So often people ask me, ‘should I go freelance?’ I suspect often spurred on by questionable TV series/movies that present being freelance as the perfect millennial lifestyle. A sort of Carrie in Sex and the City combined with the glamorous life of *insert your favourite instagrammer here*.
Of course, this is something perpetuated by freelancers themselves who so often present their lives as a never ending, fun filled escapade. As if they are constantly in an audition for their very own reality TV show.
Of course, the truth is that being freelance is far less about glamour and far more about understanding the taxation requirements of your country (spoiler alert - Israel is one of the worst places to be a freelancer in the world.)
Of course, given the number of ‘pivots’ we can surely expect to see post-corona, I’m looking at you Linda with her new line of homemade bracelets. I’m sure a number of people are considering going freelance - so before you do, I implore you to read this article, take a good long look in the mirror and decide if this is really what you want.
Staying Motivated
Honestly and truthfully - if you are asking this question, you shouldn’t be freelance. I know this sounds harsh, but it doesn’t make me wrong. As a freelancer you have to be self-motivated. Please read that again, because it’s bloody important. As a freelance you absolutely must be self-motivated.
Frankly, more than that, you need to have a workaholic streak that makes not working feel a little painful and jarring. Running your own business is extremely difficult, especially now where we can’t go to coffee shops or workspaces. Heck I’m writing this from the couch in my lounge, but you better believe I’m still working. So if you’re worried about dragging yourself out of bed. Then, the #freelancelife isn’t for you.
2. Profit
Despite your fiercest hopes and aspirations, you will, most likely, earn very little money your first year in business. And that’s if you turn a profit at all - so if you are planning on going freelance, please ensure that it is not your sole source of income or you will find yourself terrifically overwhelmed. I am in no way embarrassed to say that my parents paid my rent the entire first year I was freelance. Thankfully, it wasn’t a financial burden for them, and it proved to be short term support that led to long term success. But, if your parents aren’t comfortably living in a relatively cheap suburb of Northern England do think this one through. If at all possible, I would always recommend keeping a job for as long as possible before taking the plunge.
3. Pricing
I get this question a lot and the truth is, it’s one of the more challenging parts of being freelance. Now, one thing a friend of mine did ( I would, personally, never engage in this ethically questionable behaviour) is email her competition using a fake email address asking for a few different quotes.
You can then create a spreadsheet and gain a rough idea of what your competition is charging. I….I mean she, my friend found this to be rather useful. That gives you a rough idea.
However, when you’re first starting out you are often so desperate for a deal that you will be nervous to charge anything other a couple of pounds (I still think in sterling, go figure..). So, firstly you should always try and charge at a price which makes you feel uncomfortable. If once you send off your quote you find yourself in a cold sweat, shifting uncontrollably and staring at your phone then you done kid.
A sign you have undercharged is if the client responds too quickly. Your quote should always give your client pause for thought and make them think - even for a moment, so truthfully - that wait, whilst earth-shatteringly painful, is part of the process.
This all being said, in Israel - the truth is that whatever you quote the client is going to ask for some sort of reduction - so I would double your original quote and then add some wiggle room on top of that. No Israeli is ever going to be like ‘Ah mamee that quote does seem in line with their experience and the market rate, let’s go for it.’
4. It’s nice to be nice
If you are like me - a polite Brit then, as a rule, you will want everyone to like you. In fact, you will go out of your way to please people. You want your name to be synonymous with kindness and fairness - like Florenece Nightingle or Mary Poppins (notice how both of the most natural examples of this are women...men give far less of a shit about this bullshit.) But, I digress - that is a feminist rant for another day. In business, you will piss people off. It shouldn’t be your aim and I would question your life decisions if you find yourself enjoying it, but, naturally, you will piss people off. And the earlier you make peace with this. Then so much the better. It’s nothing personal, I promise.
5. Dark days
At least once a month - something will happen and you will genuinely think your entire business is coming undone. Say for example a global pandemic that saw entire populations confined to their houses. Or, your biggest client taking the work in-house. As a freelancer/business owner these moments of self-doubt, confusion and, frankly, darkness - will happen and you will have to learn to become accustomed to them. In the earliest years, our businesses are powered forward by sheer grit and determination alone and you have to be ready to fight the good fight or your company will never succeed.
I sure hope that put you off becoming freelance - because honestly I wouldn’t recommend it.
But, if you are still on the fence or looking for some more of my ruddy wonderful musings then go ahead and follow me @networkwithhelena, not but seriously please do - it will make my day.
Are you already a freelancer (you can still follow me...honest), feel I missed something out? Feel free to comment in the section below.
Thanks,
Helena