What one bit of advice do you wish you’d been given when you started?

It's been 3 years since I started my business.

It took over 2 years to find my feet. I made a lot of mistakes along the way.

I bought hundreds of business cards that never got used (more on that later). I soldiered on without a day off or an accountant. I thought that new leads would magically appear from thin air...

In the first few months of running a business, you’re clutching at straws, in the dark, upside down, on no sleep. It’s a bit like parenting.

I asked some lovely people on Twitter* what they wished they’d been told when they started a business.

The response was so good, it became a spreadsheet. And this article. ??

*All tweets below are clickable, in case you feel like giving any of these lovely freelancers a follow.

? Go for walks ??

A lot of people said taking time off is the most important thing you can do. 

A daily walk is important for those first few tough months. One freelancer even said it had ‘kept them sane.’ Another advised regular naps. That’s something I think we can all get on board with.

Unanimously, people also advised scheduling regular days off. This can be hard in the beginning. Get into the habit of taking time for yourself, and it will pay off in the long run.

? Find a community, for advice, support and friendship ??

Good things start happening once you find the right communities.

These can be online or offline, although online is more readily available at the moment.

When I found the right Twitter chat, I started to make connections with other freelancers. Through these, I got a wealth of advice and a support network that kept me going.

It also gave me a brilliant net of people to collaborate with. This alone was probably the single biggest factor in helping me to grow my business long term.

When you do find a community, use it. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness.

? Go with the flow ??

You’ve decided to start a business. You have a name, a logo and maybe even a website.

But then comes the weeks and months of clueless fumbling (I speak from experience here). Followed by possibly more months of silence, mixed with more clueless fumbling.

A lovely bit of advice that was mentioned by a few Twitter users was to simply allow time to pass and trust in yourself, that things will work out.

? For first projects, mine your existing network ?

If you’re just starting, then your first paid work will likely come from the contacts you already have.

If you’re unsure about where to start, it’s always a good idea to reach out on social media. Even just reminding someone that you’re there, or telling them you’re starting out on your own, can be enough to generate a lot of work.

I've written a longer article about finding your first clients. Read it here:

? Get an accountant ??

This is so important. It took me 2.5 years to pluck up the courage to hand over my accounts to these guys. I’m so glad I did. My accountant loves a chinwag and always offers good advice.

An accountant can help you navigate the choppy waters of tax, dealing HMRC and Companies House. They can help you decide whether it’s right to be self-employed or a limited business. Most will do your books for you, too.

Alongside having an accountant, it’s worth paying for a lawyer to look over your contracts. 

? Don’t undersell yourself ??

When work finally does start rolling it, it’s so tempting for many of us to chomp at any offer we receive.

At this point, more experienced freelancers pointed out that you must believe in yourself. Specifically, believe in your own skills and how much they’re worth. Stick to your rates. This will lead to the right sort of work.

? Be selective about whom you work with ??

Much like sticking to your rates, it’s important to sometimes say ‘no.’ If a project doesn’t feel like a good fit for you or the client, it’s actually healthier to say so. It shows respect to yourself and your client.

Turning down a client because it’s not a good fit is a bet on yourself. Always bet on yourself.

? Don’t buy business cards ??

You don’t actually need business cards. But so many of us love getting them printed when we start.

How much did I spend on business cards that are gathering dust on the window? A lot.

? Get a deposit ????♀?

At the start of every project, it’s worth asking for a deposit. Even in the very early days.

It protects cashflow, it ensures the client is on board, and it gives everyone security.

Alongside asking for money up-front, a lot of users on Twitter insisted on never working for free. This sounds obvious, but many of us (including me) fell into this trap for the promise of future work. 

Any job that won't pay you fairly for your work isn't worth doing.

? Read ‘Survival Skills for Freelancers’

This book received a few honourable mentions. I've just ordered a copy. ??

If you’re starting out and you feel a bit lost, give me a shout.

I've also written a couple of books on marketing and love a chinwag.