For many of us, the dream is the same: become a freelancer and start setting your own hours. Be your own boss, right? But there are far too many of us that find the process to be far more difficult than previously imagined.
If you feel like you are ready to make the jump into the world of freelancing, there are a few things that you should keep in mind before you do. Having this additional information can help to guide you down the path of success instead of one of failure.
Think About the Transition
The hardest part of being a freelancer is knowing when to make that leap. Even if you are single with no dependents, there are things that you have to keep in mind before you make the jump into becoming a full-time freelancer.
Make certain that you have jobs lined up. With freelancing, you don’t know where your next job is coming from. If you quit your day job for a life of freelancing but have no clients lined up, it can make for a very difficult transition.
It also helps to have a bit of a savings cushion. This helps to somewhat alleviate the concerns of finding work, though you can only live on those savings for so long. Still, having that cushion can help make the transition easier.
Find Your Pricing
Perhaps the biggest issue for freelancers just starting out is knowing what they are worth. Making this more complicated is that pricing can work out to both hourly or per project. This can make it somewhat tricky to determine your rate.
Hourly rates are something you should try to avoid if at all possible. Hourly rates tend to lead to more opportunity for the client to nitpick and make comparisons about the work. It also opens the door for the client to begin to micromanage the project in an attempt to “save money”. This only leads to frustration, making it difficult for you to perform a quality job.
Know Your Process
Working from home is great, but it’s easy to get off track. Have your process in mind before starting. If you don’t, it can be easy to get distracted and lose focus of your work. When this happens, your earnings and quality of work can struggle.
Set aside time each day as your designated work time and you can avoid those distractions that can plague some freelancers.
