fvaconsultancy20-blog

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5 posts!

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How You Will Approach Your Client To Raise Your Rates

How You Will Approach Your Client To Raise Your Rates is often asked to us in the freelancing world. Many feel like they deserve a better payment after they gain more training and experience but don’t have the courage or guide how. Here are the tips on how you will approach your client to increase your rates and convince them.

1. Prove that your service is worth it

If you can prove the value of your services and results that you have delivered to your previous client. It would be great then your service will sell itself no matter what is the price. How you will showcase your previous results to your client? You can show them your testimonials. The client will love to see things that are tangible prove your worth to your clients and they will happily pay you a premium price.

2. Know your ideal client

If you know who your ideal client is, then you can easily increase your rates while maintaining your clients. Make sure to be specific in your niche and you are well-positioned to serve. Find out what type of businesses they are running, what features are they looking for. If you can do that all it is better, you will able to target a specific niche of clients and you can charge much, much more.

3.) Explain why you need to increase your rates

Justify yourself why you deserve to increase your rates, relate back to them your previous results and how the business benefit from what you did. Make sure to approach your client in a nice way, for example, “Raising your rates will allow me to take closely on the projects we do together and will mean better turn-around times for you and will more focus on your business” Then make sure that what you promise to your client you can deliver it.

4.) Focus on giving value

When you make your request, you should focus on value. If you can give results why not ask to raise your rates. You could communicate your expertise that has grown. You can say “Over the last year. I’ve helped many business owners to expand their businesses using my ability and skills. You can also say that you helped businesses to increase their sales of up to 20 percent. In that case, chances of raising your rates will be great”.

Know your worth

We hope our article “How You Will Approach Your Client To Raise Your Rates” helps you a lot in your freelance journey. All of us want high-paying rates, however, you need to prove that you can have the capability to increase their sales and you have a proven result. It will take dedication, hard work, and consistency to fulfill and get there. Make sure don’t stop believing in yourself just keep moving forward no matter what and you will far from others.

Get trained and certified

“Why with the Filipino Virtual Assistance online academy?” you may ask. The Filipino Virtual Assistance offers online job courses to freelancers, virtual assistance services to brands and businesses and franchising opportunities. Our mission is empowering families, one freelancer, at a time. Our number goal is YOUR success.

When you enroll with an FVA course, it also comes with:

A FREE apprenticeship so you can get an online freelancing experience (most clients look for this before hiring)

Hiring opportunities through our FVA Services where potential clients can come and hire you

You will also have lifetime support from the FVA Family and a Coach guiding you all throughout the process.

We are excited to help you. Level up with FVA today!

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Setting Your Personal And Professional Freelancing Goals in 2020

Setting your personal and professional freelancing Goals for 2020 will be hard if you don’t know what things you need to do this 2020. Here are the simple ways that you can do to set up your personal and professional freelancing goals for 2020 so that you’re fully blasted.

Personal Goals

Personal Goals will be hard if you don’t have any plan and dedication to achieve it, you should smart in your goals be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely so that you have a list and timeline to achieve all those goals this 2020.

Here are ways that you can do:

1. Spiritual Goals

Pray at least 10 minutes a day to give thanks to the blessings that we received for today, make sure also to read 1 chapter of the bible a day so that you will be able to learn and spread the good news to others.

2. Food for the Soul

Stress in freelancing is normal sometimes we need to travel once a year so that we can enjoy and relieve our stress if you have time to go to the beach every quarter together with your family to enjoy and bonding together. Go to Spa/Massage/Salon once a month to make your beauty stand out again.

3. Taking care of your Body

Eating unnecessary food is our stress reliever, this 2020 eliminate soda, sweets and processed food you can eat carbohydrates but make sure to lessen it. Sleep at least 6 hours to replenish your body and have more energy tomorrow. Instead of eating unnecessary food why not to eat vegetables that will give you nutrients and combine exercise like 1 hour walking every Monday-Wednesday-Friday to improve your blood circulation.

