01
Hew the quote into chips you can count
Headline pay is the beam. Fees, admin and tax are chips. Subtract them before you judge the job.
Read article →Side work, one chip at a time
Hew the extra in chips. Do not take the whole beam at once
An adze removes wood in short, controlled chips so the beam stays true. Adze Book applies that to side income: chip off fees, unpaid hours and tax, then judge the remaining figure before you swing again.
Chip the fees
Platform charges, materials and transport leave before anything is yours.
Chip the unpaid hours
Quotes, revisions and payment chasing belong in the hourly figure.
Check the beam
If what remains is below your minimum, stop cutting and skip or reprice the job.
Articles
02
Count the unpaid chips
Messages and revisions are chips that never appear on the invoice. Log them for two weeks.
Read article →03
Stop when the beam is true
A weekly hour limit is the line where you stop hewing rest away. Review it once a month.
Read article →04
Offers that chip your wallet
When a job starts with a fee you must pay, the first chip is on you. How to check before money leaves.
Read article →Signs to stop and check
- They ask you to pay to startA real job does not charge for a starter kit, mandatory training or sign-up.
- Fixed earnings promisedNo one can tell you exactly what you will earn. Exact figures without context are a warning.
- Rush and pressure“Today only”, “last spots”: urgency is there so you do not compare or ask questions.
- No identifiable companyWith no legal name, address or contract, there is no one to hold accountable.
Educational content only. Not financial, tax or legal advice; talk to a qualified professional about your situation.