Many people like the idea of being their own boss, and for those that are self-employed, this is a reality in most cases. There are a good number of perks to working this way and that’s why many people opt for it, if they change careers.
Having said that, there are a few downsides to this way of working. From constantly having to think about where your next paycheck is coming from, to having to put yourself out there all the time to bring in more work, there can be a lot to cope with.
Even so, it can be made easier, and here are a few tips that can work for almost anyone who is self-employed.
1. Make sure you’re getting paid
Being self-employed is all about building relationships and this often means showing that you can do a good job and are a pleasure to work with. However, where this crosses over to the negative, is if you end up chasing payments that have been due to you for a while.
Running a business isn’t easy and it can be natural for employers to have insufficient funds now and then, but you must make sure you pursue your payment. If you are struggling with this, you can use invoice finance services from fundinvoice.co.uk to help you manage that side of self-employed life.
2. Keep contacts
While it depends on what sort of work you do, many self-employed people don’t hold onto enough contacts to secure future work. When you do a job, especially a long one, it can be natural to think of it as done and dusted.
However, you have no idea when clients might need your service again. If you did a good job, they might want you back sooner than you think, so keeping hold of these contacts can really make a difference to your workload in the long run.
As mentioned in the tip above, being self-employed is about building relationships, and some of these can lead to years of employment.
3. Set a schedule
When you’re self-employed, there is a certain level of flexibility that comes with it. It can be easy to lean on the side of being too flexible and not get enough work done, if you’re not self-disciplined enough.
This may not impact you if you’re a tradesperson that takes on big contracts at a time, but it might be the case if you’re a graphic designer who can pick and choose your own hours.
Setting your own schedule is a great way to ensure that you enjoy your time off, and get down to business when need be. It can be a really effective way to give yourself more of a work-life balance, and will ensure that you are meeting your targets.
Being self-employed isn’t always easy but it doesn’t have to be hard either. These tips can really help combat some of the more common issues and make your work life more manageable and profitable.
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