For Independent Professionals

Setting SMART Business Goals for the Upcoming Year

By MBO Partners

Conducting a year-end business review is a valuable practice as an independent contractor. Taking stock of your accomplishments over the past months, reviewing your network contacts, and setting goals for the upcoming year can help you identify gaps in your business offerings, keep your back office organized, and uncover new ways to grow and evolve….

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Mastering the Art of The Side Hustle: Thriving in Full-Time Employment and Entrepreneurship Simultaneously

By MBO Partners

In today’s fast-paced world, many ambitious individuals, myself included, are continuously seeking innovative ways to pursue our passions and financial goals. For those of us who are inherently creative, the idea of balancing a full-time job while simultaneously running a successful business is an enticing challenge. While it might initially appear as a daunting endeavor,…

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The Support Team Every Independent Professional Needs

By MBO Partners

As an independent professional, you will spend part (or, in some cases, all) of your career as a solopreneur. With a high degree of flexibility, autonomy, and control, being your own boss has a lot of advantages. The choice to go solo does have challenges. Respondents to our 2023 State of Independence survey cited unpredictable…

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Year-End Tax Planning Strategies for Independent Contractors

By MBO Partners

As the year draws to a close, it’s common to take some time to look back on the performance of your business. Reviewing your back office—records, taxes, expense tracking, billing, etc.—is another helpful practice to prepare for the new year. Organizing paperwork and making sure records are accessible will help ease the burden of searching…

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Downsides of Using AI in Your Open Innovation Solutions

By MBO Partners

Last month I talked about how AI can help you solve open innovation challenges as a research assistant and brainstorming partner. But there’s a dark side to AI in open innovation. While using AI more extensively in your solving activities might be tempting, this can be a big risk.   3 Risks of Using AI in…

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6 Ways to Find Work When Business is Slow

By MBO Partners

As the holiday season approaches, it’s common to find business slowing down. Many clients will take time off for the holidays and prospective clients may not want to start a project until the new year. But it’s important to keep in mind that other businesses may have budgets that need to be spent by the…

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10 Things to do When Business is Slow

By MBO Partners

When business is slow, there can be many factors at play. It might be the time of year for your industry, the holiday season, changing consumer trends, or a sign your pipeline needs a boost. As an independent professional, work can ebb and flow from month to month. One day you may be swamped with…

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Globetrotting Families: How Digital Nomads Are Embracing Travel with Their Children

By MBO Partners

By now, we have all heard about digital nomadism. Earlier this year, I authored a long form piece for HBR on the topic, on how to get started and have a successful digital nomad experience. However, while the phenomenon of employee nomading has been extensively recorded, its allure is now expanding beyond individuals to encompass…

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How to Use an Online Marketplace to Grow Your Small Business

By MBO Partners

Finding new work is always top of mind when you run your own business. Independent professionals are increasingly relying on online talent marketplaces as a sales channel for their services. In 2022, 41% of independents who provide services to businesses said they found work on talent platforms, an increase from 15% in 2015 and just…

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Do This Before Pursuing Federal Contracts as an Independent Consultant

By MBO Partners

Federal government contracts are a great option for many independent professionals looking to grow their businesses. Federal government contracts are a form of procurement for the government to obtain services for their direct use.   Winning these contracts requires quite a bit of preparation and a different proposal process from commercial businesses. These contracts have strict…

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