ResumeBear Blog |
Posted: 22 Aug 2011 08:00 AM PDT  Get Situated — Whether you set up your work station in a corner of your guest bedroom or a rented office space, it's important to create a space that is physically separated from your day-to-day life. This will help you mentally adjust into work mode and help you fight the impulse to putter around all day in your pajamas and slippers. If you're excited by freelancing, but unhappy to give up the social atmosphere of a traditional nine to five, you might consider co-working—an increasingly popular set-up where independent professionals work in a shared space. While you're setting up, it's also a good idea to dedicate a separate file cabinet or drawer for supply receipts, paycheck stubs, home utility bills, automotive expenses, and other work-related costs. This will make life a whole lot easier at tax time. Set Goals — Do you need $1,000 or $3,000 a month to pay the bills? What types of jobs will get you there? When it comes to making chance, setting realistic, specific goals are the key. Long-term, aspirational aims are great ("I want to earn enough money to buy a house"), but remember to give yourself short-term, measurable mile markers ("I want to gain ten new clients this month") as well. Provide a Security Net — Your freelance paycheck is less consistent than the one you earned through an employer, so prepare for emergencies. • Make a plan for medical insurance through your spouse's employer or an affordable private insurance plan. Shop around for the best deal and ask around your professional community or association for recommendations. • Build your savings. Ideally, you should have between six and eight months of living expenses stashed away. This might be a daunting amount, especially when you're first starting out, but you'll sleep better knowing you can cover a few months of bills if the customers dry up. It might be difficult, but an emergency fund is not just a good idea, it's a necessity. • Prepare for taxes. As a 1099 employee, you can expect a big tax hit at the end of the year, so force yourself to set aside at least 25 percent of your monthly income for Uncle Sam. Also, be aware of what you can write off: as a freelancer, you can write off work-related expenses, like coffee shop meetings and unpaid invoices. Create a Website — You will have to sink time and money into a website, but it's an investment that will pay: websites ultimately save freelancers time. Not only can people find you online, potential clients can visit to see work samples, credentials, and pricing information. Basic is okay—your page doesn't have to be incredibly complicated or cost the big bucks—but it should represent you well and help readers find the right information. Build a Client Base — In business, customers make the world go round. And being proactive about gaining costumers is a major part of freelancing success. This means you've got to use your social media outlets, define your personal brand, and be ready to pitch your product at a moment's notice. Once you've made a good contact, don't pat yourself on the back and call it done: invest the time to cultivate relationships. This will help you maintain a reliable client base while you slowly expand through word of mouth, networking, and marketing. Annie Favreau writes and works for Inside Jobs, a career exploration site where people can explore what opportunities exist and learn what paths can take them there. You can read the original Going Solo—Five Tips for Beginning Freelancers article on the Inside Jobs site. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Resumebear Online Resume To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment