Going Freelance
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- 42 Responses
- BigDee0
More than compensates doesn't it! Not having some jumped up little prat with the creativity of a kerb stone telling you what to do and when is bliss. Wow, left fulltime over a year ago and obviously still a little bitter.
- mirrorball0
I learnt this the hard way so take nite!!
Always ask for 50% of your estimatd job fee up front, when the job is finished make sure you get the other 50% when the job is delivered.
- force0
The ups and downs of workload is the thing I think is most stressful.
You never know how next month is gonna be (unless you have some regular clients, that is).But it sure feels good to be able to manage to stay alive on your own.
- force0
And oh yeah, dont forget to bunker up on cheap noodles for the rough times.
- vavaboom0
Im leaving my job a week earlier than I orginally told them and
I start freelancing monday for a big ad agency....im pretty nervous. ive never freelanced in adveritsing before only design firms...but fuck they are paying me well. im excited too!
- Jaline0
Im leaving my job a week earlier than I orginally told them and
I start freelancing monday for a big ad agency....im pretty nervous. ive never freelanced in adveritsing before only design firms...but fuck they are paying me well. im excited too!
vavaboom
(Nov 4 05, 07:19)good luck!
- Jaline0
and good luck, forcetwelve
- embarko0
why did you quit?
- aliceblue0
hey jaline ....
ive only freelaced for an
ad agency - never a design firmhave fun!
- fusionpixel0
remember that you wont get the benefits that an agency will give you, 401k, dental, medical, maternity leave and so on. So be prepared.
If you earn 100,000 freelancing instead of 50,000 that you would working for an agency, dont think it all goes to the partying and booze.
-Dont spend it all your money
-Save before your spend
-Live light
-Pay your bills on time
-Dont use crack sofware
-Get insurance
-Save save save
-Get some business cards
-Keep your folio updated
-Post light on Mailing LIsts
-Post light on messageboards
-Save all your can
-Pay a visit to the doctor
-Buy a comfortable chair
-Sit straight on your chair
-Get a partner if possible(for those emergency times)
-Buy nice furniture for your home office (I said nice no expensive)
-Do not work on Sunday
-Always get compensated for Rush Jobs
-Be nice to everyone, I say again Everyone
-Stay away from Drugs
-Stay away from drinking
-Set Goals
-Review yourself Weekly
-Review yourself MonthlyRead all you can on:
-Freelancing
-Time Management
-Your Industry (Web/Print)
-Success Stories
-Company Development
-Home Business
-Getting Things done
-ProductivitySave for:
-Upgrading your software
-Upgrading your hardware
-Schooling
-Books
-Unexpected visits to the doctor
-IllnessStay away from:
-Non-Productive Blogs
-Non-Productive Mailing lists
-Mindless Discussions(online and off-line)VERY VERY IMPORTANT:
If you are married Your family comes first ALWAYS i repeat ALWAYS. You can apply for a new gig next week, but can you apply for a new family next week?Rememeber, for you now every minute you spend counts, so make them worth. Who are you talking to? Where do you spend all your time?
And like spiderman's uncle would say
"With great power, comes great responsability"
It is great now youa are on your own, but a lot of responsabilities will lie on your shoulders but once you take the right steps it should be a breeze, for one you are not the first freelancer out there and there are a lot of successful people doing great things as freelancers.
That is it for now, other than that.. keep up the good work!
- dsc0
well said fusion! apart from the drugs bit that is . . . ;)
In all seriousness, if you get things right and start to enjoy yourself, working for yourself adds such a new, refreshing angle to your career. It's certainly one of the most rewarding things I've ever done and, unless things go tits up, I really cant see myself working for someone else again in a hurry.
- Duane0
I second the purchase of 'How to Be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul'. An invaluable resource. Best of luck forcetwelve! I think you'll do well.
- kyl30
i want to go back to fulltime freelance bad, but this contract is paying well and it's hard to stop.
right now it's freelance on weekends/nights and contract 9-5
- seed0
"-Stay away from Drugs
-Stay away from drinking"Man, then what's the point?
j/j, that was a really good informative post. Thanks.
- seed0
What is the average amount of $ you think you should save before going freelance? 2 months expenses? I've heard some say as much as 6. Going freelance as your only option atm is one thing but leaving a FT gig with benefits coupled with having a lot of financial responsibility (mortgage, etc) it seems you should at least have 2 months expenses saved.
- lyrek0
why does the loading sequence on your portfolio pieces get up to 121%?
- kyl30
at least 4-5 months if you have those responsibilities, i'd say. Clients lag with assets, projects, etc.
- forcetwelve0
thanks heaps guys for some fantastic advice. a lot i had not thought of at all.
- arseni0
- Always think about where to get new clients and how to become better at what you do. Think what else can you offer to your clients besides what you can now.
- Find power partners. You should know a lot of people who belong to your industry, but not necessarily do the same thing as you do. For example, if you're a designer, do you know a professional photographer, printer, SEO specialist, high end programmer and illustrator?
- Network, socialize, tell people how good you are. Think where your client may be and go there.
- Create To-Do lists every day. Include there every little detail, like "do laundry" or "replace a light bulb".
- Always carry business cards with you. Don't forget to re-order. Count how many business cards you give out every week. Is it enough?
- Always be on top of technology. Know what comes out before it's actually spread out.
- Don't forget to take a good care of yourself. Go to the GYM as often as you can. Don't eat in front of the computer. Look healthy, be healthy, think healthy.
- If you're getting busier, think of hiring a project manager.And as fusion said a lot of time - SAVE MONEY.