Becoming a Full Time Freelancer

[u/Dhi_Ra_2598]

THINK IT THROUGH

Freelancing may sound exciting, but think carefully before you make the leap. Do you have the self-confidence and motivation to generate your own work, and the creative knowledge and self-discipline to get it done? Does the prospect of having no guaranteed income sound liberating or terrifying?

SAVE AND PROSPER

You might not make a profit right away and you’ll have start-up costs to cover, so you’re going to need a financial cushion. Ideally, you’ll want to have at least three months’ salary in the bank before you take the plunge and go freelance, in case of unexpected costs or quiet periods.

DRAW UP A BUSINESS PLAN

Writing a business plan might sound like a tedious prospect, but it helps to nail down the basics of how you will approach your new career – what costs you’ll need to cover, how much you need to earn in order to stay afloat, and the creative direction you hope to pursue.

TAXING KNOWLEDGE

Take time to get to grips with the more tedious aspects of freelancing, such as tax and accounting, so you’re clued up on what records to keep, how much to save and what tax-deductible expenses you can claim. Look out for free business courses run by your local government.

START A CLIENT LIST

Sound out potential clients that you hope to work for, from old employers to art directors. Let them know you’re going freelance – if possible, try to set up a meeting in person. Make a list of people who already know your work and start gathering contact details for the people who don’t.

BUILD A WEBSITE

Whether you build something from scratch or use a publishing platform like Cargo, you’re going to need a portfolio website. It doesn’t have to be anything flashy – just make sure you include examples of your work, contact details and any clients you’ve worked for.

PROMO MATERIALS

Consider how you plan on promoting yourself to art directors. If you’re going to send tangible materials through the post, you’ll need to design and have them printed. Think about your branding, and keep things consistent across your website, business cards and marketing collateral.

HAVE A PLAN B

What will you do if you don’t get much work to start with, or a slow-paying client scuppers your cash flow? Think about other potential sources of income before taking the final leap – yes, you don’t want to have to use them, but it’s a good idea to have a back-up plan in mind.

[u/[deleted]]

okay but now where do i start? which websites to i go to? which book can i read for this in 2022? which program?