“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has just opened for us.”

“Find a job you enjoy doing and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

As a freelancer you have the luxury of not being valued per hour or per day. You don’t need to exchange time for money.A better approach would be to charge a fixed fee based upon the service being delivered. 50% deposit upfront & 50% upon completion.Always provide a clear description of precisely what is and isn’t covered by your estimate. Reinforce this with a contract. It may take a little trial & error to find a value that’s just right, but trust your value, learn from experience and review your rates regularly.Its a game changer.

Adding Value

To survive & thrive you’ll need;<ul><li>a business name</li><li>a dedicated work space </li><li>savings to get you through dry spells</li><li>tools, tech & equipment needed for your chosen field </li><li>a brand identity </li><li>a website </li><li>a business bank account </li><li>a business plan </li><li>business insurance </li><li>a pension </li><li>a contract to cover you should things go wrong </li><li>transport </li></ul>

The Practicalities

Nothing prepares for the loneliness and isolation of going solo. You can build your own community and find connections through:<ul><li>Co-working spaces </li><li>Online communities </li><li>Networking groups </li></ul>

Everybody Needs Somebody

Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.Meditate Use apps such as Calm, Headspace, Waking Up.ExerciseGo for a run, walk your dog, dance around your kitchen, yoga, pilates.Listen to Music Create a positive, uplifting playlist you can use to elevate your mood.Get Out in NatureSpending time outdoors has a positive affect on our mood, along with an array of other therapeutic benefits.Sleep WellStructure your routine to work for you. If you’re a late owl, start your day later so long as you can get the adequate amount of sleep.

Keep Your Head Up

Say YES to clients who:<ul><li>You enjoy working with. </li><li>They provide clear expectations and a defined scope of work.</li><li>Don’t undervalue you and pay your invoices in a timely manner.</li><li>The work compliments your niche or direction you wish to go in.</li><li>They’re mission & goals are in line with your values.</li></ul>Of course, if you have bills to pay and little work then you may not be able to say no but providing that you’re financially stable these tips can make your work way more enjoyable and stress free.

Learn to Say No

Picture this. A company is looking to hire a freelancer, they do a quick online search and receive 3 responses of £600, £400 or £200. They’ll go with the cheapest.What they don’t know is their chosen freelancer is new to the game meaning the process takes twice as long and is delivered half as good. Suddenly this cheap job becomes expensive.Though, if you are determined to charge day rates work out your ideal annual salary, add expenses and divide by the amount of days you wish to work.

The Danger of Day Rates

Aim to have between 3-6 months of living wages saved for adversities and dry spells.You should allow at least a month to secure your first job, a month to complete it, and another month to get paid.

Money Matters

Freelance isn’t free and it is important you don’t undervalue yourself. Don’t panic if someone can’t afford your services, this just means that particular client isn’t a fit for your services.Charge a fair price that reflects your skills & experience Every freelancer is different and benchmark rates can vary drastically. Your rate will depend on your skills & strengths, industry, location, living costs & lifestyle.If you have little experience you may begin with mock projects, or offering a free trial - but don’t get stuck in this loop.

How Much Should You Charge?

Like any career, your freelance journey will contain good days but also bad days.On a good day you’ll feel positive, confident, motivated, organised, driven, determined and even untouchable.Then there are the bad days when you feel like you’re a failure, and nothing you can do or say will change the way you feel.It’s okay not to be okay.<ul><li>Don’t suffer alone</li><li>Don’t compare yourself to others </li><li>Be kind to yourself </li></ul>As a golden rule, if you wouldn’t say it to a friend, don’t say it to yourself.

We All Have Bad Days

If you're just starting out and you expect your business to have high set-up charges, you might want to consider registering for VAT. This enables you to claim back at least some of the tax on the cost of your home office, equipment, training and marketing. An accountant can help you decide.

You can’t expect clients to take you seriously, if you, yourself don’t. Start by setting yourself up as a business (because you are):<ul><li>Finances - business account, invoices, contracts </li><li>Have the correct technology, software & equipment </li><li>Create a logo</li><li>Build (or outsource someone to build) a professional website or portfolio </li><li>Set up business pages/accounts on your chosen social media platforms </li></ul>

Take Your Business Seriously

You don’t need to nor have the time to be your own accountant, assistant, coach etc. Its simple:as much time as possible doing the things that make you money +as little time as possible doing the things that don’t =the secret to time efficient management & freelance success

Outsourcing

Introduce routineAim to start and end your day at a set time and schedule regular breaks.Keel movingInstead of spending your entire day glued to your laptop, stretch out those muscles, take your calls standing up, go for a walk, do a 10 minute yoga class - anything. Don’t get stuck in sedentary lifestyle.Claim your spaceYou are in fact lucky that you can run your business from home, but don’t fall into the trap of mixing work with leisure, or even worst; loneliness. Have a dedicated ‘work space’ and consider working from a coffee shop or co-working space to switch things up.

