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You also may have to charge sales tax sm

Posted By: more info on 2006-05-19
In Reply to: do we have to purchase a - business license?

depending on what state you live in. PA requires an MT to charge sales tax on work that is sent to someplace within the Commonwealth. I am exempt because my work is received from/sent to out of the Commonwealth. However, to answer the business license question, I don't have to have on for PA.


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PA requires you to charge sales tax on your work...
if you send your completed work to a MT company or doctor within PA.  However, I send my work out of state, so I don't have to charge sales tax and I don't need a license.  I had asked someone at one of the companies I IC for and she said that she had heard of that before from one of the other girls.  When I lived in WA state, I had a business license from the state and had to file every year.  The sales tax thing was a real shock to hear at first!  
Charge what the credit card companies charge when they don't get paid on time!!!!
 
Audio hour charge - what is fair rate to charge company?

Doubt you can charge 15 cpl for VR work to the docs - you can't even charge them 12 for straight
x
you don't have to charge $60/HR - all you have to do is charge a good rate and then..
work smart, not hard. If you have a great dictator, charge him 14 cpl on a 65 char gross line, then set up your templates and word expanders, you can make $80/hr. But you need all three to work together, otherwise you might only be making $60/hr. Some people are just really good at what they do - shouldn't they make more if they are more productive?
I'd still charge by line, just charge a lower
rate, like maybe 8 cpl.  Do you have to pickup and deliver work?    You could also setup a one-month contract until you see how it goes and then you can figure out the best way to charge and go from there.  You could also charge a flat rate per page and keep it fairly low.  
One office I charge .12, another I charge $2.25 page--nm
//
i'm right there with you. i was in sales
for 15+ yrs and turned to MT so that i could get away from the mean world. 90% of people have the attitude that "start off evil and you'll get what you want faster and sometimes even more than you wanted just to get rid of them".  i hardly ever hear please or thank you from someone.  i'm teaching my 3 yo please/thank you/share/etc, etc, but then i cry to see how he's treated by his class mates.  i feel like i'm setting him up to be stomped on just for being polite and doing what is right.  I'm also in my mid 30's and went back to college last semester just so i could add some things to my resume since nowadays a b.s. alone isn't worth beans but i took my class over the internet through a local college.  i couldn't afford this semester, but next semester i'll take another class online. if i had to sit next to these people 1/2 my age with the attitudes that most seem to have i would snap. I wish being nice was as contagious as being mean.   i know there are nice people out there-but boy are they getting harder and harder to find!!!
Oh, of course, I'm certain you have the sales...

numbers right at your fingertips.  It appears you are the one how has been duped by believing the BOS is the ultimate authority.  The majority of MTs know better, and the majority of healthcare providers have never HEARD of it.  Many of us bought the book thinking it was actually useful, and newbies are told they MUST have it.  Now, mind you, they are told this by the very people who are in bed with the AAMT.


Buy into it if you will (obviously you already have).  That doesn't mean the rest of us need to do so.


ebay sales
Well, my accounts were always looked at..I had soaps, body facial products and line reducers (for face), lingerie, halloween products, kitchen products..movie videos, CDs, candles, shoes (Pay Less always has two for one or one for half price), books (you can get great used books for cheap and sell them for so much more..like a used Harry Potter..you can get a lot)..I just posted them and they were looked at..what matters is how you introduce your products..you post them and then tell about them..so you need to post good things about your products, you know, pump up your product..Yes, I truly think you can quit anything else and go ebay full time..I was thinking about that but going to the post office every day and packaging the products got to me..If I had had someone to help me, I think I could have done it..Like I posted previously, Im gonna do it again, when I move back to NY next year..There are so many surplus companies, manufacturers who will sell to you wholescale..Gosh, I had so much left off when I quit.LOL..I had purses, body jewelry, lingerie, kitchenware..you name it..I gave it all away to friends and used it for myself..Just surf for wholescale companies in the net..I loved selling on Ebay, plus you meet such nice people..I met people from England, Germany and all over the USA (through emails and phone calls)..It was a great experience..What I recommend is surf for wholesale companies and when you shop, buy two for one, go to Factory for U, Big Lots, Annas Linens, always when you shop be looking for something you can sell..Buy one get one for free always was great for me..
have a friend who does car sales

She said some banks won't finance KIAs because of that.  Way too easy to stay upside down in your financing.


