What are the key steps to starting a freelancing business?

Don’t try and plan a perfect business in advance. Do the essential stuff, then get started and adapt as you go. Most friends that are in mainstream employment will call you crazy. Many friends that are freelancers will also call you crazy! It’s not for everyone! But remember this; lots of successful businesses have been born out of necessity (redundancy etc), but NO business EVER, has been born through apathy! Go For It!

It is important to understand that there is no correlation between being exceptional at something of value and having the ability to run a business providing that thing of value to others.

One key step in freelancing: Build your portfolio. In my experience, regularly updating it keeps things fresh. One thing I've found useful is incorporating client testimonials for added credibility.

When I started my consultancy and training business I used a combination of LinkedIn, Twitter (X), a website and blog writing to attract business. It is better to focus on a small number of platforms than trying to be on all of them. KEY POINT: It was rarely the end client that saw my posts, it was other people that saw them, and then recommended me to their friends, colleagues and contacts. Getting traction when you first start is akin to getting a huge ship moving on the sea. The engines will need to be on full power for a long time before any movement can be seen!

When setting your rates you also need to remember that you won’t get paid holidays. Some sectors have seasonal peaks and troughs. Be prepared to be flexible & pivot services to ensure you always have a pipeline of work.

In freelancing, a pivotal step is setting your rates and terms. In my experience, I've learned the importance of transparent communication about the value clients receive for the agreed-upon rates. For example, in a web development project, I outlined how the pricing accounted for meticulous coding, testing phases, and the delivery of a fully functional and optimized website. This upfront approach builds trust and establishes clear expectations, reducing potential misunderstandings later on.

In freelancing, nail time and money management. From my experience, scheduling dedicated work blocks boosts productivity. Tools like Toggl keep tasks in check. On the financial side, prompt invoicing via PayPal ensures smooth payments. For instance, in a web development project, this approach ensured timely milestones. In graphic design, it streamlined client payments, making the freelance journey a breeze.

When I first started my sales consultancy and training business, I did the rounds of endless breakfast networking events. I offered to do free training sessions that were PROPER mini training sessions, not just a pitch for my services. My top advice; ‘Seek to give, NOT to get!’ If you do, you will actually get! If you seek to get, you will only get tumbleweed!

Un réel intérêt se pour suivre à moi ne pas chercher mais eu pensé trouvé le jour au jour le talent et une sicilienne succès

Nun wurde ich zum Netzwerken gefragt: Eine meiner wesentlichen Lernerfahrungen in der Selbstst?ndigkeit war, dass es essentiell ist, ein gutes, tragf?higes Netzwerk aufzubauen. Mundpropaganda und Referenzen z?hlen oft mehr als unz?hlige Kaltakquisen und Weiterbildungszertifikate. St?rke positive Referenzen, pflege Dein Netzwerk auch informell und gehe die Extrameile für Deine Kund*innen ist meine Empfehlung - der Einsatz wird belohnt.

I left the security blanket of corporate employment 12 years ago to set up my current business. In my experience people that have the confidence to set up their own business, also have confidence that they can get back into regular work if their idea fails. It is important that you already have extensive experience if you are going to offer professional or technical services. Your resume needs to have companies that people will recognise. For me it was a great move, BUT if you think freelancing is ‘easier’ than mainstream employment, think again!