question to your insurance agent tells you whether your family is covered or just feels covered. It takes ten minutes and costs nothing.

GuideSkillsWes DunbarNov 6, 20265 min

An eye splice keeps the strength a knot throws away

A well-made eye splice loses far less strength than any knot you can tie. Here's how to make one in three-strand rope, in the order it's done.

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Rehearse the raise conversation with me

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GuideTradesAde FisherNov 5, 20265 min

Chase the paycheck you keep, not the one they quote

A higher hourly rate in a bigger city can leave you poorer. Here's how to compare trade markets before you load the truck.

CancerDefying.com — The research, protocols and reading in one place

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GuideSelf-Employed WomenNina CastellanNov 5, 20265 min

Your office needs an edge more than it needs a room

You don't need a spare bedroom to work like a professional. You need a corner, a boundary, and a way to close the day.

Poll

What was your first ever job?

GuideCouples in BusinessCal BrennanNov 5, 20265 min

A business fight shouldn't follow you home

When you run the company with your spouse, every disagreement can turn into a marriage argument. Give each fight an address, a time limit, and an end.