How to Transition to the Freelance Life
5 things to consider before you quit you day job!
Are you thinking about quitting your job and becoming a full-time freelancer?
Before you do that, you may want to read some of the thoughts I’m going to share in this article.
I worked in an office for many years as well. And I can relate to many of the things that may have urged people to choose another source of livelihood.
When you become a freelancer, you don’t have to go to the office every day. You can take a break whenever you want. You can also take a vacation whenever you feel like it.
In addition, you can choose the projects you’d like to work with. You will also be the one to plan the best strategy to accomplish your goals.
But before you dive quickly into what you consider as your dream lifestyle, you must also look at some of the possible consequences of your choice.
Will there be a new set of challenges that may cause you to regret your decision? Will you be happier with all the uncertainty you’d face in exchange for the predictable career you used to have?
Here are some of the important things to consider when planning to transition to the freelance life:
1. Do your research
Don’t be enticed by testimonies that sound too good to be true. While some people can make it big in a short span of time, the reality for most people may be different.
Try to find out how much you can really earn from the freelance jobs you’re planning to take. Will it allow you to have a better source of income than before?
Remember that when you go freelance, you’ll be the one paying also for all of your expenses. This includes your utilities such as your internet and electric bill. If you are going to rent an office, you’d be paying for that, too. Will you be hiring a virtual assistant? You’d pay for your assistant’s salary even before you find your first client!
Then there are online fees to consider such as web hosting, Newsletter subscriptions, domain name registration and more. You’d be the one to buy your own laptop and other equipment.
2. Talk to people you can trust
It isn’t enough to watch YouTube videos of people claiming they earned this or that much by selling online or providing a certain kind of service.
For all you know, they could merely be trying to lure people in so that they can have more watch hours for their videos, not to mention going “viral” and selling a lot of affiliate products with that.
Find some people you can actually trust, the people who will honestly tell you what they have experienced by quitting their jobs and transitioning to the freelance life.
3. Test the waters first!
You don’t need to quit your job right away and become a full-time freelancer overnight.
The wiser thing to do is to do a little experiment first. Test the waters and see if you can get a client for your desired freelance job. If you are planning to become a freelance writer, look for some clients that you can cater to part-time.
It can be as simple as writing blog posts. It can also include some form of editing.
Whatever it may be, try to get a feel of the jobs you’d be taking on. Can you handle securing clients on your own? How fast can you work so that you can earn your target income?
4. Save up
You need to be ready for contingencies. Save enough money so that you can survive even if your new freelance venture is not yet as profitable as you want it to be.
How many months can you survive without a new client? What if something happens to your current projects? Do you still have time to look for new clients? Or for a job back in the office?
5. Tell your family
If you have a family that depends on you, it is but practical that you also inform them about your decision.
What can they do to support you during your transition? How will their lives be affected? Will they need to adjust to a more frugal lifestyle in the meantime?
What will be your office setup? Will you rent an office elsewhere? Or will you work from home? What boundaries do they need to observe during your working hours?
Having a clear idea of your freelance journey
Deciding to finally quit your office job and pursue your lifelong dream is an exciting journey that can empower you and give you all the energy you need to be busier than usual, doing everything you can to make sure that you will succeed in your new undertaking.
But just like anything else in life, things can happen in unexpected ways. You have to be prepared for it. And you should definitely have a backup plan.
Don’t take the shortcut and suffer the consequences later on. Do your research, seek help from people and prepare everything you need. That’s the best way to start your freelance life!
Would you like to get your first clients and start your career as a full-time freelance writer?
You can take a look at my book below:
