Getting Started in a Freelance Career

With the increase of employee wages, benefits and healthcare coverage, companies are now looking outward for help running their business - namely, freelancers. If you have a certain knack for something or have specialized knowledge, you may be able to turn that skill into a freelance career.

Of course, you need to weigh the risks and benefits equally when making such a life-altering decision. On the plus side, freelancing allows the greatest amount of freedom of any type of employment. You are your own boss, so you get to decide when, where and how to work. You can take vacations when you want, take weekends off, and dress for work in your pajamas (or nothing at all, if that's something you really want to consider.) You have no one to answer to, and you have no rival co-workers trying to take over your position.

But while you take in all the positives of the freelance life, don't forget the downsides. Freelance work is rarely constant, and you may find yourself quickly behind in bills - especially if you're just start out. While full-time employees have to deal with angry bosses and 9-to-5 anxiety, your strife will come from trying to build a client base solid enough to keep the paychecks coming in. Still, if you believe you can handle this type of pressure, you have the spirit of a true freelancer.

The first step in freelancing is to make sure you a) have a skill or possess knowledge others want, and b) actually enjoy utilizing this skill/knowledge. The best freelance idea in life won't go anywhere if there isn't a market for it. Search the local papers and scour the Web to see who's already in the field you're thinking of going into, then do some research to see what they're charging and if people are buying from them. Try to find other freelancers who are in the same business, then ask them how they got started and what issues are facing freelancers in the industry today. Most freelancers will be happy to help you out, as they were once in your position.

Now that you've figured out what you want to do, take your time and lay the groundwork for your business. Clients don't know who you are, and if you just jump in headfirst without building a reputation or foster relationships with them, they're never going to be interested in what you have to offer. If it's possible, start your freelance work as a part-time, on the side business alongside the steady paycheck of your current occupation. (The usual advice is to make sure you have at least six months to a year's worth of income in the bank to cover the rent/mortgage and other necessities, in case your business doesn't get off the ground right away.) Moonlighting isn't always allowed by your company, however, so it may be prudent to check your company's field manual first.

The next big question is, how do you find those clients and convince them to try your product or service when you have no track record? First, put together a portfolio demonstrating your skills and/or accomplishments. This may mean working for little or no pay, but if the end result is something you can put in your portfolio on future interviews, that job will pay you back ten-fold.

Next, let everyone around you know that you're branching into freelance work; this can include friends and family as well as co-workers. After all, you never know who might become your best referral. Also consider doing some volunteer work, possibly involving your skill (such as writing a brochure or flyer for a non-profit organization if you're a copywriter). Referrals can come from even the most unlikely sources.

Joining a trade organization in your field is a good way to network. Some of these groups offer benefits, promotions and discounts to their members, such as discounted health care for self-employed professionals. Even joining a local organization will help build your client base, as many such groups will have potential clients as members.

Finally, don't forget that freelance work isn't just about finding clients and doing the kind of work you enjoy. A good freelancer is also a good salesman and self-promoter, so make sure you're comfortable marketing yourself to friends and strangers alike. Learn to develop a thick skin, and realize you may face rejection more often than you'll find a contract - even moreso when you're starting out. The sooner you accept this fact, the sooner you can get beyond it and concentrate on becoming successful.

Discipline and self-sacrifice are going to become your closest friends when making the transition from employee to freelancer, but if your dream is to call no man "boss" freelancing can be a financially and emotionally rewarding option.