One of the biggest moves that you can make is handing in your resignation letter and deciding to become self-employed. Going freelance can be an incredibly liberating feeling, but it can also be a feeling packed with nerves. Essentially, this is because you are stepping into the unknown.
When you go freelance, there is going to be uncertainty surrounding your monthly pay, not to mention that you will likely need to take on a lot more responsibility than you would have done before you went freelance. That being said, so long as you do it right, this could be the best decision you’ll ever make in your life – one that grants you authority over your time, work, and your life, affording you a greater level of freedom and work-life balance that you may have never experienced before.
If you are thinking about becoming a freelancer, then you are likely considering all the pros and cons of doing so. You might also be asking yourself whether this is something that you definitely want. The fact of the matter is this: there are a few questions that you should ask yourself before you make a move to the freelance world, as these will assist with ensuring the transition is smooth and you can hit the ground running. Plus, the answers to these questions will help you decide if working as a freelancer rather than an employed worker is something that you truly want to do. With that in mind, it’s time to look at these questions.
Are You Going Self-Employed for the Right Reasons?
You shouldn’t take this decision lightly. If you are making a choice to enter the world of self-employment, then it has to be for the right reasons. If it is simply because you feel unhappy in your current job or are not satisfied with the work that you are doing, this might not be something that going self-employed can necessarily fix. You need to be going into this for good reasons.
Some of the best reasons you should go self-employed include the fact that you want to become your own boss, you are bored of the conventional 9-5, and you want your work to be flexible so that you can spend more time with your family. You should also be entering a market that you are passionate about, as it will be hard to motivate yourself and drive yourself if you do not feel love for your work.
You might want to consider reducing your hours at your current job and steadily moving into freelancing. This can ensure you have a client base before you start, which is a good position to be in when you first begin as a freelancer.
Do You Have the Right Resources?
There is a lot of responsibility that comes with being a freelancer, and these are responsibilities that you likely didn’t have to deal with in a regular 9-5 job. You need to deal with many of these responsibilities, and then there are others that can be outsourced; however, you need to ensure you have the right resources available to allow you to outsource them correctly.
Consider, for instance, the likes of accounting. You can handle your accounts yourself, but when you are focusing on getting work and carrying out your work to the fullest extent, your accounts will likely be the last thing on your mind. As such, you should be sure to reach out to professionals who can help with this. You will need to research to ensure you are reaching out to the right people, as you want to work with someone with a particular interest in your industry.
For instance, if you work in the world of construction as a freelancer or as a business owner, you should consider working with specialists in that field, such as those at https://newlyfekc.com/ – these kinds of professionals have expertise in the construction industry and undertake various tasks that you can outsource, from bookkeeping and project accounting to construction software solutions, all of which you can benefit from when working as a freelancer in this sector.
How Will You Find Work?
There are many pros of freelancing – but one of the most important and serious aspects that come with being a freelancer is figuring out how you are going to find work. Finding the right amount of work is crucial when it comes to your overall success, and as such, this is something you are going to need to have a clear vision of before taking the plunge to become a freelancer. If you cannot get any regular work then you aren’t going to have any kind of steady income and without this, you will really struggle financially.
Be sure to put the word out to your social circle and let them know you are going freelance. Chances are you will have a friend, or perhaps there’s a friend of a friend who also works as a freelancer – and you can ask them for advice on getting work. You can reach out to these people and discuss how they acquire work and clients and how their methods could apply to you.
You should also look at different online resources – because regardless of the industry you work in, there will likely be an online marketplace or recruitment platform that will help with finding work. For example, you could always have a look at freelance job websites when you are getting started since there will be numerous opportunities on these platforms that you can capitalize on when you are first starting out – as well as when you’re already etabished.
Conclusion
Are you ready to be your own boss? If that’s the case and you want to dive into the world of freelancing, then good for you. This is a big and brave decision and a journey you should be excited about.
That being said, as exciting as it can be to enter the world of freelancing, it can also be reasonably daunting, so you should be sure to think about some of the above questions before you officially take the plunge.
You need to consider how you will find different work that will pay your income, what resources are available to you and which you will take advantage of the most, and whether you are going freelance for the right reasons. Answer these questions, and you’ll be well on your way to greater success.
