Taking Care of Business...Freelance-style

For freelancers, one of the greatest challenges is simply learning how to manage a business. It's not enough to be a creative genius (we know that's the easy part). To succeed today, you have to have real business savvy, too. The new Creative Freelancer Conference is designed specifically to help "solopreneurs" manage their businesses better.

The event, developed by HOW Magazine and Marketing Mentor, is planned for late August in Chicago. "Among all the creative fields, freelance professionals are a unique breed: they’re independent spirits, they’re passionate, they’re self-starters. The Creative Freelancer Conference is all about helping marry that energy with business strategy, so you can run your business without it running you," says HOW editor, Bryn Mooth, in the conference blog. Conference sessions will cover everything from marketing and proposals, to collaboration and pricing strategies. Register before July 15, and you can qualify for an early bird discount and knock $60 off the price.

While you're waiting for the conference, or if you can't make the event, check out these articles to help get your freelance business off the ground.

• Determining Your Hourly Rate
• Landing Your First Client
• Developing a Winning Proposal