5 Things Every First-Time Freelancer Needs to Know

Working from home as a freelancer is everyone’s dream. Nothing beats making your own schedule, not having to deal with a direct supervisor, and being able to set up an office anywhere you want. However, freelance life is not always as simple as it sounds. You are in full control of your work and pay, and lack of a basic salary means you can go months without generating any income. To help you settle well into freelancing, we have discussed below five simple things every newbie freelancer needs to know:

• The Significance of a Freelance Contract

As a lone wolf in a space packed with established companies offering the same services as you, it is easy to be taken advantage of by dubious clients. For this reason, you need to know how to write a contract that details your responsibility during a project as well as critical pay-related elements. Without a detailed freelance contract, there is a good chance you will be overworked or taken advantage of. A good contract template should be thorough and specific and devoid of spelling errors and mix-ups.

• You Need to Find a Permanent Workplace

Working from home isn’t always the way to go if you want to achieve maximum efficiency and productivity. Well, if you have the discipline for it or are limited by strict budget frames, it may be the better option. However, if you want to be consistent and reliable, you have to identify an environment that brings out the best in you.

• A Schedule is Paramount

Freelancing is worshipped for its flexibility, but this aspect is often abused and has a lot of sway on whether you succeed or fail. You can enjoy this freedom without compromising your productivity standards by laying down a work schedule and following it to the letter.

• You Might Need an Accountant

Whether or not you need an accountant is a big question that without a simple answer. If you already have a client base, project your earnings over the next year or so and see if you will make enough to merit an accountant’s services. If your earnings are likely to get you in a higher tax bracket, you might need an accountant to help you navigate the expenses. As regards keeping things within budget, you can hire a freelance accountant or outsource services on an ad hoc basis.

• Your Social Media Profiles Will Say Volumes About You

The lack of an affiliate company makes it pretty difficult for freelancers to gain trust from clients. For this reason, prospects tend to perform independent checks to ascertain that a freelancer is really what they claim to be. A random online search of your name will likely bring up your Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn profiles. It would be more reassuring for the client if those profiles look professional and state clearly that you are a freelancer offering certain services.

Endnote

These are some of the things you need to know before setting yourself up as a freelancer. Following in the footsteps of established freelancers in your niche might also help steer you clear of obvious mistakes.

Freelancer – Pixabay

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