 


It is all about marketing and sales. Looks like they have your $$
x
Sales slip?
If you still have the sales slip, you have a good chance of returning it.
Sales Letter
Well,you could make a cute flyer with your picture in it and possibly your email and phone number. But you best bet is to dress up nice and go straight to the office manager with flyer in hand and say, "Help me get my foot in the door please?"
You are obviously young and eager with little experience. Any job at this point is your ace in the hole. So be direct and serious and leave the flyer with them. Most people just use business cards. If the local area proves fruitless, there are companies online that hire and you could get your experience that way also.
SALES PEOPLE LIE

Did you know that it is totally legal to lie?  I mean, it may be immoral and NOT right, but it is totally legal.  So, those who can profit by it, have everything to gain by lying to us and nothing to lose by being dishonest in this way.  This seems like such a simple rule of life, but it is one that did not become crystal clear to me until I became a medical Transcriptionist (and also when I bought a house, but that is another long story).  Sadly, it is my own fault for being so trusting and gullible.


Six years ago, I was incredibly naive and fell for the STUFF that was feed to me by the people selling the CS course.  They offered me was seemed at the time to be hope.  In reality, they took advantage of my state of neediness.


I graduated from CS almost 4 years ago.  I work my butt off, sometimes as many as 3 jobs at a time, and my gross income last year was a pathetic $21,000!!!  I have one adult child who takes care of himself.


So, I wish this woman, the one with the 5 children with one being a special needs child and her husband in Iraq, much luck, and I hope she has a great support system.


 


 


PA Sales Tax - HEADS UP PA MTs

Everyone has to know about this. I posted this on the tax board, too.


How desperate are the governors getting? PA sent out tax forms to everyone that bought cigarettes from a Native American reservation and they want their tax money. One woman in PA was hit up for over $4,800 and last week, they slapped a Sheriff's Sale sign on her property.


Now, my DH received a letter today. They want anyone in business who bought anything from out-of-state companies (office supplies, equipment, tools, etc.) that don't reciprocate taxes to PA, to pay up. This doesn't just apply to last year. This goes all the way back to 1981!!! Since when, since records do not have to be kept after a certain amount of years, how can they do this?  DH doesn't have to worry about it that much. He usually always buys in PA.


I certainly do not have any receipts back to 1981 when I was an IC!


It's bad enough the governor is "threatening" to raise property taxes if he can't pass the higher income tax, but now this. I think our state government should stop the spending like he's always done. We're broke, yet he keeps handing out money.


Out-of-state sales tax question
I would have posted on the other thread, but it is gone already. My apologies.

Do any MTSOs charge sales tax to out-of-state clients? Long before transcription, I worked for a company that did not charge sales tax on product sold out of state but did charge sales tax for any services peformed on-site, even for out-of-state customers. They insisted if the service was performed in the state, they needed to charge sales tax. I have been subcontracting out of state and every time I called to get a sales tax license they would very nicely tell me to stuff it until I got an in-state customer. Now I have just gotten my first out-of-state account (direct client) and want to make absolutely sure I should not charge sales tax for my service.

Thank you.
Idea for sales letter
What do you all this of this? I just graduated, and I want to market to doctor's offices. I made a flyer to send. I thought I would also send a sales letter that is formatted like a SOAP. I don't know how much competition I will have, and I'm trying to stand out. Too silly? Any comments?
VR demo - not a sales pitch

You need to have the Windows Media Player loaded onto your system to view the video. It takes about 30 seconds to load and is about one minute in length.


I think after you watch it you'll understand why so many medical professionals (i.e. doctors) are switching over to speech recognition.


If you're an IC, you should be charging PA sales tax as well. sm
I know there are A LOT of PA MT's who are not doing this, making it more difficult for those on the up-and-up. However, if you are providing MT services to anyone other than a non-profit (with valid PA Sales Tax exemption), then you should be charging the 6% State Sales Tax and filing a Sales Tax Return.

The Use Tax issue that started this post has been in place for a long time, it's just that the Commonwealth has decided to become more aggressive in their pursuit of this lost revenue stream.
If you have a Paypal account, pay to sales@mtstars.com. Thank you!
/
hit some yard sales early in the morning

This belongs on classifed board, for sales
x
Did you see the story about bake sales/childhood obesity?

