At this for 30+ years. I think the thing to remember is yes, it is a business, when I am home to w
Posted By: Start on IMB correctable typewriters, hows that fo on 2007-09-11
In Reply to: Secrets of Highly Successful MTs? Please share! - RSG
working. One thing I do to start off is treadmill every morning 30 minutes, just walk, no vigorous jogging too old, just enough to get those endorphins working and then start with my cup of coffee. I don't answer the phone for anyone unless its my mom. She only call is if something is wrong, otherwise I let the machine pick it up. I will if I have personal calls for myself take time when no work or do that rather than lunch for 40 minutes or so. I do the hour stretch. I also use weights, free weights by my desk I use to lift and stretch out my neck and arm muscles. I also use a ball twice a day to lie on and roll out the shoulders. This enables me to keep at it. No house chores. After I am done I do those. My kids are raised, but this job always enabled me to be here at home for them. I worked nights for a long time too broke up my work time when they were younger. So everything at home is workable with the right approach. Just remember, you are working, just because your home don't take personal calls. I don't think I would have done this for this many years if it was not work the $$. Be creative in your own routine have fun with it and make it work enjoyable. We can go out and have coffee in the sun on the deck in our PJs for our breaks, so remember the flexibility factor there.
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there's one thing for all to remember...
Keep a sharp eye on those expansions when using them. Once you have tons created, it's very easy to pop the wong one into a report when the keys get similar. over 20 years, here, and still doing that on occasion.
just a reminder.
One other thing to remember.
You don't necessarily have to know anything about medicine to check some boxes on a form.
well not this business but home to work b/c of it.
i'm not an emotional person at all at least with work, tend to be very matter of fact. i found that working with groups of people - they were just too emotional for me to deal with. i'm much happier not having to hear the ofc rumor, politics, grind, who's mad at who, who didn't say hi today, who didn't get invited to lunch, who is upset because she should get special privies and leniency b/c she's a single parent, who didn't put in their pto requests as supposed to but gets upset b/c they can't just walk in and have their time off, and junk like that.
no putting up with that 1 person in the office who wears enough perfume for the entire staff, either.
different reasons but i'm glad i'm home instead of in that stuffy ofc anymore!
I use Quicken Home & Business.
One of the things that I like about this software is that I can keep a track of both my business and home checking accounts in the same program without having to flip back and forth. It is a little on the pricey side, but you can import the data right into Turbo Tax (if you use that program for doing your taxes) and the software cost is a tax-deductible expense.
Link below.
Quicken Home and Business.
It will do what you mention. I use it and really like it.
TurboTax Home and Business.
Turbo Tax Home Business Edition! Tax Q's!!
OK, I know you probably are sick of taxes, but here I am just getting started, as usual. I always owe so much $$ that it makes me sick, and so I procrasinate. At any rate, I had used Turbo Tax Home Business for several years and it was GREAT until last year. Then they changed the program and it tanked for me, but I have high hopes that maybe this year its better and improved??? My problem is that I work for a company - that big one who shall remain nameless, and am an employee, but I always take the home office deduction -- have done so for 20 years, as my home is taken over by my office. At any rate, last year on Turbo Tax Home Business you could NOT enter your rent or mortgage or any utilities off of a W2 form - you had to be an IC. I also am a per diem IC, so I have a few hundred dollars in W9 forms. But Turbo Tax last year would NOT let me use this home office deduction - it couldn't recognize it from a technical aspect with the W2 form. I'm just about to blow $100+ on the online version, and thought maybe I'd ask here first. Has anybody used Home Business edition TT this year? Is it great like it used to be? Any snags? I know I was not alone last year with this business office deduction as April 14th this board and all other MT boards were jammed up with hundreds of us trying to figure out how to manually override this snag! With no luck.... Anybody have any experiences with TT this year? Those are my only deductions, by the way - just home office and utilities, no other itemizations. So it should be easy.... LOL! LOL!