Professional Goals

Professional Goals can help you focus on where you need to improve yourself and goals will help you to think about where you need improvement and here the ways on how you will do it.

Here are ways that you can do:

1. Skills Goals

Take a course whether it is online or non-online skills to sharpen your skills you can consider a simple Udemy course or you can consider FVA a lot of courses that will broaden your knowledge make sure to choose the right fit for you, as it will help you on your freelancing career.

2. Savings Goals

Savings should be our top priority no matter how much is your earning, as long you are doing it consistently you will go so far and just in case you want to buy things or if there is an emergency happen you have money to use and the best thing to save would be today so that you have a prosperous life once you retire.

3. Self-Growth and Empowerment Goals

Reading is essential so that your knowledge will be increased and especially you will learn a lot when you read books. They said knowledge is a power that no one can steal just keep reading to exercise your mind and help you in your future journey.

Podcasts will be tough when choosing, as there are many to choose from when choosing a podcast. Make sure you will learn from it and it should fit apart from what you want as it will help you to benefit in the long run.

The workshop will guide you to make you better and will help you to develop you as a person, not just that, also you will develop the skills that you can use in your future clients to help them to achieve their business goals.

Mentoring goals sharing is caring once you know a lot you can share them with others, you can train them and find opportunities to teach them or mentor them until they will stand by their own in that case you help them a lot on their freelancing journey.

Rock Your 2020!

No matter what goals are in your mind this 2020 as long as you do it consistently no matter what will happen along the way just continue, learn from your mistakes and I’ll promise you can achieve all that goals.

The yet is to come always trust yourself!

Happy Freelancing!

[fvaconsultancy20-blog]

How To Land A Client Without Applying

Freelancing is a growing industry today. More and more people prefer working online because the pay is higher, there is the flexibility of time and one can manage contracts and hourly rates through online freelancing. There is however a struggle as the competition is high and most don’t have the right guidance on how to get started, effectively. Applying in different remote working platforms will take time and effort to be able to get those jobs. There is a tough competition and one would need to work hard in order to get invites and be hired. Many are not starting right or not working smart. Here are 5 ways on how to land a client without applying.

1. Make sure you are easily found

Clients might across in your application on Google or in any freelance platform. You have chances of getting hired once they see your portfolio. Credibility is very important in your freelance career, as they will respond with you and message you and contact you. They might interest in your niche or in your experience that you had chances is you will get hired by them. This is why it is important to build your portfolio and be noticed by clients looking for a virtual assistant.

2. Referrals

When you are a freelancer, networking is a must. This has worked out and has been proven and tested to work. Your co-freelancer might refer you to other clients to work on the projects. In this case, you haven’t excelled in an effort to find jobs due to your network connection. When you provide excellent value to your client, they come back with you working again and chances your work of ethics will be known. The more you will provide value, the more referrals will come. Clients will suggest you to their friends because they see your hard work. With referrals, you did not spend any time finding clients, they are the ones who will come your way.

3. Build relationships

Don’t limit your network to potential clients only. Also, include other people who are outside your niche as well. This may include local and international friends, relatives, acquaintances, school mates, etc. The more you advance your branding and build relationships, the more you will increase the possibility of getting contracts our of these relationships.

4. Get a mentor

Getting a coach will save you time. An expert’s advice can save you not just time and effort but productivity and possible income as well. While many freelancers are trying to have their Upwork profile approved, you can learn the techniques on how this is done through a coach. The years of expertise a mentor experienced, the ups and downs and effective techniques can be all shared with you and this will save you a lot. You will learn how you can build your portfolio and be a business partner to your clients. In this way, you will learn the right set up on how clients will just come your way and not only the tips in starting freelancing properly.

5. Subscribe to FVA’s YouTube channel for free online freelancing training

The Filipino Virtual Assistance has embraced the mission of equipping families one freelancer at a time. The more we operate, the more we hear out both the newbie and seasoned freelancers’ needs. With this, we created our YouTube Channel to give assistance to freelancers. We desire every freelancer’s success. So don’t hesitate to subscribe and get free online freelancing training so you can set your freelancing niche the right way and attract clients!

