In the tangible assets area I’d like to add:

-printer
-pop-filter
-mic stand
-mic cable(s)
-shock mount
-preamp
-monitors
-mixer
-ISDN/SourceConnect
-stopwatch
-some spray to keep your mouth hydrated

and you may add this to the list:

-a Pay-to-Play membership (try at least one)
-sign up for PayPal
-sign up for voice-over on-line message boards and other ‘social’ networking sites
-create a business entity and register your business
-create business forms such as contracts, terms & conditions and customized invoices
-start building a relationship with a reputable studio in your area; that way you can say YES to jobs that require more technical bells and whistles
-invest in continued education
-read and contribute to blogs like this one!

Now, if you want to take your show on the road, you’d also need a portable preamp (such as the MicPortPro) and a Porta-Booth.

I also carry a set of old-fashioned business cards with me, and cheap flash drives with my demos and contact info. Those come in handy when going into a studio. You never know whom you might run in to…

In my blog “What do you need to break even”, I have a list of all the things you need to pay for yourself, if you’re an independent contractor (http://nethervoice.com/nethervoice/2009/11/06/how-much-do-you-need-to-break-even/).

You’ll also find a link to an in-line rate calculator that will help you determine your break-even point. Based on that, come up with a solid business plan, because without a good road map, it’s too easy to get lost. And please, never give up your day job. The number of people that can purely live off the revenues of their voice-over business is very, very limited. 40% of professional voice-overs make less than $25,000 per year, even after having been in the business for 10-25 years. Over a quarter of those surveyed make less than $10,000 per year. (Source: VoiceOver Insider magazine http://voice-overs.com/MAY09VOI.pdf).

Beginners and seasoned professionals need to be mindful of what they can and cannot handle. e.g. I am by no means a brilliant bookkeeper, and I don’t particularly enjoy that part of the job. But if you don’t manage your money, the money will manage you. That’s why I feel very lucky to have someone who takes care of the boring accounting stuff for me.

Lastly, you need a great deal of DISCIPLINE to stay on track and ignore distractions. Otherwise, you’ll feel like that guy, trapped in a department store on the night before Christmas, desperately trying to find a present for his wife. He has no idea what he wants to get her, nor where he’s going. He doesn’t even know how much he can spend or what his wife really wants… Being self-employed is not a 100 meter race. It is a marathon. Having the right gear will no doubt help you, but you need competence, confidence and stamina to make it.