It doesn’t matter what type of business skill you have; there is likely to be someone out there who needs it. This is why setting up as a freelancer is a great way to make money and run your own business.
Freelancing is a great way to make money, but it is not always the easiest. Especially when you are just starting, and you are not quite sure what is the right approach to take.
We are here to help by putting together those freelancing tips every beginner needs to know.
Always have a contract
You may be tempted to accept work without a contract (especially if the client is keen and you really want to secure them). However, this is the last thing that you should do as a freelancer. A contract protects you and helps to ensure that you will be paid at the end of your project. These days you can create and sign documents without the need for printing by using electronic signature software, so there really is no excuse not to protect yourself.
Set a schedule
Of course, success with your business is a key focus of any freelancer, but this should take part alongside the rest of your life. Setting a schedule for your working time is a great way to ensure that you don’t end up spending all your time working and not allowing yourself downtime. Not just this, but it will enable you to think about the times of the day when you are most awake and functional and schedule some of your important tasks at that time of day.
Don’t take everything on
When you are first starting, you will want to take on as much work as possible. This is going to be great for your bank balance and experience too. But it could lead to you spreading yourself out too thinly. This might not seem like that much of a problem right now, but if this carried on, then you would definitely feel the strain.
It can be hard to say no or point someone in a different direction. But this is precisely what you need to do to focus on other vital parts of your business.
Think about financials
If you are new to working for yourself and taking care of your money, then the bad news for you is that you are just going to have to get used to it. Finances are part and parcel of running your own business, and whilst they are not the most fun part of it, they are something that you have to get to grips with. If you do regularly take on your finance tracking and monitoring, it makes things that much easier when the time comes to file your tax return.
It can be daunting starting out as a freelancer; however, the good news is that there are plenty of places to go for help when you first set out. Keep going and keep trying new things, and we can promise you that it will all be much easier.
