I know a lot of folks who are into freelancing — web designers, graphic artists, writers and others. They are all self employed who enjoy being their own boss and the freedom associated with being a freelancer. The flipside, though, is that I’m also privy to the mistakes they often make in managing their freelancing careers.
If you want to freelance, here are common mistakes to avoid:
- Over-reliance on one client. When you find a great company to work for that pays well, often you stop looking for other clients. Afterall, you already have a great account so why bother embarking on marketing and bidding again? Alas, this attitude is very risky. Freelancing is a volatile occupation; and even with a contract, companies can let go of freelancers. A company downsizing for example would first fire their freelancers compared to their employees. It is always best not to put all your eggs in one basket, and get a variety of clients.
- Failing to Account for the Ups and Downs of Self Employment. When you are freelancing, you need to be prepared for the roller coaster ride of self employment: some months you may have several clients, and some months you may find it hard winning any accounts. That is simply the nature of freelancing. You need to prepare for the lean times and make sure that you have income buffer to ride out those difficult times.
- Forgetting the business side of being self employed. You may focus too much on the technical side of your occupation ensuring that you deliver high quality products that your clients expect. However, don’t forget the management aspects of being a freelancer, and that involves billing, collection, record keeping, tax paying, even marketing your services to other clients. Dedicate a certain percentage during the day to administrative and marketing tasks, or hire professionals to help you manage these tasks.
Check out the slideshow How to Build a Successful Freelance Business
+ Taking on too many jobs at once.
+ Taking on too many jobs at once.
Many freelance developers spend the last month looking for a new contract. quite often this leads to bad documentation, and buggy code which is just tossed over the fence, so to speak.
As you can immagine, this doesn’t make you too popular with both the client, and the remaining freelance developers who are left cleaning your mess.
If at all possible, make an agreement with your current client and team on how to schedule the time you will (potentially) spend on the phone with new prospects. This menas that you have a better overview on the ammount of time you have to tidy up, while your client and team make sure not to disturb you when you’re talking to a new client.
Many freelance developers spend the last month looking for a new contract. quite often this leads to bad documentation, and buggy code which is just tossed over the fence, so to speak.
As you can immagine, this doesn’t make you too popular with both the client, and the remaining freelance developers who are left cleaning your mess.
If at all possible, make an agreement with your current client and team on how to schedule the time you will (potentially) spend on the phone with new prospects. This menas that you have a better overview on the ammount of time you have to tidy up, while your client and team make sure not to disturb you when you’re talking to a new client.
The last point is the big key: getting paid. At the end of the day, if you don’t get paid, your cash flow problems are going to seriously challenge your ability to stay in business. Make sure you have the right software to help you manage it.
SimplifyThis.com
The last point is the big key: getting paid. At the end of the day, if you don’t get paid, your cash flow problems are going to seriously challenge your ability to stay in business. Make sure you have the right software to help you manage it.
SimplifyThis.com
That’s not just logic. That’s really sensible
That’s not just logic. That’s really sensible