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Rise of Freelance Workforce

Rise of Freelancing

There is a rise of the freelance workforce as more people desire to live comfortably by working remotely. More freelancers are working from home to spend time with their families.

In addition, the workforce is changing as more people leaving the security of an 8-to-5 job for the flexibility of freelancing. They can spend more time with their family. They don’t need to go out to commute and get stuck in the traffic. Instead of spending time commuting, they can be productive working from home.

Furthermore, people swap their corporate job to freelancing. According to CNBC, “There are now 57 million Americans in the freelance economy, up from 53 million in 2014.” To add, “freelancers doing skilled services earn a median rate of $28 an hour, earning more per hour than 70% of workers in the overall U.S. economy.” Also, “51% of freelancers say no amount of money would entice them to take a traditional job.”

Meanwhile, Rappler reported that there are more than 1.5 million freelancers in the Philippines and “by 2020, almost one in 5 workers will be a freelancer or contract workers, according to a 2012 global study done by Big 5 auditing firm Ernst & Young.” With the recent COVID-19 pandemic more people had shifted to finding possible income through remote working.

Free Freelancing Courses and Resources

There are a lot of ways in which one can start freelancing. With the time and resources available right now, one can definitely learn how to become a freelance workforce. Here are some free learning tools you can start with:

Udemy – Udemy is a paid online course site but they also offer free courses like Using a Photographic Light Meter, Use Crowdfunding Effectively With Indiegogo and Kickstarter, and Learn How To Build A Corporate Website Using Joomla! 2.5.

Harvard University – Harvard opened some of their online courses and made it available to the public. There are online courses on web programming, game development, and mobile app development.

There are also a lot of video resources available on YouTube and Vimeo.

Free Freelancing Tools

Aside from free courses and resources, one can also be acquainted with different freelancing tools. It is important to note that freelancing is still work. Thus, one needs to have a skill he can provide services with to different clients and brands around the world. Data entry tasks and other administrative assistance have a lot of competition. Most importantly, newbies in the freelance world need to be equipped with freelancing skills and tools. Here are examples of freelancing apps and sites you can start with.

Infograhic Sites:

Video Editing Sites:

Lead Generation Sites

Canva

Venngage

Piktochart

Easel.ly

VISME

Infogram

Visualize.me

Snappa

Animaker

BeFunky

Biteable

Mind the Graph

Clipchamp

Online Video Cutter

WeVideo

Wideo

Powtoon

Video Toolbox

Kizoa

Hippo Video

Magisto

Kapwing

In the rise of freelancing industry in the Philippines and around the world, it is important to be competitive and relevant. One can do this by having a specialized skill, providing proof through different portfolios and sending personalized applications geared to give solutions to businesses spotted in each job post description.

Be the best freelancer out there! Be the one who is able to give exemplary assistance to different brands around the world, especially in these trying times.

[fvaconsultancy20-blog]

PhilHealth, SSS, BIR and DTI Guide for Freelancers

Freelancing stability and security are important as freelancers start growing. We start thinking that we are an essential part of the community and live like normal “employees” even if we have the luxury of earning from home. We need to be established and secure not just for our families but to position ourselves for growth as freelancer-entrepreneurs. Here’s a guide on how freelancers can register with Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Social Security System (SSS), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

HOW TO REGISTER FOR PHIL HEALTH AS A FREELANCER

How to Register for Voluntary Membership in a Phil Health Office

Go to the nearest Local Health Insurance Office or PhilHealth Express outlet.  

Fill out two PMRF copies.

Submit your accomplished and signed forms.

Wait for the Phil Health Member Data Record  (MDR) and ID card to be issued to you.

Using your Phil Health ID number (PIN), pay your premium contribution to the cashier.

If you earn PHP 25,000 or below every month, you must pay the quarterly amount of PHP 600 (or PHP 200 monthly/PHP 2,400 annually).

