To ask about your freelance journey?

[WackyRacers]

It’s something I am very seriously considering. I have two secondary school kids. Mortgage will be paid off soon. Partner supportive of plan and earns enough to carry the load for as long as needed.

Clients would either be big corporates or small tech firms. Would offer a mix of consulting and training. Possible fractional work/retainers.

I have a network and reputation in the space.

Please tell me your experiences? I’m craving freedom, more interesting work and a rest from office politics. I don’t mind a drop in income and I know they’ll be bad bits and loads of admin.

Maybe Saturday night wasn’t the time for this question:)

It would be a brave move in this economic climate. There has been a noticeable drop in subcontracting to externals over the last 12-18 months. Do you have potential clients lined up that you are sure would use you?

Everything else is straight forward - admin, accounting etc and it gives you huge freedom but it's just the timing that's an issue. You haven't said what you are consulting on though so I may be wrong.

Be prepared to work more than you do in your employed role.

Having loads of free time and working around the kids (or hobbies or whatever) is a myth when you’re setting up.
In reality you’ll spend your day working for clients and your evening working on your business and hustling for contracts.

all good if you’re happy to do that but it’s relentless and you’ll struggle to switch off or take time off.

I've been freelance for 15 years.

it's lonely - really lonely and there is so much work you do unpaid - pitching/ researching/ conversations before commissions - conversations after the work comes out, promoting my work after its published (I am in the media) -

I do it because it suits my personality ( I have adhd and never loved being in an office clocking in and off) but my god I really do miss office life sometimes. I miss the people/ the chats/ the collaboration.

I am succesful as a freelancer - but its very very hard.

I think what people don't realise - is how much you do unpaid - and that even when I am between commissions - I get up and go to my desk and sit there 'working' - looking for ideas/ pitching/ emailing people/ making calls - all of it - completely unpaid!

Really think that through as that is somethign I think people in staff jobs never consider.

I should add the positives - its suits my personality as i don't like being told what to do !

I have had HUGE amounts of freeedom - yes sadly most of it spent caring for my kids! But I am nobodys slave, I take whatever time off I want - I have the whole summers off with my kids, go on holiday when I like -

On a friday if I cant be arsed to work I just go to the pub early - or - go for a swim/ bike ride/ see friends\

I think it suits some people more than others - if you like structure and predictability probably not for you.

My DH went freelance during the pandemic and has been very successful since the start. Completely opposite experience to others it seems. He's basically the house husband while I work full time. Does all the school runs, housework etc and takes one day off a week for sport, but still bringing in about 50k a year from his work. He's a copywriter btw. Sorry if this sounds like a brag but I am proud of him, and want to give you some optimism! It can be amazing! Give it a try!

It would be more specialized consulting than subcontractors but I certainly take your point

I can’t line up clients as it would be a conflict of interest with current role. I have contacts who have previously offered me work though

That’s impressive given the hit AI has given the industry!

I’m fully remote in current role so already used to being alone all day. Would miss colleagues though

I've been freelance about 10 years. Absolutely love it but it can have downsides.

Pluses (for me - may not be for others)

Suits my style of working, I've never liked being micro managed or even managed

Have kids, one is disabled, there's no way I'd get to all appointments if employed and be able to do pick ups and so on

I choose projects I like with people I like. If something is awful and I've misjudged it at least it's short unlike being stuck in the wrong job.

No commute and I can go into my clients offices usually if I want - best of both worlds

Minuses

Admin, but you can get people to help with this such as a decent accountant

Putting myself out there, promoting and networking does not come naturally to me.

Chasing payments sometimes. The whole getting set up with contracts and getting log ins can take ages so then cashflow can be lumpy.

2020 was absolutely shit

Overall though I prefer it and wouldn't go back. I'd imagine a lot depends on what you do too.

Good luck!

Different industry I think to you but the hardest is you are never not working, because it fits around everything you do it when not doing the everything so I am still working now.

