April Maguire

It’s taken you years to invent the world’s next necessity; maybe you’ve created a unique product design, a game-changing technology feature, or even spliced together a never-before-seen plant genome. Either way, you’re ready to market your innovation and reap the benefits. But before you cash in on your work, you must first file a patent application.

While traditional employers take taxes out of their workers’ paychecks, freelancers—or those who operate a trade or business as a sole proprietor or an independent contractor—are responsible for their own taxes. Not only are you required to submit four individual IRS tax forms, but you must also assess your own tax burden by determining what can and can’t be legally deducted.

Once upon a time, it was common for American workers to stay at the same job for the whole of their careers. However, that time has passed, and these days employees are frequently hitting the job boards in search of that next great opportunity or stepping stone to something better. If you’re tired of spending your days at a series of dead-end jobs that don’t take you where you want to be, check out ASC’s tips for finding a position that fits your goals for the long term.