First thing to do is choose a business name,
you can certainly use your own name, register the business name with your county licensing bureau, have a business phone line installed, create a website to advertise what you will be offering to your clients.
Geez, and I also remember Mini-Poo, which was the same thing. nm
nm
Thank you. There is such a thing as good business sense
and doing what is right. Those who have messed with people need to think about that and those businesses know who they are.
There is no such thing as a "standard business practice".
This is just another variant on the AHDI group-think. There is no standards body that has the authority to establish "standard business practices" for text communications among businesses.
If you mean that it became "common practice" to use one space, that's a very different thing than a "standard practice" - although I would not even concede even that much.
Remember, there's a reason lots of these folks are working at home. nm
it's not because their interpersonal skills were just too good for the traditional office.
I did that a few years ago, can't remember the name of it though,
They did "publish" my picture in a book which I bought and when I saw the picture that won the prize, well I don't begrudge anybody anything, but come on, it was a picture of 2 sneakers. I think they just picked a name out of a hat. Anyway, I wouldn't say it's exactly a scam, but it was nice for a little while to say I got a photo "published" and recognized even if it was only by the rest of the people who had pictures in the book as well. They kept changing the name of the book mine was in too as I recall. I almost didn't realize what it was when I got it. Then reality hit and I realized it's just pretty much a vanity thing and it was quite a let down. Most of the pictures (my own as well, I admit which looked a lot better to me before I sent it in), had absolutely no professional-like quality to them at all.
After 8 years, I can remember most of them
which shows the prompts for the ones I'm fuzzy on. It is based on MM's abbreivation list which is now public domain. The idea is to use phonetics to make abbreviations.
What do you hear when you say "abdominal pain"? abpa
What do you hear when you say "the patient"? tp
What do you hear when you say "lower uterine segment"? lus
What do you hear when you say "the patient was taken to the operating room"? tpwt and then ttor
It is as unlimited as your imagination!
When I took a business trip one time, I came home to an immaculate house.
Then during the next few weeks, I couldn't find certain things like clothes, dishes, and items I kept on the counters. DH had decided to put all the dirty stuff out in the garage where the babysitter couldn't see it because he was embarrased by the mess he and the kids had made. There was mold and mildew on everything because he taped it inside boxes or stuffed it inside coolers, and he forgot to tell me about it.
Any help on form 8829*Expenses for Business Use of your Home would be greatly
Hi All,
I was a statutory employee last year but not now. I usually do my own taxes but am having trouble with form 8829 and am not sure if the accountant can squeeze me in at this late date. Thought I would try here first for help. I use my den exclusively for work (almost) and am going to take this 7% of our home as a business expense.
Under Part II... Lines 10 and 11. Deductible mortgage interest and real estate taxes...I am going to take the entire amount on schedule A, so, hopefully, do not have to enter anything here.
line 17. Insurance. Are we allowed to take a portion of our homeowners insurance as a deduction? I have no separate business insurance.
Line 19. Utilities. I know I can take 7% of my electric, gas, water, garbage (I think), but what about phones? We have both cell and regular phone. When I call, I use the regular phone for toll free numbers, but the cell phone to my boss who does not have a toll free #.
Then, I need to find the value of my home for Part III. I guess I will check home sales in the neighborhood and go by that.
Geez..sorry for sounding like such a dummy. I can do all the other...capital gains, etc, just not sure what is allowed for home expenses.
As I say, I will try to get in to the accountant, but any advise for any of this form would be greatly appreciated. I cannot complete schedule A until I have my Profit or Loss done, which I cannot complete until I do this form.
Thanks.
If you use LecStar as your home/business phone service read this....sm
They had a judge sign a Chapter 7 bankruptcy order on 10/2 and have begun cutting off phone service to residental and business customers. I found out about this when I attempted to make a long distance call today (I had the unlimited long distance home phone plan) and got notification that I had no long distance service available. Upon calling them the representative told me that they're working on cutting phone service to everyone and at any time I could lose service. I've called the "mega" phone service for my area, BellSouth, and signed up to switch hopefully before the line is disconnected by LecStar.
