Category: Banking

This post was originally published on Feb. 5, 2015, and was updated on April 2, 2018, March 27, 2019, Feb. 5, 2020 and Jan 29, 2021.

The above content should not be construed as legal or tax advice. Always consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your specific legal or tax situation.

If you’ve worked as an independent contractor during 2020, a Form 1099-NEC should have landed in your mailbox or inbox around the end of January. The 1099-NEC, Nonemployee Income, is an informational form that U.S. businesses are required to send to people they paid more than $600 for services during the last calendar year.

According to the IRS:

• You do not necessarily have to have a business for payments for your services to be reported on Form 1099-NEC. You may simply perform services as a non-employee.
• The payer has determined that an employer-employee relationship does not exist

Emaad Paracha operates Abstract Hub, a digital agency with offices in Toronto and Karachi that handles everything from web design to AI. You can catch up with him on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

The who:

Given a business name is so central to a brand, we tend to put a lot of importance on it. How did you arrive at a name, and how do you feel about it now that you’ve been in business a while?

This was probably one of the hardest parts of the initial setup of the business. We needed to pick a name that can resonate well with clients and us alike, not be too restrictive, and remain future proof to changes in the business. After considerable thought, we went with Abstract Hub, a name that, as the name suggests itself, can be abstracted to multiple domains. It isn’t too short or … Read more

Many people are inclined to stay inside when temperatures drop, and to be fair, there’s no shortage of entertaining indoor winter activities. But if you’re wondering what to do on a snow day, the great outdoors has plenty to offer. In fact, there are several mental and physical benefits to spending time outside during the colder months. Exposure to the sun can improve your mood and the Vitamin D your body absorbs helps fight off diseases.[1] So bundle up and safely enjoy the cold with one of these outdoor activities.

1. Visit a hot spring

The water of a hot spring is substantially higher than the air temperature of the surrounding region,[2] and perfect to thaw your cold body over the winter. Soaking in a hot spring is a warm and relaxing experience, but this getaway may require some advance planning. Most hot springs are out West … Read more

There’s nothing sadder than a great website design just sitting there with lorem ipsum text and placeholder images.

Hello, client… where’s that content you were gonna send? 

Often, a strategically timed message can help get things moving again. And so we present to you these free email templates for getting content from your clients.

Use these free email templates for getting content

It’s usually a good idea to set expectations in the contract. Note that if the client doesn’t send content by a certain date, the project can be put on hold. You don’t want to be caught waiting for a client and unable to take on new work.

Many times, clients are just forgetful or overwhelmed with their responsibilities. A little expert advice from their web pro (you) can give them the confidence to take their best shot.

And finally let you get back to work!

General email template

No one could ever love your children quite like you do. But in the unlikely event that both you and your partner pass away, it’s important to have a guardian named in your will (the only place where this directive can be given) who can care for your children in your absence.

Deciding who this special person should be may feel overwhelming, but it’ll save your children, legal dependents and other loved ones a lot of stress and additional grief later on. That’s why we’ve created a list of important things to consider as you make this decision.

As you think through who you’d like to care for your children in your absence, keep the following factors in mind when choosing a guardian:

1. Values and religious preference

If you have strong feelings about things such as religion, philanthropy or even politics that you want your children to be exposed … Read more