5 Things Every Freelancer Needs

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Bored of the 9 to 5 and want to try being your own boss? Freelancing can feel like the ideal way of achieving a balance between your home life and work life, with the added bonus of not having to answer to anyone other than yourself. In a perfect world, this would be true, but unfortunately, the life of a freelancer is anything but perfect. After all, if freelancing were that easy everyone would be doing it!

Of course, it is possible to have a successful career as a freelancer, but it is without a doubt more than just a job – it is a way of life too. The thing about setting up on your own is that it’s not always as easy as it sounds. Yes, you can pick your work hours, but if you want to earn a decent amount of money, you will need to work for it. As a freelancer when the work comes in, there’s no one else to help you out if you’re struggling to make a deadline, it’s all on you. If you’re ill, you’re tired; you still need to fulfil your commitments to your client. There are no safety nets of other team members to delegate to, or paid sick leave, if you’re not working, you aren’t earning.

So, you are probably all too aware that freelancing is a big commitment, but are still wondering if it’s something that would suit you. Here are five things that every freelancer needs to be successful:

Hardworking Mentality

If you’re not prepared to work hard, then you aren’t going to make much money as a freelancer. As well as putting in all the hours for your current client, you will need to be out their chasing new ones too. 

Sometimes you will find yourself up through the night trying to complete a piece of work, and then back up early the next morning to start work on something else. Other times you will spend your weekends working on a job that’s taken far longer than you anticipated, but you will need to get it done regardless. 

The Right Tools for the Job

To be able to complete all of your freelance work, you are going to need to have the correct work set up. Not having the right equipment for the job is going to make your life as a freelancer a whole lot harder. 

Here are some of the things that will help make your life a lot easier; high-speed broadband so that you can work quickly, a mobile phone plan with plenty of minutes and data – check out Lebara, the right software, a quiet place to work. 

Organisation Skills

Being organised is so important when you are a freelancer. If you’re not organised, your work life can spiral out of control pretty quickly, and then it can be hard to get back on track. Keep up to date records of what you are working on, and make sure that you monitor your emails and action them regularly. 

One of the most frustrating things ever about being a freelancer is not getting paid on time. A lot of companies are pretty poor at paying freelancers. As a one-person business, you can find yourself way down the bottom of the list when it comes to being paid by your clients. This means that keeping accurate records of your work and when you sent your invoice to your client is essential. Knowing when you sent over your invoice means that you can chase them for payment as soon as it goes overdue.

Professional Attitude

Being a freelancer isn’t all about waking up at midday and then working in your pyjamas. Yes, being a freelancer does mean that you have more control over your day, but staying professional is a must too. 

Having a professional approach means meeting your deadlines, communicating appropriately, and being well-presented. Think about it from your clients’ perspective, would you hire you?

Determination

Being responsible for every aspect of your business means that you have to be determined to make it a success. You need to put the hours in to meet the deadlines, keep your clients happy and network to attract new ones. You need to be adaptable too, and able to move with the market; this could mean diversifying to stay relevant. Importantly, you need to know when to keep on trying to build your freelance career and when it is time to walk away and try something new.