Freelancing 101: Taking the Leap from Employed to Self-Employed

If the stress you’re getting from your 9-5 job is getting unmanageable, you should consider freelancing. You want to feel the ease of working at your own pace, within the comforts of your home, and not get stuck for long hours of daily traffic.

With the variety of freelance jobs available nowadays, it should be easy that one will suit your experience and skills.

However, if you have been employed all your life and this is your first time working as a freelancer, there are some things to consider. We’ve gathered the following tips to make your transition as smooth as possible.

1. Save, Save, Save

Once you have decided to focus on freelancing, it is a good idea to save enough to support yourself for four to eight weeks before resigning from your job. You’ll need the money in paying your expenses after you resign.

Additionally, you have to understand that seeking a freelance job is like applying for a job at another company, they follow a recruitment process and need time to assess your application. So you’d want to have funds while waiting for their updates. You don’t want to be in debt the moment you resign, right?

2. Decide What You’ll Do

In this digital age, it has been much easier to provide your good or services online. You will need to assess your current skills and interests to decide where to market yourself. If you’re into DIY crafts, you can set-up a shop on Etsy or other similar websites to sell the goods you’ve made.

If you’re into baking, you can advertise your products in your social media accounts and start delivering them to customers in your local area. There are many websites that work as a marketplace for you and your product or service.

3. Pay The Right Taxes

When you’re still employed, your employer has this covered for you. However, since you’re now self-employed, you need to process all the necessary legal documents for yourself. If you’re thinking of starting a small business, you can acquire a tax service to help you in the process.

4. Keep A Schedule

Working as a freelancer means that you don’t have to follow any shift, you can work any time you want as long as you meet your employer’s set targets. Working any time is a significant advantage when working as a freelancer, but it can also become a disadvantage.

There’s a tendency for you to either work too little or too much. And this can potentially divide your time between work and family. To avoid situations like these, you should have a schedule of your working hours. This schedule will help you focus on your tasks as a freelancer.

5. Have a Working Space

You can work anywhere, anytime when you are a freelancer. However, it is also important to devote one room or one area of your house as your working space that is conducive to work. You are in your work-mode when you are in this space. And your family should know about this too, so they’ll respect your working hours.

Your working space should be free from noise and distraction to ensure that you’re performing at your best even if you’re working at home. If you find that you don’t work well in your home enviroment, look into co-working spaces.

Going on from the corporate world to freelancing can overwhelming at the same time. This leap might be challenging in the beginning, but for sure, all the experiences you’ve gathered from a traditional work setting will be an excellent addition to the skill sets required to your chosen freelance career.

Brittnay was an HR professional in London before making the move to Dublin. Now she spends her time exploring the beautiful canals, food and beaches of Dublin. Her love of travel and house sitting is captured on The Travelling House Sitters.

Looking for a business idea?

Check out our most popular article, The 300 Best Small Business Ideas. This comprehensive multi-page article offers expert advice on every single business idea. Includes home-based, online, steady income, low cost, product and service ideas. Many of the ideas in this long article can be started part time.