4 Things to Do Before Becoming a Full-Time Freelancer
Thank you for visiting Manila Freelancer. You can stay up to date by subscribing to our RSS Feed or even receive updates in your e-mail. Join our Contest! Win A Copy of The Search Engine Optimization: An Hour a Day, Why We Want You to be Rich: Two Men - One Message and Twisted 8 : The night of the living twisted by Jessica Zafra
Becoming a full-time freelancer should not be an overnight decision. Sure, you can throw your hat over the fence, so to speak, but you might be exposing yourself unnecessarily to certain risks. Here are ways you can transition from your 9-to-5 job and become a full-time freelancer:
Learn everything about the business.
If you’re transitioning naturally to a freelance business that’s related to your present job, you shouldn’t have a lot of problems. However, if the freelance work you’re looking at is a hobby or an interest, try to learn what you can about it first. That way, you’ll have a better perspective
Keep your day job… at first.
Don’t quit your job yet. Freelancing is notoriously unpredictable, particularly in the early stages. Having a job will keep you secured should your first forays into freelancing are not as well as you expected.
Save emergency fund to spend for the next six months.
Have something to live on once you’ve transitioned completely. Three to six months’ worth of savings to pay for expenses should be enough. Save as much money as you can before becoming a full-time freelancer. This will help cover for expenses should those freelancing checks don’t come on time.
Work everyday.
Integrate your freelance work into every free time you have. Got an hour to spare everyday to work on your skills or market your freelance business? Maximize those 60 minutes. Talk to people, observe the market, look for suppliers, study and promote your business. The better your skills are, the more likely your freelancing business will succeed once you go full-time.
Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader.
Comments
Nice tips.
#1 is so true. I found that I was under-pricing and over-committing. I learned this too late and went back to the corporate world where I am right now.
I just started as a freelancer ( web design ) and in the first 2 weeks I learned so much about the business and life in general.
There are so many details you could never think about unless you actually start to do the job. My advice is, if you can try freelancing - do it. You will have priceless experience even if you decide to come back to your old job.
Your post is very significant. I get worried about a lot of people who get too excited after reading or misreading certain inspiring books (Rich Dad Poor Dad, 4HWW, Automatic Millionaire etc.) and just quit their jobs without planning. I agree with your tips and urge people to always have a backup plan and long-term plan (ask can you sustain this for 5 years?). And one important thing about freelancing, which I learned the hard way, is to be still open to work with teams and socialize with others in your own field.
Leave a comment
[...] Interested in becoming a full-time freelancer? Check out Manila Freelancer’s post entitled: 4 Things to Do Before Becoming a Full-Time Freelancer [...]