Essential Resources for Freelancers, Gig Workers, and Independent Contractors in the United States

Here are some resources for freelancers and gig workers (aka independent contractors) in the U.S. These include legal related resources, as well as other useful tools, websites and organizations for freelancers.

NOTE: Law Soup Media may receive compensation from the vendors listed here if you use any of their services. We have used all of the products and/or services listed, and we stand by them. Thank you for your support of our mission to democratize the law!

Legal Resources for Freelancers

• Check out our Guide to the Law for Freelancers.
• Get the new book for freelancers by Law Soup Media founder Tristan Blaine: How to Be Free(lance): What Every Self-Employed Person Needs to Know About Law and Taxes
• Check out our FREE Legal Checklist Worksheet for Freelancers from the book.
• Contracts: To protect your rights as a freelancer, you should get a good contract drafted by a lawyer to spell out exactly what the terms are when a client hires you. For assistance in drafting or reviewing contracts, check out our partner LegalShield, which provides affordable and simple legal services for business & much more.
• LLCs: It may also be a good idea to form an LLC or corporation to protect your assets and possibly save on taxes. LegalShield can also assist with this.
• Find a good business lawyer who works with freelancers.

Other Resources for Freelancers

• Get free accounting and invoicing tools with Wave. See our full review of Wave.
• Small business banking: We use (and love) Novo, a FREE online checking account for small business that is super easy to set up and use! It takes only about 10 minutes to apply.
• Send contracts out for signature easily and free with DocHub.
• S-Corp payroll: As a freelancer, you probably don’t have employees. But if you have an S Corp (and if you don’t, why not?), you need a payroll solution. Gusto makes payroll and benefits super easy for small business. Rated “Best Overall Payroll Software” by NerdWallet.
• Get a business mailing address: Since we signed up for iPostal1 mail services, we have saved SO MUCH MONEY, and we love the convenience of being able to get a scanned copy of our mail no matter where in the world we are. Great for freelancers and small businesses. Plans start at just $8.33 per month. See Why Your Business Needs a Mailbox Service
• Cost-effective e-Commerce and other business websites: For a low-cost option for e-commerce or any great freelance or other business website, we recommend SiteGround. We have been using SiteGround for several years, and it’s the best hosting option we have found. They offer great deals for new customers!
• Find gigs: Flexjobs.com, Workingnotworking.com, Ilovecreatives.com
• Help setting your rates: Whopayswriters.com, Freelancingfemales.com/rates
• Blog with tips and tricks for freelancers: heyfreelancer.com

Related Pages

Guide to the Law for Freelancers

Freelancer vs Employee

Guide to the Law for Business Owners

Photo credit: Image by Drazen Zigic on Freepik