If your monthly income is over PHP 25,000, you’ll have to pay PHP 900 for the quarter (or PHP 300 monthly/PHP 3,600 annually).

How to Register for Phil Health Voluntary Membership Online

Go to the PhilHealth Electronic  Registration System.

Click “PROCEED.”

Read the Terms and Conditions, tick  the small box below, and click “Accept.”

On the Phil Health online registration form, enter the required information.

Upload your document in jpeg, pdf, gif, or png format. This step is optional.  

Enter the provided Captcha code, tick  the small box below, and click “Submit Registration.”

You’ll receive instructions via email on how to complete your PhilHealth membership application. Copy the transaction number, which serves as a reference to your registration.

Five Things to Remember When Applying for Phil Health Voluntary Membership

Go to the Phil Health office early. Although Phil Health membership registration processing takes less than a day, expect long lines and early cutoff times in some branches.

Read the instructions carefully on the second page of the PMRF before filling it out.

If employed previously and already have a PIN, put a check next to “FOR UPDATING” under the PURPOSE section. You can have only one PIN in your lifetime.

Declare your dependents to maximize your Phil Health benefits. List down the names of your qualified Phil Health dependents when filling out the PMRF. No need to pay extra premiums for their Phil Health coverage. When you receive your MDR, make sure it has all the names to avoid inconvenience when claiming Phil Health benefits

HOW TO REGISTER WITH DTI AND BIR AS A FREELANCER

There are 2 ways to register:

As a Business / Business Owner (DTI, Business Bureau, BIR)

As Self-Employed / Freelancer (BIR only)

AS A BUSINESS / BUSINESS OWNER:

Step 1.

Go to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for the registration of your entity. Bring valid and primary ID. Prepare Php500 for the registration and Php30 for documentary stamp. They will issue the certificate right away.

Step 2.

Next is to process Mayor’s / Business Permit at the Business Bureau. Ask for an application for a new business, a sole proprietorship.   Steps on the Issuance of a New Business Permit and List of Requirements are attached to the form.

CENRO Certificate will also be processed here.

Requirements:

Application Form (notarized and completely filled up)

Barangay Clearance (latest/original/purpose: for new business application with complete business address)

Sketch (drawing with complete address and a contact number)

Cedula (latest)

Certified list of Employees OR Certificate of NO employees (notarized, bring original and photocopies)

For your business property address

DTI and CENRO Certificate

If owned – Bring proof of ownership (Tax Declaration, Land Title, Deed of Sale)

If rented – Bring Contract of Lease with Tax Declaration of Lessor (notarized, 1 photocopy)

If without rental – Bring Letter of Consent from the Property Owner (notarized, 1 photocopy & any proof of ownership)

Tips:

Before going to the Business Bureau, secure your Barangay Clearance & Cedula first, so you won’t have to go back and forth from the Bureau to your Barangay then back to the Bureau.

Make sure to prepare Barangay Clearance and NOT Barangay Certificate. Double-check also for any typo, especially on the name, business address, and the purpose – it should be for a new business application/permit (not a renewal of business permit).

At the Atty. office, aside from notarization, they can also prepare the Certificate of NO employees & Letter of Consent from the Property Owner (additional pay of course). For the Affidavit of Consent, the Property Owner also needs to sign.

Prepare business/regulatory fees from P3,000 to P5,000. That includes payment of Fire Inspection Fee and Notarization.

They will issue you the claim slip with the date indicating when to pick up your Mayor’s permit and logo

Purchase also your Books of Accounts:

Ledger book

Cash receipt book (6 or 8 columnar notebooks)

Cash disbursement book (24 columnar notebooks)

General journal

Label them with your registered name, the name of the Books of Accounts as mentioned above, and date. Ask where is the area for stamp received for the Books of Accounts. This will be done after you have registered with the Business Bureau.

Step 3.

After you have claimed your Mayor’s Permit is the registration with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

Bring all your papers from DTI, Mayor’s Permit, and BMBE Certificate. Bring original copies, but please prepare photocopies.

