While the typical associations with being a freelancer are working from a non-traditional workspace, flexible working hours, and a better work-life balance, there is a bit more going on behind the scenes. Are you considering making a switch to freelance work? It’s reasonable to learn about all the intricacies this type of work implies before jumping the gun with the decision to quit your full-time employment.
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The most common definition of a freelancer is an independent contractor who gets paid on a per-job or per-task basis. In other words, it’s a self-employed individual who delivers services to organizations and businesses without being on the staff.
Yes, not being on the staff means you are blessed with the power to choose when to work, where to work, what tasks to do, and who to work with, but what if this power is actually a curse in the disguise of a blessing? Let’s unpack.
It’s fair to say that going freelance is a life-changing decision. Boss’s expectations, the notorious 9-to-5, and limited holidays immediately go into oblivion giving way to infinite flexibility and freedom of choice. It’s hard to argue how beneficial a freelance career can be, the arguments speak for themselves:
Real freedom always goes hand in hand with high levels of responsibility, consciousness, and organisation. For some people, it’s empowerment, for others – a burden. Consider the following challenges before joining the ranks of full-time freelancers:
If you’ve read the previous chapter till the end and haven’t lost enthusiasm about becoming a freelancer, you’re ready for the preparation part. First and foremost, create a clear image of what your freelance activity should look like. We suggest taking these three steps.
Identify what exactly services you want to offer to your future clients. The primary condition is to be absolutely passionate about what you choose to do.
Option 1: Your services are based on the skills you already possess. You’ve been working as a Digital Marketing Manager for 2 years now, and the set of skills and expertise you’ve mastered so far allows you to start your ‘free floating’. You know how the industry works from the inside out, so you are aware of potential challenges and the ways of handling them effectively.
Option 2: You work as an accountant, but your soul has always belonged to fashion. You have a gift to create stylish outfits and get numerous compliments for the way you dress from people around you. You decide to take up a ‘personal stylist’ course and start developing in this field as a freelancer.
How are your clients supposed to discover you as a reliable professional if you haven’t showed up like that? Here is what you need to do:
Word of mouth may be really workable, but it’s a real crime not to use the bewildering palette of opportunities that the Internet offers for freelancers. It’s also safer to find clients through online platforms: not only do they offer a great variety of freelance jobs, but also ensure secure payment transactions to protect freelancers from dishonest clients.
There are also freelance communities, both online and offline, where you can start building a strong professional network. It’s no secret that businesses often hire freelancers who come as a referral. The more people know about your skills and mastery, the more chances you have to be recommended for interesting projects.
Finally, social media. By sharing the details of your personal and professional life in your blog, you establish a connection with your audience and help build trust in you as a professional faster. If clients trust you, they come to you on their own.
You’ve successfully accomplished the preparation stage, now it’s time to fine-tune operational processes. First things first: finances.
Many freelancers are prone to making this mistake at the beginning: they set their prices out of thin air. The truth is that the job market is tough and highly competitive right now, so clients have an opportunity to be fussy. Not to lose good earning opportunities, follow our recommendations:
Becoming a freelancer is basically the same as running your own business because it also involves managing finances and paying taxes. But first, you have to make it official. It means setting up self-employment and registering as a sole trader. Having done it, you automatically become legally required to pay taxes and file tax returns. For that, you have to register for Self Assessment.
It might be a mind-blowing experience for those who have never dealt with it before, but the step-by-step guide on GOV.UK will definitely clarify lots of issues.
If you work via online freelance platforms, you may use their contract and payment systems to ensure the security of your fees. If clients come from elsewhere, you may consider using a written contract with clear payment terms, detailed descriptions of work or services, and termination and confidentiality terms. To make it the most legally airtight, build it upon a template and get it checked by a lawyer.
Look how far you’ve already proceeded! The most difficult job is already behind you but organisational and operational preparations are just the beginning of the journey.
Now it’s only you who has to find a common language with your clients, so reading communication and negotiation skills literature has to become an integral part of your daily routine. Work on improving your emotional intelligence, it will help you understand your clients better. At the same time, learn to protect your personal boundaries; it will help you keep your peace when working with other humans.
Juggling multiple clients won’t seem like a burden if you can manage your time and workload properly. There are some ideas to use:
Don’t hesitate to enroll on a time-management course as this skill can become a real game-changer in your freelance career.
Even if you are happy with your current income from freelancing, why not strive for more? Once a small freelance job can turn into a real company in the future. Work on a strong online presence, network with like-minded people, ask for referrals, keep up with the industry trends, constantly improve the quality of your service, invest in your professional development, welcome any feedback and make use of it. The results won’t keep you waiting long!
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