Going It Alone: The Potential Pitfalls of Freelancing From Home

Breaking free from the control of an employer can seem like a good idea. And sometimes it is. But there are many potential pitfalls of freelancing, and you should be aware of them before you start. I’m not trying to scare you or put you off the idea. Instead, the points below will prepare you and help you to ensure that you don’t make the same mistakes so many others have in the past.

Falling Into a Category

When you start working as a freelance, you will be offering a particular service. But if you fall into a category too easily, you will become typecast. This means that people will only see that you have experience of doing one thing, even if you want to do other things as well. That’s why it’s so important to keep things diverse and interesting when you’re starting out. Do what you can to get experience in different areas. So, if you’re a freelance writer, cover lots of different topics so that you don’t get pigeonholed. And the same logic applies to whatever kind of work you want to do.

No Cover or Security

When you work alone and for yourself, then you don’t have anyone else. You only have yourself to rely on. That’s why you need to be sure that your finances are secure. Do you have money to fall back on if you get sick and can’t work? Working for yourself means having no sick pay or job security. If the work dries up, then so does your income. That’s something that you need to be fully aware of and able to deal with. You can cover yourself better by making sure that you have savings and the ability to reach out if one type of work dries up.

Financial Mismanagement

Managing your finances incorrectly will only come back to haunt you sooner or later. It’s not worth taking risks when you work for yourself. If you ask me, every self-employed person should seek the help of an accountant if they can afford to do so. This will ensure that their money is in order and they are paying the correct amount of tax. All those tasks that your employer used to take care of, such as tax and national insurance, will now fall on your shoulders. Therefore, you can’t make mistakes that could eventually lead to you getting into trouble.

Poor Branding and a Lack of Interest
When you work for yourself, you are the brand. Many people can find the task of branding themselves somewhat awkward and uncomfortable. That’s a pretty natural way to feel, but it’s something that you will have to overcome when you’re working as a freelance. You can’t afford to miss out on opportunities just because you’re not branding and marketing yourself correctly. This will lead to a lack of interest in what you’re offering. Start by creating your own website that displays your talents and makes it easy for potential clients to get in touch with you.

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