In last week's post on freelancing as a foreigner [http://bit.ly/dv1kgS], we tackled the following questions:

Commonly Asked Questions about Getting Freelance Writing Jobs if You're a Foreigner

Do I need any American work permits?

Do I have to register in any American labor bureau?

 Do I need to pay taxes there or just in my country?

Do I need to register a business to be hired remotely for this job?

What do I need to start this career?

In this post, Part II, we're going to tackle the following questions:

Does buying writing services from a foreigner entail any financial or legal obstacles for my potential client?

Would it be a problem for me to find a client as English is not my native language?

MY ANSWERS

Question I: In answer to the first question: Does buying writing services from a foreigner entail any financial or legal obstacles for my potential client?

The answer is no, not over and beyond what we discussed in Part I, which was primarily getting a business tax credit for the writer being an expense. What I wrote was:

As a freelance writer, you're considered a "supplier" of services.

BUT, because businesses want to get the tax deductions associated with reporting business expenses - and for most companies this is monies paid to employees and independent contractors -- almost every American company will require a Tax ID number or a Social Security number.

Unless you're a formal registered business entity here or a U.S. citizen, you won't have either.

Furthermore, U.S. companies usually have very little recourse if something doesn't go right. For example, if an American freelance writer signs a contract to provide content for a company, then such issues as who the final work belongs to, copyright infringement, plagiarism, libel, and a host of other things can be addressed - and enforced in a court of law - if either party decides to sue.

When a company contracts with a foreign freelancer, this is much more dicey. Each country has its own laws when it comes to contract enforcement, as well as where to sue, how long it takes, recourse when one wins/loses, etc.

See the "Legal Recourse" section of this article [http://bit.ly/d8L3S4] to gain further insight into what I mean. FYI, this article also addresses other concerns an employer may have about hiring foreign freelance writers.

Why Large Freelance Writing Sites are Reluctant to Pay Foreign Freelance Writers

As a side note, this is why I think large freelance writing sites like AssociatedContent.com don't pay writers who live outside the U.S. It just gets too complicated for them NOT to run afoul of U.S. IRS reporting guidelines for employers.

Question II: Would it be a problem for me to find a client as English is not my native language?

The English this Polish freelancer wrote to me in was very good. I have to say though, that I think it would be a problem to land freelance writing jobs if your English is not good.

How to Get Around the "English is Not My First Language" Conundrum (If Your English is Good)

In the case of this writer, because her English was good, I wouldn't say anything about English not being a first language. If I were her, I'd just list the languages in which I was fluent - in reading and writing. And, I'd provide a few samples - written in spotless English, of course.

Beyond this, let the employer query if English is your first language.

A Big Problem Foreign Freelance Writers Will Encounter Even if Their English Is Good

In short, cultural differences. These lead to idiomatic expressions that can be misused and/or misquoted. Language is a funny thing --- it's the foundation of how humans communicate. And, there are a lot of shades of it.

For example, words can be used to mean different things. Take the word "sick." It can mean physically or mentally ill. But in slang, it can also mean "good, fashionable or fabulous."

Every writer who writes outside their language will encounter this problem. And it's a major reason many businesses won't hire a foreigner to write copy for them.

Writing Jobs Foreign Freelance Writers May Be Suited For

SEO article writing is a job some internet marketing firms may be more likely to consider foreign freelance writers for. Companies use SEO articles for a lot of things. One of them is to pad their sites with extra SEO (traffic-generating) content; another is to do article marketing [http://bit.ly/ceJ3Cn].

Because this content is easy breezy and is not "front and center" on a website like foundational content [http://bit.ly/aATa7C] - and is usually ordered in bulk, many companies will entrust it to a foreign freelance writer with a good grasp of English.

Note: I'm not saying SEO article is any less of a skill or any less important than other types of writing. All I'm saying is that the use for this type of content - and the amount that is usually required - means companies look to save money when outsourcing it, as opposed to a marketing brochure or industry report that they may produce once a year, for example.  

The bottom line is, if English is not your first language AND it is not good, then you likely won't land any freelance writing jobs from any company that's looking for content in this language.

I hope you find these answers helpful.

More Helpful Links on This Topic

Interesting Newsweek Article about Freelancing for Foreign Companies: Where the Jobs Are [http://bit.ly/dkZlFI]

Improve Your English: Want to Improve Your English? Please Skip MTV [http://bit.ly/ba9A5P]

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