The Secret to Working from Home

Avoid distractionsOur attention can become scattered easily in the freelance life. Take actions to prevent this: hide the TV remote, stay off social media, turn off notifications and develop discipline to check your email twice a day.Stay focusedMultitasking is your enemy and significantly reduces your productivity. Rather than focusing your attention on doing one job well, hopping from one to another increases likelihood of mistakes.Manage your timePlan your day using your calendar into time-blocked structured tasks. Try the Pomodoro technique; 25 mins work, 5 mins break & repeat.

The Secret to Working from Home (continued)

Freelancing is a personal journey, and this differs from person to person. To create the path that will work for you - first, you need to define your strengths and areas for improvement.You can do this simply by completing a few personality tests, which should give you a clear view of this.<ul><li><a href="https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test">The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)</a></li><li><a href="https://discpersonalitytesting.com/free-disc-test/">DISC</a></li><li><a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/quiz/the-four-tendencies-quiz/">The Four Tendancies </a></li></ul>

Strengths & Weaknesses

The things we repeatedly tell ourselves tend to become our reality, so become aware of the language you're using. If you're in the habit of berating yourself when you make a mistake, and you're unforgiving when something doesn't go to plan, make a choice to be kind to you.<ul><li>Don’t suffer alone</li><li>Don’t compare yourself to others </li><li>Be kind to yourself</li></ul>As a golden rule, if you wouldn’t say it to a friend, don’t say it to yourself.

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay

This is your business personality and it should be cohesive across everywhere your business is present. It incorporates;<ul><li>Your business name </li><li>Your colour scheme </li><li>Typography & Fonts </li><li>Writing style (tone)</li><li>Business cards</li><li>Domain name</li><li>Website / Portfolio</li><li>Email address & Email signature </li><li>Marketing materials </li><li>Social media posts & Profiles</li></ul>Make sure these are clear and consistent.

Your Brand

You must register yourself as self employed with the government, so this also means you become responsible for paying your own tax.There’s a catch! Once your annual tax bill is over £1,000 you are required to make payments on account. This involves paying half of the following year’s estimated tax upfront.Payments on account are due twice a year, so that first tax bill can come as a nasty surprise - if you’re not prepared for it.

Not All The Money You Get Paid Is Yours

Tried & Tested Tips -  to help you succeed in your freelance venture.

Survival Skills for Freelancers is your secret weapon to help you grow in confidence and achieve YOUR definition of success! Get more than 20 years of real-life experience - plus advice from over 100 freelancers - in 200 unputdownable pages. Whether you're new to freelance life, thinking of taking the leap or an experienced freelancer, you'll learn to: ★ Set better boundaries and create a work-life balance that works for you ★ Value your worth and know how - and what - to charge ★ Stay focused and productive when working from home ★ Tackle the isolation that comes with self-employment ★ Grow your network and find new clients ★ Trust your instinct - and say no to the wrong work ★ Deal with comparisonitis and negative self-talk ★ Grasp opportunities that'll build your confidence ★ Ditch self-doubt and imposter syndromeIf you've been wondering, "Should I start my own business?" this is the book for you. Get started, tackle the challenges of freelance life and show self-employment who's boss! The bestselling guide to freelance life has helped thousands of freelancers in more than 26 countries to get more enjoyment from self-employment. Join them, and give YOUR freelance business the edge. WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING"I've been freelancing for 15+ years and I wish I'd read this book on day one. Every page is packed with practical advice and hard-won wisdom. Get it!" Tom Albrighton, Author, The Freelance Introvert "The value in this book is amazing - I'm so happy with my purchase!" Joanne Barker, Coach and Mentor "I read this book in one sitting - I simply couldn't put it down! As someone who's dabbling in freelancing this book is a godsend." Chomparani Ali, Content Strategist "Before you set up your website, think about your product and audience and offering, spend your first few pounds on this book. It'll make every subsequent pound and hour better spent." Matthew Knight, Founder, Leapers "A warm, practical and empathetic guide to the challenges of being your own boss. I could have done with this before embarking on a decade as a self-employed reporter and presenter!" Ed Draper, Sky Sports Broadcaster "It's so nice to read a book written by a proper copywriter who knows how to get words from the page to the mind with the least resistance. It's just so goddamn intuitive to read." Matt Phil Carver, Freelance Copywriter "A brilliantly relatable and comprehensive guide that holds your hand with compassion and humour through the rocky yet undeniably exciting world of self-employment." Louise Goss, Founder, Homeworker Magazine