The Freelance Life—What To Consider When Taking the Plunge
Many people in the Lehigh Valley desire the ideal work-life balance. But sometimes work life can take over dramatically and leave you feeling pretty deflated. After all, a lot of people don’t enjoy the jobs they have, are fixed to an unchanging salary each month, and don’t get much time in their evenings or weekends to actually enjoy life. It is a struggle that a lot of people have to deal with on a daily basis, and as you get older you become so much more aware of your time.
However, there are options, and becoming a freelancer is one of them. Working for yourself can stabilize that work-life balance, enabling you to choose when you work and who you work with. It can often be an ideal solution to your career woes. But, it shouldn't be a decision you take lightly. That is why we are sharing some things you should consider if you are thinking about taking the plunge into the freelance world.
Is there a market for what you offer?
One of the first things to consider is if there is a market for what you want to do. We highly recommend that you look at the skills you want to exercise in your freelance field. Can you write and create good content? Are you a real whizz at social media? Do you have excellent administration skills that could be put to good use in a remote occupation? Can you create websites or design logos and branding? These are skills that are highly sought after.
How can you obtain work?
Setting foot into the freelance world can be very daunting, so make sure you understand the methods you can use to start your business on the right track. Get in touch with old contacts and work colleagues, create social media accounts based on your expertise, and check out freelance websites like people per hour or freelancer. These can be great resources to get you started.
What about all the paperwork and payments?
There will be a lot of paperwork to process because it is solely your responsibility to make sure invoices are being paid and your tax records are up to date. You can enlist the help of accountants to ensure your paperwork is up to date and you pay the right amount in tax. They will scrutinize your receipts and records to ensure that you are paying out the right amount and keeping good records. You also need to think about how to get paid for your services. With today’s technology, you need to be able to accept payments from your phone on the go or be able to have everything in one place. Finding the right software and options is important to maintain that cash flow. It can also help you keep the relevant records.
Can you afford it if things aren’t going well?
One of the most important questions to ask yourself is whether you can afford to take the plunge. Going freelance is risky because there is no guaranteed income coming into your bank account every month. Look at your bank statements and bills and work out if you can afford to pay them if you don’t secure any work for a month. This is when having a second income could be helpful and help to take away some of the pressure.
We hope these tips help you take that plunge into freelance work and create a better work-life balance. We wish you much success!
