Thinking of becoming a Freelancer? Good one! But do not make the mistake others are making by starting with absolutely nothing and declaring yourself as a freelancer. You would need to prepare and contemplate starting off on this new path. Here are 5 important points that would make it worth every step you take.
Be sure and decide that it is what you want to do
Indecision could prevent you from achieving a lot in freelancing and in life. Do your homework and adequate research and make a choice. Understand that you are now your employer and would make business decisions. You would decide your location of work, the type of jobs you want to work on and how to get them, the type you do not want to work on, and a whole lot more.
You also need to be aware that you would handle a lot of roles alone. You would be the Project Manager, Marketing Manager, Customer Service Representative, etc. So be sure you are up to the task and can execute it by yourself. This is a crucial step to consider before becoming a freelancer.
Always have some form of income
There are 3 things you can do to ensure you have sufficient money with you before you become a freelancer. The first one is not quitting your day job. This is important as it is always good to have some kind of cash flow. This keeps you fed at least, covers some bills and gives you peace of mind.
Another thing you should do is to have enough Savings. Before starting as a freelancer, make sure you have some savings. This is a cushion. When you have some savings before starting freelancing, it helps you cater for expenses before your freelance business becomes stable. The third one is this: if it’s possible, take a capable hand as you leave to become a team member. It should be someone with the drive as you and has an entrepreneurial mindset.
Be Organized
This is important as the growth of your freelance business could largely be dependent on it. For you to be organized, you must create a business plan. Create a mission and define goals and objectives. Clearly define who you want your clientele to be and research them. Have laid down processes that would be repeated daily. When there is a system, it is easier to grow your freelance business.
Figure out how the finances would be structured. How do you accept payments and what method would you use to record the payment? Get your payment channels sorted out and get apps that would help you keep accurate records.
Spread the Word
If you are not at risk of losing your job then You need to start telling people you are about becoming a freelancer while you maintain your full-time job. But if it would negatively affect your full-time job, then you may need to hold off on it for the meantime.
You would need to leverage a lot on word of mouth and your network. Tell people what you do and they would be willing to refer you when they know someone that needs that service. Utilize the social media and publicize what you do.
Set a routine
Set a routine and try your best to stick to it. When you have now become a freelancer, continue to carry out your routine the way it was while you were working full time. Always wake up when you should, take a shower (if you can), dress up, and get to work. Even if you would be working from home, dress well and take each process seriously.
Be disciplined and ensure you stick to the standards. If you can’t set up a home office then a co-working space may be okay for you to start with. Have a routine or procedure on what you should do once work starts when to go for lunch, when to close for the day, and what to achieve daily.
If you are contemplating freelancing or already a freelancer then you would benefit from the features on Bixex. Bixex is a global community of Entrepreneurs. On Bixex, you have the opportunity of getting gigs from Entrepreneurs globally. The Bixex App is available on Google Playstore and App Store. To sign up, start here.
Read Also: 5 Ways to Rebuild your Business after the COVID-19 Pandemic.