Catch is celebrating freelancers all across the country, and we want to meet you. We’re packing up our suitcases and heading on tour.
We’re traveling to meet customers, creators, and makers where they live, work and play, bringing together the unique voices of the modern American workforce — freelancers: artists, singers, stylists, coaches, chefs, writers, and more — to share in each others' successes and celebrate their stories.
The first stop out of town? Miami. Why are we heading to the “Magic City”, you ask? Great question.
The Landscape of Being Self Employed in Miami
Florida is one of the hottest states to set up shop as a freelancer and business owner, especially in the beautiful city of Miami. Between Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Miami, over 14% of the population is self-employed. There are a lot of different sectors that make up the businesses that fuel these local cities, including accountants, real estate agents, carpenters, and hair salons.
Digital nomads and workers in big tech have been singing their praises on social media about the allure of freelancing in Miami over the last couple of years. From the sunshine and the beach to the social scene and great food, it's not hard to see the appeal. What’s not to love? Not to mention, there’s a great mix of traditional and new sectors coming together, supporting local business growth.
No Income Tax Policy Statewide in Florida
Florida is one of the few states that doesn’t levy a state income tax. The Sunshine State’s overall tax revenue is made up of property and sales tax, which gives its residents a tax benefit.
As a result, the cost of living in Miami tends to be high. The good news for those looking to freelance in Miami is that the money saved by not having to pay income tax, makes the high cost of living a little more manageable. With that being said, the diverse economy that continues to grow and the many opportunities for creators and makers, makes Miami a freelancer's paradise.
With so much potential for securing multiple work contracts, commissions, and projects, it’s vital for freelancers to set up personal payroll. While Catch is in Miami, we’ll be meeting with users and the wider community to showcase how to divvy up income, put taxes on Autopilot and save for retirement. Check out this blog article for the basics of Personal Payroll.
The Tech Freelancer Scene
One of the most promising and buzzing industries in Miami right now is tech. Companies are picking up from their West Coast roots in the Valley and heading to Miami, and they’re on the lookout for local talent. Taking advantage of the tax breaks, companies are setting up new offices, and the scene is well on its way to establishing itself as the next ’it’ spot.
Is Miami the new Valley? It’s hard to say right now, but it certainly is an opportune time to be freelancing in Miami if your skills lie in the tech sector.
Coworking spaces for freelancers
From the creative eclectic vibe of MADE at the Citadel to the ole dependable WeWork Miami, there are plenty of amazing coworking spaces in the city for freelancing in Miami. Coworking spaces are a wonderful place to meet like-minded freelancers working in Miami, build your network, and foster connections. You never know when a new connection may lead to a new client or project!
Competition breeds great talent
With many people now freelancing in Miami, it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd. However, with a positive attitude and a game plan, competition can be a good thing. Highly skilled workers will be bringing their A-game and breeding a healthy ecosystem of top talent for companies to contract from, drawing even more new business. It will certainly be interesting to see the growth of business in Miami over the next few years.
The thriving self-employed ecosystem of Miami is one that Catch is excited to explore. As the first and only personal payroll and benefits product for freelancers, we are here to support the artists, makers, shop owners and digital nomads of Miami. We’ll take the headache out of managing your finances, so you can focus on pursuing your passion.