There’s much to be considered before you enter the unknown world of freelancing. You’ll need to weigh up the cost of security against that of freedom, and your own situation will determine which way you jump, or even how far you jump. Reading this book will give you insight into how to avoid putting all your eggs in one basket straight away.
And remember: at the end of the day, it’s fine to accept that you’ve tried freelancing, but want to return to full-time work.
Do Your Research
In terms of research, you are already taking the right step in reading this book. However, it’s important to seek as many opinions and tips as possible to help you make this potentially life-changing decision. You’ll find many blogs authored by freelancers on the Web, as well as discussion forums and networking groups frequented by other freelancers.
Examples include a popular blog for freelance web professionals called Freelance Folder, the freelance discussion forums site TalkFreelance, and the aptly named Wake Up Later.
Ask around at your local web industry groups, and keep a finger on the pulse for freelance or entrepreneur events in your city. Speak with as many people who have gone before you as you possibly can. It’s amazing how open most seasoned freelancers are about their experiences, and how helpful seeking their advice can be!
Consider Your Situation
If you’ve reached this point of the chapter, weighed yourself against the summary of desirable attributes we saw earlier, and are still determined to try your hand at going it alone, great! It’s highly likely that you will be very successful at freelancing.
Now, before you do anything else, take stock of your current situation. There are some other important considerations here beyond your own personality and skills.
Firstly, do you have any savings? If not, start saving right away—having a small cushion, should there be some tight months when you’re starting out, is essential and something I cannot overstate. Having the buffer of that piggybank, even if you never need to break into it, is well worth the effort and time it takes to gather it before you leap into the unknown (we’ll see more of this subject in Chapter 3). So how much do you need to save? This is something only you can determine, and depends on your situation. If you live at home with your parents, or share the rent with flatmates, and have little or no debt, you can probably survive on less income for a longer period than someone who has a mortgage and children to feed. Ideally, you would have three months of costs up your sleeve. Consider your expectations of lifestyle, weigh up what you need in order to live, and think about what you can bear to give up so that you can start to fill that piggybank.
Secondly, do you have adequate room available at home for an office? You need to set up somewhere quiet, with little scope for interruption, and preferably access to natural light, as well as able to accommodate a desk, chair, shelving, and everything else you’ll need. You should plan to have a room devoted to your business—working out of a corner of your bedroom isn’t ideal in the long term.
Thirdly, if you have a partner or family, what are their thoughts? If your partner isn’t supportive of your decision to go freelance, it can cause great strain on the relationship and create stress that you’d be better off without. Take the time to explain your plans, and ensure that you share your accomplishments with your loved ones, every step of the way.
Lastly, do you already own the necessary hardware and software? Look beyond the standard code and design tools—will you need special accounting software, or additional tools such as a fax machine or filing cabinet? Start a list of the items you’ll require as you work your way through this book; we’ll deal with this in more detail when we get to Chapter 4.
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