AI is hitting so much - so in mine (publishing) the number of jobs is falling as the number of people wanting to freelance increased so it’s highly competitive

it is hard to say no to jobs and often you take stuff on because you want to be dependable and don’t know when the next bit can be

@Brokenwardrobes for someone who is proud of him you seem to forget he too probably works full time

Freelance for 18 years (2 different fields)
I love it and would hate to be employed, I think I have gone feral now.
I get more work than most people in my field, I think its largely because I have a background in Business and especially in Sales. I know how to sell and market my services and also how to run a Business. I know people who are probably just as good as me in our field but don't have the other skills - for example I recently went to an event with a friend in the same field where there were around 6 companies who needed our services. I have had work from 5 of them and she hasn't got work from any of them, I have a few years more experience but she is probably just as good as me BUT she did not know how to turn the "fun chats" into real ££ like I do.
I also know about Forecasting, Pipelines, Tax,Business Planning, Profits etc

@Tiswa weird presumption on your part. In fact he does 20 hours a week (inclusive of unpaid work) which I'd call part time hours.

This is not my experience. I have way more free time as a freelancer because I can work 2 days a week on a high day rate and earn enough monthly not to need to do any more. So lead gen, admin etc can be done on the non working days. Of course it’s not always like that, there are peaks and troughs in terms of workload, but I don’t routinely work evenings and when I do it’s usually more down to my procrastination and bad time management than necessity. My life is generally very chill and less pressured than when I was full time and I find it much easier to get freelance contracts/consultancies/ad hoc projects than I do full time jobs. I’ve applied for a handful of full time jobs over the last 3 years as they really appealed to me, not because I want to stop freelancing necessarily, and 80% of the time if I apply through an applicant portal that’s filtered by AI I get auto rejected pretty quickly. Whereas when I apply for freelance work, that usually involves sending a CV and cover note to a real person. In that instance, I’d say I get an interview 90% of the time and get the job about 50% of the time.

@Hoppinggreen Would you share any tips on converting conversations to sales?

There is a LOT to it, I actually used to run a course on it.
However, if I was to say one thing it would be ASK for the Business. I appreciate that might sound obvious but I have seen so many people say that they can't understand why they haven't got any business from someone when they "got on so well". It doesn't matter how well you get on with someone you need to ask them to work with you. Having a lovely chat will not make you any money

Hi I'm trying to get into this field as a copywriter. Can I ask how your husband did it? Massive well done to him 👏

I've been trading for 5 years ( practically actually coming up to 3)

My previous employment was the first job after having kids and after they announced they didn't need me any more I felt such a massive relief that the thought of going back into an office environment was very unattractive.

I work in landscaping, design and visuals. When the above happened I had about 10 years of industry experience so I made my case to DH that I make a go of it.

I had exactly one client already. It took 3/4 months to get my second and third clients. I spend those months making a Stella portfolio and stalking companies before calling them to make my case.

I have about 10 clients now.and have the odd private design client. Everything from technical drawing, to site work and some curve balls (an interior designer and a hotel). I'm making well over a grand a month now working part time from home, term time only. I can do all the kids stuff and no wrap around care required so saving thousands a year. I'm writing a book and fitting hobbys in too.in the quiet weeks.

I love it but I'm an introvert, I don't crave company particularly.

It can bleed into home life if you aren't disciplined (or desperate to please). I often do an hour or two on weekends mornings to give me more flexibility in the week but I accept that's a choice.

I would recommend having a proper office space if you can. Our house is small so I work at the dining room table but it's somewhat annoying packing things up at the end of day. I wish I could have everything set up.

I recommend getting an accountant!

No one reads emails advertising your work. Better to contact directly or get recommended Every one of my clients I cold called, or was a recommendation from someone else.

Put your prices up every year. I'm putting them up to £29 an hour in January.

@Cerialkillerthsnk you for sharing all these insights

@Hoppinggreenthat’s a really important point!