Locate the one issuing the Application forms for a new applicant. This will be for the issuance of the Certificate of Registration (COR). Inform them if you will be availing a tax exemption for BMBE as you will be filling up another form. Go to the Revenue District Office (RDO) you belong to.

Note: RDO will depend on the registered address you will be providing.

Tips:

Before filling up the forms, get your priority number first,  because queuing time takes longer. Select to go to Counter 4 – Assistance Desk so you will be guided with the process.

Prepare for payment – COR P500, Annual Registration Fee P500, Documentary Stamp P50. Bring extra money in case of any additional charges.

Bring your TIN. They will be updating that from employee to a freelancer.

You will be required to attend a BIR Seminar. Ask for the schedule. Bring the Claim Slip (date indicated as to when to claim your COR and Ask For Receipt Notice sticker). This should be signed by the person conducting the seminar.

Make sure to attend the seminar. This is also the time that you can ask everything that you would like to know on how to compute your taxes and your responsibilities as a taxpayer.

You can bring a flash drive. The one conducting the seminar might give you a soft copy of the PowerPoint presentation.

As early as now, you can design your Official Receipt to be processed by your printing press or you may opt to follow the regular format provided by your printing press together with the Authority to Print (ATP) issued by BIR.

Bring the set of Books of Accounts stamped by the Business Bureau when you have the COR for another stamp received by BIR.

AS SELF-EMPLOYED / FREELANCER:

Tips:

Before going to BIR, secure your Barangay Certificate & Cedula first, so you won’t have to go back and forth from BIR to your Barangay then back to BIR.

Make sure to prepare Barangay Certificate and NOT Barangay Clearance. Your Brgy. The certificate should show your complete name, exact address, and the nature of your work (mine was as a Virtual Assistant engaged in Online Freelancing).

Step 1.

Go to BIR. Locate the one issuing the Application forms for a new applicant. Go to the Revenue District Office (RDO) you belong to. They will give you Form 1901 and Form 0605 to fill up.  A list of requirements is attached to the form.

Note: RDO will depend on the registered address you will be providing. If you don’t know your RDO, you can tell them your area and they will guide you.

Requirements:

BIR Form No. 1901

Any identification issued by an authorized government body that shows the name, address, and birthdate for the applicant (Birth Certificate, Passport, Driver’s License, Cedula – bring photocopies.)

If applicable – bring Marriage Certificate (just in case)

Barangay Certificate (originally not included on the list)

bring photocopies

Tip:

Before filling up the forms, get your priority number first,  because queuing time takes longer. Select to go to Counter 4 – Assistance Desk so you will be guided with the process. Also, get another priority number for Counter 3 at the same time.

Step 2.

At Counter 4 – Bring with you the filled up Form 1901 and Form 0605. Explain that you are registering as a Freelancer | Home Based | Virtual Assistant. Explain the nature of your work.

Ask if there are additional requirements. Barangay Certificate was not originally included on the list (above), but they required me one when I asked at Counter 4.

If you don’t have TIN yet or if you changed RDO you can also inquire at Counter 4.

Step 3.

Counter 3 – Bring with you the filled up Form 1901 and Form 0605.

Submit additional requirements: Photocopy of birth certificate. Photocopy for Barangay Certificate.

Pay P500 for the Certificate of Registration (COR).

Tip:

After doing one step, ALWAYS ask what’s next. Based on my experience, they don’t give instructions on what to do next. Ask for the claim stub (when to get the COR) and ask about the seminar for new applicants. They forgot to give and tell me these things.

Step 4.

Join the SEMINAR. This is the perfect time where you can ASK everything you would like to know about how to compute your taxes and your responsibilities as a taxpayer.

The Book of Accounts is also mentioned during the seminar. If not, ask what kind of book is required for our line of business. Purchase also your Books of Accounts.

Step 5.

Once you claimed the COR, go to counter 7 and pay for documentary stamps, P30. Fill up Form 1905 and have your Books of Accounts stamped at Counter 5.

Step 6.

Print your Official Receipt.

At the Forms counter, ask for a list of an accredited printing press. Prepare a photocopy of the following: Form 1901, Form 0605, Receipt of Payment for COR from step 3, and COR. Go to your selected printing press, submit the photocopies.

Printing of Receipt Fee would range from P1200 to P1500.

Tips:

There are times that some agents from different printing press companies will wait outside, ready to accommodate you. You can ask the person in charge at the Forms counter.

How to compute and pay your taxes, ITR, and the like as a freelancer will be discussed and explained well during the seminar.

HOW FREELANCERS CAN FILE FOR SSS

To update your membership status to voluntary, you don’t have to go to an SSS branch.

Just access your online account through https://portal.sss.gov.ph/member/ and choose “Voluntary’’ as your membership type when generating a PRN.

After paying the contribution, your membership status will automatically change to voluntary.

However, if you’ll pay contribution as a self-employed member, fill out the Member Data Change Request Form (Form E-4)

Note: An unemployed SSS member who has no previous SS record of coverage or contributions cannot just start paying contributions as a Voluntary Member for the sole purpose of qualifying for an SS ID Card or SSS benefits. Such contributions shall be deemed invalid and duly returned/refunded. Voluntary Membership is solely for previously employed/self-employed/OFW members.

Refer to the SSS contributions table for the full list of contribution rates for a voluntary member.

SSS Contributions Table was deemed effective last April 2019.

Source: https://filipiknow.net/how-to-change-status-in-sss-online/

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5 Mistakes Can Affect Your Freelancing Career

We hope this article “5 Mistakes Can Affect Your Freelancing Career” will help you to avoid those mistakes. Don’t afraid when you encounter a lot of mistakes throughout your freelancing journey, as it will lead you to succeed and make this a stepping stone use them to strengthen yourself and make sure to get up and come back to stronger. Here are tips so that you can avoid these 5 mistakes that can ruin your freelance.

1. You Are Pushing Your Boundaries

You are pushing your limit even though you cannot do it, Some freelancer is cramping due to more projects that need to finish. Make sure to balance on what you were doing to provide good results and high-quality work. In that case, you will have a long term relationship and the client will be happy in your work and might recommend you to another client.

2.) You Are Not Reading Enough

Reading is essential to you in order to broaden your knowledge, make sure to read sites, read blogs or news. It is great when it is related to the freelancing and if related to your niche so that you will stay up to date on current events and new about freelancing. It also helps you to find new places to get a client and ensure that you are familiar with what they are working on and their audience before sending any proposal.

3.) You Take Rejection Seriously

Freelancing is trial and error, some freelancer will take rejections seriously especially if this happening consistently. Don’t lose hope spending too much time asking “Why not me who got hired?” it will lead you to delay you from pitching another client that might actually want you. Instead of worrying about rejection that you encountered, focus on improving and enhance your skills. Start asking yourself how to move forward.

4.) You Don’t Have An Active Online Presence

Social media accounts are very important to promote your freelance branding. Having a personal website help as well, growing your audience will be your advantage to have more clients in the future it will give them a look into your personality. If you don’t have any social media make on immediately. You’ll be missing out on your opportunities, to get one client and it might ruin your future gigs.

5.) You Make A Lot Of Excuses

Whatever things you need to finish or that needs to do, finish it immediately so that you will meet all the deadlines. Don’t make any excuses to do these projects, in the end, you will suffer from it due to many pending projects that you need to work on. If you can do it right away don’t hesitate to do it and avoid any excuses to finish the projects that you were working on.

Conclusion

We hope you learned a lot in this article “5 Mistakes Can Affect Your Freelancing Career” One of my favorite quotes “Do not be embarrassed by your failures learn from them and start again by Richard Branson” If you will correlate this to freelancing failure will be permanent if you will quit. Use those failures to strengthen yourself and your freelancing to improve because those who quit will not succeed.

Get guidance from the Filipino Virtual Assistance, if you need one today, we are here to help you succeed.