If online reaction is any indication, people have been loving the presidential debates. Even the vice-presidential debate had everyone all a-Twitter. (Sorry, sometimes I can�t help myself.) If only we could have more debates!
Well, the public’s wish is our command.
Our amiable friends James and Harry over at Men with Pens have agreed to let us call them out this week, and we’re taking full advantage.
You see, we like James and Harry. We think they’re swell. We think it’s totally cool how they’re two guy friends running a freelance company. After all, we’re two girl friends running a freelance company. We like it that they’re a little geeky, too. We’re nerds, as well; just in a different way.
Still, we have some major differences of opinion among us. You see, Tamara and I believe that one of the best parts of having a freelance business is that fact that it costs practically nothing to start and run. Unlike other businesses, we didn’t have to pay for a franchise, stock up a bunch of inventory, or go back to school and get an MBA.
We figure that we started the Berry-Brewer Freelance Agency for the cost of about $220. That includes filing for our tax ID, getting city and state licenses, and setting up a Vendor account on Guru.com. We each contributed half, and we were able to pay ourselves back after getting our first couple of gigs. You could probably also add in a few bucks for the coffee and bagels we consumed at our first real business meeting. All-in-all, though, the financial investment was pretty darn low.
Now, over at Men with Pens, they have a different take on the cost of setting up shop, and if you pop on over there, they’re going to tell you why the Freelance Parent ladies are all washed up with their post “The True Cost of Freelancing.” Feel free to add your two-cents’ worth by sharing your thoughts in the comments section. Better yet, pipe up and tell them why we’re right! 
We’d love to know how you figure the cost of starting and running your freelance business. In fact, we’re going to be at this all week long, so if there’s a topic you’d like to see us debate, bring it on.
So, if you’re going through debate withdrawal now that the candidates are back on the campaign trail, you can join in with us and the boys as we take a look at how much it really costs to play the freelancing game.
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Christina Lemmey is the mother of two school-aged girls, a wife, and the owner of 
I’m of the opinion that a website is necessary before too long.
Allenas last blog post..Is It Nessecary to Apply Quickly?
Other than the cost of hosting, I don’t think I’ve spent anything as yet. I see further education and maybe a Guru account as being on the horizon within the next 3-6 months, but that’s about it.
Wendy
Ahh, haha! The gauntlet is thrown, pistols at dawn! (But not until I’ve had coffee, hm?)
See you Wednesday, sisters. I’ll have my retort-… uh, I mean, my reply ready!
I’ve spent pretty much nothing, so far, except for buying a couple “how-to” books. And the webhosting, which I already had for my blog, anyway.
Of course, I haven’t gotten a single freelance JOB yet, so even so, I’m still in the hole! (grin)
–Debs last blog post..Who’s Driving this Thing, Anyway?
@Allena – Good point. We actually did one pretty early on, but it was designed for free and hosted on the cheap. (Not that we recommend that approach. At all.)
I don’t know that our new site has gotten us any business on its own, but I think it’s help to legitimize us.
@Wendy – Sounds like you’re definitely taking the no-frills approach. We did the same, and we’re reaching our goals on a regular basis. Good luck.
@James – In the spirit of one Miss Torrance Shipman, I say “bring it on!”
@Deb – I didn’t count the cost of the how-to books since I’d bought them a couple of years before when I was doing some research. Still, that might be something to keep in mind. Good luck getting your inaugural gig.
Hi Ladies! Love reading your blog posts:-)
I have to say that I started about 5 years ago with little more than a brochure page website I created myself, article marketing I wrote myself, and an elance account.
Word of mouth marketing and networking are both inexpensive and provide the best kind of client. Professionalism and a good work ethic are cheap and offer a great ROI!
Looking forward to the ensuing debate!
@Annette – Networking and word-of-mouth are most definitely some of the best marketing tools available!
I’m on your side..
I started my business in 1983. I had nothing – well, I had a computer and a place to plug it in.
Fortunately I had work lined up and they all paid me quickly so I survived.. and here I am in 2008 (after plenty of ups and downs over the years).
I think it’s great if you have all the money and resources you need. But if you don’t, you can still make it.
Let’s put it this way: if you have the skills and the talent and a little luck, you can make it no matter how little you have to start with.
If you have plenty of money but don’t have the rest, you’ll just burn through the money and be back in a cubicle soon enough.
Having both is nice, but not all of us had or have that luxury.
@Tony – “If you have plenty of money but don’t have the rest, you’ll just burn through the money and be back in a cubicle soon enough.”
I love it. That makes perfect sense.
But do realize (as I just commented over at MWP) we’re talking about STARTING on a shoestring.
If it’s a year later and you still can’t afford the things your business really needs, well, you didn’t make it and you need to give it up and move on.
Tony Lawrences last blog post..Windows 7 learning experience by Anthony Lawrence
May the best women win!
Shannons last blog post..Halloween Crafts: Painted Pumpkin Ideas
“May the best women win!”
Umm, the other side is MEN with pens..
Tony Lawrences last blog post..Windows 7 learning experience by Anthony Lawrence
@Tony – We agree yet again. By the time you get to the point where you really need more things for your business, it should be making you enough money to pay for them.
We don’t dip into personal money, or even our shares of the take-home pay when the business needs something. Rather, Berry-Brewer has its own special account where money accumulates for times when we need to launch a new marketing venture or re-up a subscription.
Oh, and I think Shannon is quite aware that MwPs are, in fact, men. I’m pretty sure she’s got her tongue in her cheek with that one.
I agree with you ladies!
Here`s what I said over on Men with Pens:
Interesting debate! Now, I`m pretty good friends with Tamara and Lorna, but I can see points on both sides here. However, I`m going to go with their take because I did start with absolutely nothing. I literally spent a dollar a day to go to the internet cafe down the street (we didn`t have internet at home) and spent that hour looking for jobs. Then I came home, wrote application letters and articles and submitted them off a diskette the next day during my hour online.
Eventually, I started getting steady work and after about a year, I did get internet, so yes, that was an investment, but I was already working for some time at that point.
You talk about office furniture . . . I wouldn`t count things you already have in your home as an investment. Even now, several years into this freelancing thing, I work off a scrounged metal table that I use as a desk. I have invested in a decent computer chair, though, since my last one broke and dumped me on my butt when I was 9 months pregnant.
So, my take? You CAN start with virtually nothing. But if you want to grow, you`ll have to invest . . . but only once you are earning the money to put back into the business.