Even though you're only managing yourself, you still need to keep track of expenses and human resources.
Furthermore, as a freelancer, you will still be paying taxes (the amount varies from country to country), but this time you are the one who has to figure out the process. This means that the money you make is not all yours (this is a sore spot for many new freelancers).
Most customers decide to employ the services of a freelancer over a company because of the costs involved. Freelancers usually cost less and are easier to manage than companies, but this doesn't always mean the quality of work is similar.
But this is a story for another guide. Right now, let's focus on your pricing strategy (and yes, you need one!).
Regardless of your chosen niche, the start will be difficult. Finding good-paying customers is not an easy task and it does get overwhelming. As a result, you may be tempted to lower your prices just to get some work in. This is not a good practice, and here are several reasons to support this statement:
The solution: Do some research on the accepted price level for the type of services you provide. Next, calculate how much you need to charge to be happy with the outcome and compare with the data you have from the research.
Sadly, job boards are extremely competitive and it's difficult to find customers that will pay your asking fee. However, it's best to find alternative resources for jobs than to fall victim to low prices.
Yes, even freelancers need a work schedule!
Beginners risk falling in two extremes: working too much and working too little. While in the first few days you may be tempted to relax and chill (especially if you just gave up a demanding job), as the time goes by, it is extremely easy to become a workaholic.
For the first few months, your main job will be to look for reliable customers. Afterward, once you get a constant stream of projects, it's extremely easy to forget there's life after work. As a freelancer, it's easy to bury yourself in projects and forget about friends, family, and having fun.
That's why you need a work schedule. It may not be as strict as a 9 to 5 job, but it should create a healthy work-fun balance.
We recommend using a time tracking app that can create reports at the end of the week, so you'll know where your time went. This is important because we are surrounded by all sorts of distractions these days, and work at home doesn't make things easy!
So, apps such as Time Doctor, Paydirt, Hours and more will literally help you save time.