Interestingly I had signed up for their service through a cooperation they had with my power company. The power company just found out yesterday about the bankruptcy and services starting to be cut off and is in the process now of calling every power company customer who had phone service with LecStar and telling them what is happening so that hopefully no one else will be caught off guard with a disconnected phone service.
I think it's pretty easy. And I think is mis-typed. I use Quicken for Home & Business.
I am by no means an accounting-type person. I keep EVERYTHING in this program. I used to always have my checkbook screwed up. Now, I don't even bother with trying to keep a balance written in my checkbook register because I do everything from her. I have automatically scheduled transactions, reminders and bills set up. I actually now have a budget (unheard of before).
As far as invoicing, I have found it to be very easy. I would say my favorite feature is the ability to email invoices directly from the program to clients, saving me postage and the hassle of delayed payments because of PO delivery problems.. Another plus for me is that I have to collect sales tax and it set that up for me automatically when I set up my business--this makes it very easy for me to figure out my tax due each quarter.
Another plus is that you can set up Quicken to automatically download bank transactions every day so I can stay on top of what's going on with my money. It keeps me from missing those pesky ATM transactions that my husband makes in the family account!
One thing also - keep all your receipts of any business related expenses
I have a folder and everytime I buy anything related to work whether it be a pen, a printer ribbon, a book, a keyboard, etc. I put in that folder. Those things add up and they are all deductible which comes off of your gross. This is in addition to the home use of your office. A statutory IC is a great way to go because you don't have to pay the entire social security but you are still IC and can utilize the business deductions. If you pay your own health insurance and it is in your name that is also deductible. Keep good records...this is the most important I have learned being an IC. Also you will probably have to file quarterly if you make over a certain amount. If you don't you will be penalized by IRS and have to pay the penalty fee with your April 15th filing. And also remember to figure your state taxes for the year. However it does depend on your personal situation and if you file jointly with your husband that may change things. Good luck.
Personally I think IC is great but unless you have some really good deductions you can end up paying a lot in taxes . If you have to pay your own social security at 15% and you were taxed at 20% rate for federal and let's say 6% for state you would be paying 41% of your income in taxes which is no fun. But you only pay on your net income and not your gross so it sort of comes out in the wash.
No, and I have been in the business over 35 years. SM
I would have gone into the service, like I originally planned, had them send me to nursing school and made the military my career. I would be WAY retired now, in fact, I would have retired at 38 years of age with a great retirement as an officer, and then worked somewhere else and retired again at 58 with two full pensions. If I could do it over, I most definitely would.
I have been in this business for over 8 years and have
never been told by a company not to mention what hospital or clinic I work on! As far as the patient info, etc., then that is of course a different story. I have signed all kind of confidentiality agreements and never once was I told that the account I work on is confidential. I don't feel like I did anything wrong saying what hospital I would work on. If for some reason this board doesn't like people doing that, then that is their business since they make the rules of this board but from a personal responsibility I have done nothing wrong. What's the big deal?
I remember everyone asking that question 15 years ago,
.
My husband and I have been in the MT business for 10 years now (sm)
and he calls himself a medical language specialist - and actually does QA. He does not refer to himself as an MT as he does not type - unless it is a dire emergency!! I do think it is one of those businesses where the men seem to be higher up the chain of command and some don't really know what an MT does - they don't understand basic transcription skills and how anything but fingers on the keyboard takes away from their production and money earned. I often laughingly ask my DH how a man could manage a Victoria Secret if he has never personally worn a bra and knows nothing about fit/size/comfort??
Actually I remember hearing this years ago, only it was the year 2000.
It is not only for physicians. Medicare and the insurance companies have been pushing for this for years. They want to be able to just log in and get the information they need without having to send a request for it.
