A lot more people are getting into freelancing hoping to make a lot of money and having more free time. Unfortunately it takes a lot of hard work to make it as a freelancer and you need to be well prepared for this.
There are some mistakes that seem to persist in the freelancing community and here are some of the most devastating mistakes that you should avoid if you want to become a freelancer.
Undervaluing Yourself
Many freelancers end up doing badly because they don’t understand the value of their own work. And unfortunately freelancers tend to undervalue their work a lot more often than they overvalue it.
This can end up causing you plenty of financial problems so make sure you learn how to calculate your true value.
You need to start by really understanding your experience and qualifications for the specific job. You also must include any possible expenses it is going to cost you and remember to include simple things like internet costs and electricity.
You should also look at these great tips at the Freelance Mag that help you improve the value of your work. This can guarantee you make the most out of your freelancing career and you won’t be left in financial trouble.
Saying ‘Yes’ To Everything
The above point also is closely related to saying ‘yes’ all the time. As a freelancer you don’t need to take every single job offer or do whatever your clients ask of you.
If the job isn’t financially worth it or you don’t think you are going to benefit from it in terms of new connections or more job opportunities it probably isn’t worth doing. Saying ‘no’ is a skill you must develop as a freelancer.
Not Asking Any Advice
Although freelancing will be a lonely job and does suit people who like to solve problems on their own, it still doesn’t meant that you have to struggle all on your own. There are a lot of things that you simply won’t have time to master and it is important to know when to ask for help and advice.
For example, looking after your finances can be a really time consuming thing to do and you don’t want to spend hours learning about taxation. The best way for freelancers to ensure they are making the most out of their money is to get an accountant to help out. You might be thinking that you don’t have the resources to do it but you’d be wrong.
There are a lot of great cheap and affordable accounting services that can help you out and maximize your profit. Check out cheap accounting options at Friendly Accountants, for instance.
Don’t Stop Working
Unfortunately a lot of freelancers also don’t know when to stop either. Freelancing will take a lot of hard work and you need to be prepared for the long days. This still shouldn’t mean that you don’t have any free time either.
The truth is that you are going to be a lot more productive when you also get a good rest. So in order to provide a better service remember to turn that computer off at times and take your mind away from work.
Ricky wants to help out freelancers make it in this demanding economic climate. He is also passionate about finding ways to save money and has recently gotten into learning more about sustainable living.
