You get to be your own boss, set your own hours and potentially make a much higher salary. However, a lot of effort, strategy and planning typically goes into earning those benefits.
The idea of starting a freelance business can feel overwhelming. It can help to break the process down into a series of smaller steps.
By sticking with a particular niche, you can keep your work focused and become an expert. As you develop your freelancing business based on your niche, you can later branch out into other directions as your interests change and your client list grows.
When setting goals, it can be a good idea to make sure they are specific, measurable, attainable, and time-based. You may want to set three different types of goals: short-term, long-term, and ongoing.
These days, an online presence is usually a must in the freelancing business, as most freelancers network and find a lot of their work online.
It’s also a good idea to keep track of everything you spend to start and run your business (and to save all of your receipts). Expenses such as internet access, a new laptop, travel and attendance to industry conferences, etc., may qualify as self-employed tax deductions and reduce your taxable income.