From the AP out of Minneapolis. "Study links bake sales, weight problems."


Puhleez. What next?


When are the "Diet Police" going to stop and realize that the majority of the obesity "problem" among children begins at home? Who gives these kids the money to go eat at McDonalds and loads their cupboards with junk food anyway?


Sure my kids like sweets and they like McDonalds, but monitor and moderation goes a long way.


Something tells me that a pencil sale just isn't going to bring in that much cash flow.


I've never heard of sales tax being charged for a service, only
for a tangible product.  
It is true...and the sales reps will tell you anything to obtain your business, but then they...sm
get you once you start using the ULD.  I know, I have been told the same thing that you say you have been told but then I received the dreaded "cut off" notice.  I wish you the best, but it is just a matter of time until they get to your area.  It's not allowed! 
Garage sales, consignment stores, coupons
If your income for the prior year is below 24,000 in Calif., you are eligible for 20% discount on gas/elec. Also, if your income is less than 12,000/yr, you are eligible for food bank visits once a month which total about $120.00. It has been six years since I went down this road, so the figure may have changed.

After a divorce, major surgery and no job, I found myself penniless. I had yard sales daily. Went to swap meets and sold my things there. Also, took my finer clothes to a consignment shop. Used coupons to determine what I would be eating. Thank God, I had no children.

I think when you have kids, you really need a nest egg of some sort that is absolutely untouchable.

This sounds like a temporary situation if you price your home to sell.
Try ebay, yard sales, Recycled Software or BuyCheapSoftware.com
to find inexpensive software. Also, see if you can find a newer version of MS Works because I think it comes with Word now, or you can buy a standalone version of Word without springing for MS Office.

For that matter, wait until you find a job before worrying about it. Not everybody uses MS Word, and some companies provide their own software for you to use. What about going back to Medware or another company that provides software and/or equipment?
I hate crowds. Big sales bring out the worst in people.
I tried it twice several years ago. Never again. People were just rudely shoving everyone else around trying to get from store to store to gather up all the freebies or super deals.

We tried to go to the movies instead, but all the Harry Potter matinees were sold out. Again.
Okay well if you are going to charge 10 cpl..what do your MTs get?
Maybe they are looking out for the little people getting paid a little more?? I see a lot of aspects of this you haven't researched. Ask questions, learn from their decisions so you are better prepared next time.
how much do you charge?

What should I charge?
I've never solicited my own accounts before, but my fiance's sister called me yesterday asking if I'd be interested in transcribing some letters for the dermatologist she works for. I said sure, since I'd like to go all independent, and this is a good way to try it out. Only problem is, I'm not sure what to charge. I'll be using the doctor's transcriber (she uses tapes, and I don't have a tape player), and it isn't decided yet whether I'll be emailing the completed letters to her, or printing them myself. What would be an average rate?
Is there a law on this? Don't think there is; not sure. You should be able to charge whatever U w
 
What I Charge
I also work for an insurance company doing claim tapes. I charge $3.00 a page. My reports can vary anywhere from a few pages up to 25 pages, which I actually did last night (I don't think I've done any longer than that). I'm not sure if this helps or not. I use Tahoma 10 with the margins the same as what you're using.
I get 9 CPL for a nat'l, and charge 12 CPL...nm

I charge
12 cents per line, 65 character line. With HIPAA issues, don't forget better grab yourself a carrier that reports will fit in to take back--one that locks. This is very important in case you are in an accident taking their reports back. It happens.
charge them as much as you can sm
I would charge per gross line, that means every line counts, no matter what. Depends on the reports, but why not start with 12 cents a gross line. Don't under sell yourself. You'll be killing yourself for pennies. good luck.
What to charge for something like this?
I have had this account for 5 years now and they have made a change to the format of their report.  The first page is basically a template with check boxes.  The other three pages are figured out by 65 character count.  Being that there isn't much I'm doing to the first page (checking maybe 5-8 boxes and adding little blurbs once in awhile), but I am printing this page out.  Any ideas?  I hope I'm making sense!  Thanks much in advance.
mt-what to charge?

I work at a mental health clinic as a transcriptionist/records person.  A coworker asked if I would be interested in making some extra cash by typing some documents for him and his buddies that are in college.  I am interested but have no idea WHAT TO CHARGE? 1 cent per word?  i have no idea please help.


