Keeper Tax Community Spotlight: Addison Freeman

Addison, thanks for being here! So, how did you get into freelancing?

Thanks for having me! To begin, I spent years as a full-time employee first in IT Consulting and then at a web development firm. I hated the bureaucratic aspect of a traditional 9-to-5, but I always loved to build and to create. Freelancing has given me the space to do it on my own terms, as a part of a lifestyle I really enjoy. 

And you’re also part of a traveling band?

Yes! I’m a musician and the cellist in a four-person folk music band, The Riverside. We’ve been traveling across America for the past two years with a pretty rigorous touring schedule, so it has become a huge part of my life. All the while I kept up my freelance programming on the road.

Wow, what a combination. How do you manage both of those?

Well, it can be hectic. I generally do my development work in the mornings, and music gigs in the evenings. Sometimes one of those will spill into the other, though, and I'll have to take a work call from the back of the van, haha. 

How do you find clients?

I started off using online marketplaces for new jobs, but today most of my work comes from repeat clients. It’s so much easier and less of a hassle to work with people you already trust. Then when billing and contracts come into play I’d rather not risk it with more unknowns.

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Any advice for others trying to break into freelance web development?

Well, two things: the first is to find a niche. Mine, I’ve fallen into, is doing chrome extensions. I’ve gotten pretty handy with WordPress and anything involving JavaScript too but there are a lot of people building websites. If you can become really good at something unique then you’ll become the go-to professional for that service.

The second is to value your own time. I started off charging far too little and it sent a signal to my customers that my time wasn’t valuable. Since raising my fees, I feel like the work I’ve been doing has also become more interesting and I’ve been treated more like a thought partner along the way.

Let’s talk about taxes. How were you dealing tracking expenses before Keeper Tax?

Yeah, it was hit-and-miss. For a while I was trying to use Quickbooks but it just wasn’t for me. It was just a lot to get acquainted with. I have a very specific need - I just want to keep track of expenses. I don’t have a complicated payroll or inventory like a traditional business. All of the products I used were overkill for my needs, and time-consuming.

I feel like I’m in this middle ground. It’d be good to have a bookkeeper, but it would be expensive and probably overkill. I just remember thinking, “I need something simple.”

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How would you describe Keeper?

It does one thing — tracks expenses — and then it gets out of the way. It’s not another app to constantly check in on. It’s an easy interface — text messages — that doesn’t require too much babysitting. It’s like hiring a bookkeeper without all the hassle. They have so many useful tools like their free 1099 tax calculator.

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Thanks so much for being part of the community!

Absolutely. I appreciate what you’re doing to make the freelancing lifestyle more enjoyable and manageable. Thanks!

Want to read another community spotlight? Here's Brandons.