eHow's WCP

[lisarussell]

Is anyone else here writing for eHow? I'm at about 104 articles now. Our Suite101 board is so active and encouraging. I wondered if any mothering moms were also writing for eHow.

[momma-molly]

I signed up, but I've only posted one article. How is the pay? It seemed kind of daunting to me, but I never really gave it a chance.

Tell us some more about it!

[lisarussell]

I have 109 articles up there- each one takes 10-15 minutes and last month I averaged over $3 a day- this month, it's around $4 a day so far. Also, each article has affiliate links and links to my other articles on my blog, and other sites like Suite 101, so I get to divert traffic and make money outside of ehow.

Most of my articles were written last year- My total so far is $241.83, most of which has come in the past month or so. And even if I never write again, I'll still be earning, still be directing traffic to my other work.

I'm surprised no one here is writing there.

[momma-molly]

Wow, Lisa - that's great. I think I might start it back up again.

I've been checking out your blog and articles - how do you keep your material fresh? I just started writing for Examiner.com as my area's Natural Parenting Examiner and I'm having trouble not duplicating material on my blog. Since I'm going to be sending people from my blog to Examiner, I'm concerned about keeping everything related -but still different.

Any tips? I'm VERY new at this, so I'm trying to glean whatever wisdom I can from the real experts!

[lisarussell]

hi Molly- I wouldn't say I'm an expert, but I do write a lot of related articles for different websites. I don't really know how, my fingers just do it. I try to write a lot of related content and link them all over to each other. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

[dearmama22]

wow, that is so cool! I'm going to try this out!

[dearmama22]

Lisa- how do you feel about entering your social security information? I don't like doing that to online places...

Isn't there a way we can avoid this and do our own taxes or something?

[lisarussell]

yes- apply for an EIN

https://sa1.www4.irs.gov/modiein/ind...navailable.jsp

It's called an "Employers ID Number" but it IS specific to you & your home business and you don't have to be an employer or employ people to use it- just like a SS#

[MyTwoAs]

My discomfort with supplying my SS# everywhere is why I applied for the EIN last year. It was all online and you get it in a few minutes.

[Joywith5]

MyTwoAs or Lisa--

Does using the EIN make filing taxes more difficult? Would I still be able to file jointly with my hubby?

TIA

[MyTwoAs]

Nope, it isn't more difficult. You just use a schedule C like you would for self-employment income anyhow. I filed jointly with my husband using the EIN and my business name (I incorporated as an LLC) on Schedule C and filed it with our 1040.

[Joywith5]

Wow---incorporated! Sounds complex and costly. Can anyone direct me to reliable info about this?

TIA

[MyTwoAs]

It was cheap - $35 (IIRC) and it took about 15 minutes to fill out the paperwork and then I waited a few weeks for the State to reply. I then had to advertise in the public notices section of the paper which was another $20 or so.

This is state-specific, I went to my state's Corporation Commission website. It isn't required to do business but it was something I wanted to do.

[muttix2]

I was under the impression that it took $300 or so to incorporate. I'll have to look into this more...

[Violet2]

I just started writing for Demand Studios and am now looking at e-how. If anyone has any tips, I'm all ears.

V

[MyTwoAs]

For a full-blown corporation, the fees are likely $300+. I just did a Limited Liability Corporation. I just checked my state's site and the fees are up to $50 now for the basic LLC filing.

[muttix2]

I missed that part of your post. My mind was reeling, that would have set my business ahead a few months! Too bad...

[Miss Information]

just subbing.

[lisarussell]

here in WA an LLC costs as much to start up as a C-corp or an S-corp. as writers, assuming that you don't have shareholders or anything, an LLC is really the best way to go.


For information- I recommend the book by Robert Kiyosaki

"Own Your own Corporation: Why the rich own their own companies and everyone else works for them"

It explains how corporations and individuals are taxed different. As an employee, you pay the most taxes (as a percentage of your income) and as a sole proprietor, you pay more than a corp or LLP or LLC

[adam-12]

Originally Posted by lisarussell

here in WA an LLC costs as much to start up as a C-corp or an S-corp. as writers, assuming that you don't have shareholders or anything, an LLC is really the best way to go.


For information- I recommend the book by Robert Kiyosaki

"Own Your own Corporation: Why the rich own their own companies and everyone else works for them"

It explains how corporations and individuals are taxed different. As an employee, you pay the most taxes (as a percentage of your income) and as a sole proprietor, you pay more than a corp or LLP or LLC

First of all, I'm not a mother as you can probably tell by my name and I apologize if I'm not supposed to be posting on these forums. I just really wanted to chime in on this thread because I was just considering this exact issue. In fact, I started thinking about it while listening to a podcast from Robert Kiyosaki!

I currently write for ehow as an individual/sole proprietorship, but I want to form an LLC for tax purposes. As far as the ehow side of things, do I just have to switch to 'corporation' under the earnings info page or are there more steps involved? Thanks in advance for any info you can provide and thanks for all the info you've already given.