01
Flatten the day-job face first
Outside-work clauses and a protected hour limit keep the main job from cupping when extra work arrives.
Read article →Two faces, one true edge
Flatten both faces before you try to join the week
A jointer makes an edge straight so two boards meet without a gap. Jointer Pad is about flattening the day job and the side work — hours, rate, records — so they meet cleanly instead of leaving a ridge of unpaid time.
Face one: the day job
Read outside-work clauses and protect the hours that job already owns.
Face two: the side work
A real hourly figure after fees, admin and tax set-aside.
The joint: records
One weekly sheet that shows whether the two faces still meet.
Articles
02
Flatten the side rate
Headline pay is a cup in the board. Fees, admin and tax have to come off before the faces meet.
Read article →03
A weekly pass along the joint
One short review shows whether day job and side work still meet, or whether a ridge of hours has grown.
Read article →04
Offers that leave a gap
Paid kits and training fees mean the two faces never meet. How to recognise and check these offers.
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.