 


-Gina


What to charge? Please sm...

I was approached by a family doctor to do some typing for his very small company. He indicated that there are 2 other doctors in his office. I am thinking about taking the offer, but I'm just not sure how much to charge them. I noticed on the job boards that MTs are now being paid on an average of 0.07 cpl. How much more of this would I need to charge in order to actually profit from doing this? I currently get paid 0.12 cpl at a company I am working for, so what would be appropriate for me to charge these doctors then? I'm so confused.


what to charge
no one is going to come out and answer this question for you. It all depends on where you live..  Call a local transcription company, make like you are a doctors office and see what their rates are..  call at least 5 of them and go inbetween. 
What to charge for something like this?

I've been contacted about "putting together a training
outline, tips and tricks and materials for MTs moving into the Editor role."


I'd charge at least what I would lose in production spending time on this, but any idea of an hourly rate?  The company is moving into a VR platform.


I charge
.10 a line but all my work is done over the internet.  I open an e-mail and then e-mail the work back so it does not cost me anything extra.  I haven't been doing this for very long, so I am probably not the one to be giving advice, but I did want to make sure you are putting all these expenses on your taxes.  You can even log your driving time, these are just things I didn't know when I first began. 
I charge 12 cpl as well.

I provide 48-hour turnaround.  Instead of raising your rate, why not ask if you can pick-up every two days?  I believe that some charge up to 14 cpl.  It all depends on the practice. 


So you charge ,12 cpl...(sm)
due to the fact that you have to compete with nationals that outsource overseas, right? Okay, what portion of that .12 cpl are you willing to pay a sub? Would you be willing to pay .10 cpl and still make at least .02 cpl AND keep your contracts happy? That's what I did. When I had my own contracts I was happy to get good and truly experienced transcriptionists who would sign non-competitive agreements and pay them almost as much as I got per line. I felt that "something was better than nothing". So, if I only got .02 cpl it was still better than losing client, driving myself nuts working all the time, and .02 cpl adds up after a while. Furthermore, it was more than I would make if I lost the client! Are you wiling to do that, pay your sub's a very good rate - cause if you are willing to do so there are many good transcriptionists willing to work for you (myself included)!
How much to charge

Hi!


I don't mind -- I just answered it when another MT was asking if $50 per audio hour was too low and I said yes, it was too low.


You generally charge per audio hour. I don't know what it takes other people, but I work on a 3:1 ratio, meaning 1 hour of audio takes me 3 hours to do. So I charge $75 an audio hour if it's not terribly complicated. Like I said in the other post, others charge $95 and I have even heard $115. I'm happy with it working out to $25 an hour, but I do spend additional time proofing it afterwards.


I like general because people don't seem to be as "stat" about things as in MT :) Sometimes the speaking is even nice and slow, like they are reading from a presentation so you just keep right up with it.


Diane


Have always seen charge more than $1 per min
x
how should I charge?

I have been approached by a doc who wants me to take over doing his transcription.  He is a face/eye plastic surgeon.  Most of his stuff is all templates.  The only thing I will actually have to type would be the DX and procedure and then insert the appropriate template.  (He does have over 98 templates)


He wants me to give him a quote but I have no clue where to start.  I normally charge by the line but this would not be fair since I am just inserting templates. 


Should I charge by the page, # of reports, hourly, or what.  He does about 15 cases per week and the reports average 3-5 pages (again much of it templates).


Does anyone have any experience with this.  I want to give him an answer today. 


Thanks!


-Ang.


how should i charge
Well thanks so much for the replies!

After a few e-mails with this doctor today. I have proposed to him a per page charge of $2.50 to start. I looked at his previous reports, took the average per line count and adjusted it a tad lower since it is mostly his template. This way there is no question about hourly rate. Like I said...I only have to type in the diagnosis and procedure performed. He then dictates which template out of the 98 that he has to insert. (Don't know why he can't do it himself but on well.. LOL)

Here is hoping that I don't regret this decision.

Thanks again for the input.
charge
I cannot say that I did persay but my girlfriend did. It worked for her. They made sure to send her check promptly.
What to charge?

Hello to all,


I need any and all info in regards to contracting.  I have always been a subcontractor but have now been approached at working directly with 2 of my doctors.  What should I charge? 


Thanks in advance!