Yes completely agree with this. You need to chase work.

I could be accused of being a bit cheeky and I hated upselling in any other role but it come more naturally when its my neck/profits on the line.

' oh i could help you with that'

'If you are happy with this, i could also lok at doing X for you too'

'Oh i've done that in the past too, would you like me to quote to include it?

The exception to this is if you have an existing client base who will move over to you once you are freelance and already chomping at the bit.

I seem to have reached a critical mass where word is spreading, I worked for a Client last year and came to an improptue completion party. at the party i met the architect for the project and we got chatting about work. 6 months later he recommended me to someone who is now a client. She then recommneded me to SOMEONE ELSE and Ive just done a project for her too.

Being as helpful and efficient as possible makes a big first impression and the number of people who have fed back that 'your so much faster then X person' has been consistant.

I'm also in the process of getting on the books for a local authority. If you dont know how they work, they usually have a number of 'approved' contractor and they will usually only call upon one of those when they have a project. In may case its a family member recommending me, its really good to plumb those contact (gently) to push your business. If you get the opportunity to tender for a long term project you should do so.

No one has mentioned it, but i recommend becoming limited. Its a trivial amount of money and allows you to take advantage of reduced tax on dividends etc, you will need a business account which is a good idea anyway. it also somewhat protects you personally from liability although i would suggest you think about insurance anyway. Is there any risk that your work can cause fiinancially or physically harm to anyone. I don't need public liability but did get proffessional indemnity insurance to cover mistakes. I've just finshed a £1m project, If I gave them the wrong quantity for e.g. paving, that represents a lot of potential finiancal loss to my client company.

Finally - I would write a (very soft) financial plan. If you DH will be supported you then I think it would be a very good thing for your relationship to be proactive with this. Look at what your evential minimum goal needs to be in say 5 years to make this worthwhile and what you need to achive this. What hourly rate, how many hours etc. What income would be acceptable for year 1,2,3 etc and most importatly...what happens if you falll behind your plan. What stratagies would you use up catch up, advertising, networking, chasing work? At what point do you give up and go back to conventinal employment.

Your DH may be happy with you doing it now, but how will he feel in in 5 years time if you are only making a few thousand a year? If you are honest with him/yourself about the future goals you can reduce resently/frustration.

Buy something nice for you/the family with your first payment :)

It’s 24/7 365, you never take a break. Even when you can take a few days off you spend the entire time thinking/worrying about where your next client will come from.

It’s full on, you’re the CEO of EVERYTHING. I spent more time on marketing than anything else.

I managed for 6 years before it burnt me out and made me ill. I needed a year off before I recovered properly.

100% don’t recommend.

This is certainly a risk but it really depends on your personality, sector etc. I spend 80% of my time drawing, 10% of my time emailing and admin 5% on site. Probabaly less then 5% of my time chasing work/researching potential clients/ networking.

I suspect that being dependent on the income makes a big difference, if you are being supported by DH in the short/medium term then you can develop a better balance. I also recommend controlling client expectation with e.g. a terms of service document. You don't even need to to send it, but its important to set in your mind expectations and then you can start saying 'i plan to get a first draft to you in X weeks' . Always allow extra time to allow yourself a break, time for mistakes or if that high end client has an emergency and you get an opportunity to impress someone!

Im guilty of falling over myself to get work out of the door asap, late nights, weekends etc but this is partially to impress a valuable client early on, once you are more established its easier or if you are confident in volume of work coming your way.

Im curious about your sector OP?

My DH went freelance about five years ago and was doing well. Lots of work around, mostly work from clients who already knew him. But over a year ago all work has dried up - a mixture of budgets being decimated and the rapid increase in the use of AI and specialist technology, and redundancies among staff. In the last year, he was just making minimum wage. He’s now, somewhat reluctantly, retired. Of course, it very much depends on your sector and the type of work.