Considering how to legally start a freelance business to change your work situation? These are the 8 steps to doing it with success...
Setting up a freelance business is a dream for many. Here's how to do it ... successfully.
Making the decision to go freelance isn’t easy, but as more people take the plunge and start working for themselves - it’s certainly something to think about.
Freelancing can be an excellent way to change your career, letting you be your own boss and calling the shots. However, with only you there to make sure it works out, there’s a lot at stake if things go wrong.
Need some help getting things off the ground?
This article will help you understand more about:
- How to start freelancing work
- Freelance business ideas
- Freelance jobs
Take a look at these 8 steps for turning your freelance business into a success...
1. Settle Into A Routine Quickly
The novelty of working for yourself can easily lead to lazy or bad habits. Waking up late, taking too many breaks and general slacking off can be easy to do when there’s no supervisor breathing down your neck. Letting those things happen can be bad news for your business and make it hard for you to hurdle early challenges, and get into a good routine.
Get your freelance career off to a productive start by setting working hours and sticking to them. Plan your day as you would in an office and give yourself breaks as needed. You’ll soon develop a great working pattern that will propel you toward success.
2. Build Yourself A Home Office
Having a home office will give you a productive working environment to make sure stuff gets done.
Setting up your first home office is a big step, and you’ll need to make sure you have all of the equipment necessary to do be productive and efficient. Choose a room that’s free from distractions, has plenty of light and space for you to move around.
If you don’t have a dedicated room in your home, you can always commandeer a part of your kitchen, living room or bedroom and make it fit for purpose.
3. Create A Brand
While you might be working for yourself, your freelance venture is still a business. And your business needs a brand!
You can create a business brand easily using programs like Canva to create:
- Logos
- Letterheads
- Social media banners
- Infographics
- Flyers
- Advertisements
And more to give your business a recognizable identity.
Having your own set of branded stationery and templates will make your business feel more authentic, providing you a leg up in your approach to freelancing.
4. Be Professional
In order to attract clients, you’ll need to project a professional image that shows that you’re a real business that can deliver your clients' wishes. Maintaining a professional image requires separating business from personal. Have different bank accounts, phone numbers, and even social media accounts to ensure there’s no crossover.
Especially for female entrepreneurs, if you’re going to be working from home, how people perceive your location is important. Getting a post office box or another official address is wise.
So, for example, if you live near London in the UK, you can visit capital for a registered office so that you can have your mail sent to a registered address that isn’t your home. Choosing a plan with free mail forwarding included, it’ll be much easier - and perhaps more comfortable - to keep your business and personal correspondence separate.
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Image Credit: An Min at pxhere[/caption]
5. Promote Yourself
Self-promotion is an important part of running a successful freelance business. By implementing a strong website presence and excellent social media strategy, you can promote your freelance services to help you secure more clients and generate business for yourself.
Share your services on social media or start a blog to help promote yourself as an expert in your field. Featuring recommendations and testimonials on your website will provide people with a good insight into the work that you do. Social media can be an effective tool for lead generation, provided you use the tools that are at your disposal.
Don't forget the live and in-person! Attending networking events can also help you to meet potential clients.
6. Stay On Top Of Your Finances
Managing your finances is one of the top concerns when starting your freelance business. For possibly the first time, it’s you who’s responsible for getting paid, paying the bills and making sure your cash flow is in order. It makes sense to hire an accountant to help you manage your finances, especially if your skills are weak in this area.
Meanwhile, make sure you put some money aside for your taxes. Saving as you go along will make things easier to manage so you won’t want to be left with a hefty fine to pay at the end of the year.
Be sure to track your expenses regularly and log your receipts so that you know exactly where your money is going.
7. Maintain A Good Work/Life Balance
Being your own boss, there is nobody to answer to, and nobody to tell you to go home at the end of the day. When you work for yourself, it is easy to get caught up in the business to the point where it creeps into your personal life.
It’s important to maintain interests that are outside of your work:
- Join a gym
- Go for walks
- Socialize with friends
- Visit family
Make the effort to stop cabin fever from setting in.
Another suggestion is finding a co-working space, which are becoming more and more popular as the number of freelancers increases. Enjoy the office environment without being in the office, and spend some time meeting other creatives like yourself. It’s a good way to break up the work week, and could even lead to further work opportunities.
8. Don't Give Up
As with many businesses, freelancing has its ups and downs. Some months you might have several projects to work on, while other months you might have nothing. Use the quieter months to enjoy some downtime, take some vacations or work on improving your skills through training.
If you do need to find work, there are ways to seek freelance work that could tide you over until things pick up. The main thing is not to give up, and to keep working hard to turn your freelance career into a permanent move.
Freelance Business Summary
Starting a freelance career can be a great move for you, giving you the freedom to enjoy work and do things that interest you. With hard work and perseverance, you can enjoy the success you deserve and enjoy taking charge of your working future.