From what I remember many years ago, the retiring or leaving MD would offer or sell his practice to
another local physician, who would keep the old records until the patients decided to followup with him or someone else. In my case, my old GYN passed away and his practice was "sold" to another local GYN with all the patients records. I found out by chance and called the old number, which was being forwarded to his old office manager, who in turn would refer you to the new doc or get the medical records sent to whoever you wanted. If there is no number or you have no idea, you may want to try and contact your local Medical Society and see if they have any info on where to locate the old physician. In some instances, the records are just permanently destroyed. Hope this helps a little bit.
I do the same thing except they are home
with me all day. I have the skills to do my job and take care of my children w/o shoving them in daycare. Social graces? From daycare? Okay! The point we are trying to make is that some of us have the ability and patience to raise our children at home and maintain a career at home. If you can't that is fine, but no reason to be negative towards us who can and try to discourage someone else from doing it.
Some prn at home with own equipment, is there such a thing?
 Don't know which board this should go on, as I am looking for some company or practice who will allow me to use my updated equipment, ref. materials, etc., but allow me to "plug into" their system when I have the time as long as I put in a certain amt. of hours per week. I have the experience and the necessary equipment but my circumstances do not allow me to commit to certain hours or days of the week, would just have to play it by ear and be glad to have the chance to work. At one time there was a local company (in NE) which allowed a friend of mine to just "plug in" when she could to relieve them of some of the backed up dictation. She was retired and could only give the a few hours here and there but they were glad to have the help. Is there such a thing anywhere today? Some of the things I read on here make it sound like there's a pretty rigid commitment and you almost have to be "chained" to your chair. Anyone out there allowed to work ad lib to help out a good company in exchange for a good worker? Don't laugh now, it doesn't hurt to ask. There are days when I could give them 4 or more hours and days when I can't type at all. You never know. No nasty posters, please. If you hear of any such setup, let me know, be it medical or otherwise.
Teenagers good to be home with - I did the same thing
 Once had an argument with my boss working in the office, because my hours were supposed to be 7-3, or 3:30. I was on salary (can you believe that) at the time, and she expected me to stay till 5 or 6. She herself used to practically live there. I told her no, I wanted to be home with my kids, and she said they weren't babies anymore and didn't need me. Well, I left everyday after that by 3:30, and believe U me, it is a very good idea to be able to monitor your teenagers, and I would do it again (God forbid I ever had teenagers again) They are all grown now.
Good thing you work at home
Hopefully one day when you need to vent, you at not treated the way you treat others but what goes around does come around.
tell her if she really does have PP depression, coming home won't fix a thing.
x
The first thing you learn about at home jobs is
Been doing this 6 years at home for 5
I am thankful to have been at home though with things that have happened in the past, family members with surgeries etc. Everything has a purpose. I would just pray about your decision.
18 years at home
Started out picking up tapes with 2-week-old daughter in tow, went to a national where we had to download dictation from a phone line onto cassettes, and now work two part-times jobs, one for a hospital as an IC and the other for a national.
Many times I have been very grateful for being home, like two days ago when I got a phone call from DD that she was just in her second car accident in 3 months.
Maybe that's a good thing - it's a reason for the Indian docs to GO HOME
c
My DH worked from home for about 2 years
I felt like a hermit when he went back to a conventional office job!
I take it your husband isn't working at the present time? Did I understand you correctly? How the heck are you getting bills paid? My DH makes 3 times what I do so I couldn't imagine living on just my pay as an MT. Just curious!
6 at home and 1 in house (first job) in 6 years
x
Have never in my years at home been asked
to do such things as I read here. To stop your work and catch a horse? Apparently what goes on with others is they must appear to be weak and therefore people call upon them to do things for them because you work at home. I just do not GET it myself. I do not let people interrupt my work.
I've been at home for the last 16 years...
and feel very fortunate to have had this opportunity.
At-home MT about 10 years ago...it was heaven...
I had no complaints about MT-ing really...worked from home, made lots of money with no worries or pressure, worked the hours I pretty much wanted so I could enjoy my 'real' life, it was the best job I ever had ~
I quite miss it
It will be so worth it. After seven years at home, I pull in $100/day sm
just working around naps and early mornings before the kids get up. I could probably do more if I wanted to at night after DH gets home, but $100 is my goal and I can usually reach that in three hours. It's easy, go for it!
14-1/2 years, 10 yrs at home w/acute care. nm
nm
11 years of acute care, all from home. nm
s
That's exactly the reason I worked at home for 15 years.
Very annoying and petty.
I worked for a hospital at home for 4 years. sm
We had to work set hours. My advice is allow youself 1/2 hour for lunch, and at least two 15-minute break periods. Work 2 hours, take a break, work 2 hours, take a lunch break, etc. Otherwise, you may find yourself having back, shoulder and hand problems. Working 9 hours may seem like a drag, but not being able to work at all is even worse. Remember, if you were working on site, you would not only have to work 8-1/2 hours, but would have travel time on top of it. Just my experience.
I have been working at home 4 years in March...
I worked in an office for 4 years before that...prefer being at home by far...
Went thru Same Thing 2 years ago this month!
PLEASE be very careful. I know you're worried, but PLEASE contact an attorney ASAP. Go thru your state if you need a low cost attorney or free one. The same EXACT THING happened to me 2 years ago to this month. We had a landlord who we rented from for over 10 years, and then he held a mortgage for us. All was checked on by lawyers and was on the up and up. Anyhoo, we never got behind, but the market in our town tripled in 1 years' time. We had settled on a price of 179,900, I believe, and the next year the market boomed in our area. The house was now worth around $400K, or so the landlord dreamed. This SCUM, who was a very seasoned landlord/mortgage holder filed papers BEHIND OUR BACKS, declaring that we were months and months behind on the mortgage, and hadn't paid him a cent. Total lie, and we laughed cause he TOLD us via the phone that he wanted to resell the house and make some real $$$ and that we were "schmucks". I called an attorney, who knew my scumlords' attorney. This lawyer begged me to give up and get out ASAP, as this lawyer was crooked and would pull anything to get us out, as it was happening all over the county to hundreds of families. I went thru legal aid, had all my paperwork supporting our case, including the obvious cancelled checks. Know what he did? His lawyer had someone in the Court Clerk's office who was "paid off", and the whole case was scheduled before a judge and I NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE til it was all over. I could NOT believe this happened to me, in AMERICA, no less. I lost my home and most of my friends and even family. NO ONE believed us that we had not missed 1 stupid payment! Two years later, now they know the truth, but its too late for us - it was the most terrifying, humiliating, frustrating experience I have ever lived thru. All is well 2 years later and I am SO much happier where we are now - and renting, too!! Just like another poster said, I call the landlord if its breaks! And this new landlord mentioned to us that we were "such great tenants, he would be willing to hold the mortgage for us". We freaked out and said NO THANKS!! This is a very brief summation, but suffice it to say that as long as the mortgage is held privately by a person, that person can be really crooked and do whatever they want. I never thought it could happen, but it sure happened to me, and I'm no legal slouch, either! Good luck to you.
My client of 6 years did the same thing. SM
They loved me, loved my work, but it made no sense to pay me what they were paying me when the software did what he considered an acceptable job.
I can't really blame him but it was $1000 monthly that was suddenly gone. It really hurt me in my pocketbook.
I found somebody else. I would work at a convenience store before I'd lower my rates.
Huh? I have used it everyday for at least two years and never had to buy a thing. nm
Yes......same thing happening to me, after 25 years. sm
I am tired all the time.....I think I need a change or 2nd job doing something else, other than MT.
My butt hurts from sitting too long, day in and day out, even after exercising and walking daily.
I am burned out also.....I feel your pain.
Had Lasik done years ago, best thing
Vision so bad before and got to where I was having trouble just seeing with any kind of aid. I love my new sight. Was told prior to having if I wore reading glasses for smaller print that would not change but made no different as I was really nearsighted and now excellent sight.
years of working at home, some of 'us' might forget how to
Its not what you say, its how you say it. DUH
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