12 Signs You’re Ready to Freelance

Escaping the 9 to 5 prison and voyaging into the Great Unknown can be a bit intimidating. Many people who want to freelance take years to make the leap and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. But how do you know you’re ready?

Here are 12 telltale signs it’s time to make the leap.

1. You have a well-developed network

A well-developed network – whether it’s through your 9 to 5, social media or your charming personality – is almost essential for a successful freelance career.

2. You’re able to keep your own deadlines

Deadlines your client gives you? They’re fine. However, the deadlines you give yourself – like doing some marketing for your business, setting up your website, organising your files for tax season – are harder to keep? Well, that’s a skill you should try to master first.

3. You understand that work won’t just fall on your plate

This is more of a mindset shift than anything else. In the 9 to 5, work comes to you and you do it.

You need to know that as a freelancer, marketing, finding work and setting up contracts may be half of your working hours, especially in the beginning before word-of-mouth builds. So you need to be okay with this.

4. You love learning

As a freelancer, you’re responsible for keeping your skills sharp. There’s not going to be a company training program, a paid seminar or a built-in community of other smart, cutting-edge people. Cutting edge you must be.

5. You’re not afraid to stand up for yourself

Because clients will surely stand up for themselves. Good freelancers know what they’re worth and aren’t afraid to communicate that value.

6. You don’t like to take holidays

You’ll be taking these eventually but in the first few months… probably not.

7. You have a safety net

Save up before making the plunge. Starting your own business is stressful enough. You don’t want to be worried about paying rent the first few months. Give yourself a cushion.

8. Your family and friends are supportive

Make sure your family and friends understand the potential impact of you going freelance. Like hogging the computer in the office or good stuff, like actually being home for dinner. A supportive spouse can be worth more to your business than an Angel investor.

9. You have a solid online portfolio of work

Come up with a reasonable target number of portfolio items and then double it.

10. Your boss is boring/annoying/mediocre/cramping your style

Certainly not a prerequisite to freelancing but having a bad boss can really highlight the basic problem of the 9 to 5 – your work belongs to someone else.

Hopefully when you become your own boss, you won’t end up thinking that you are annoying.

11. You’re hungry

This is the most important sign on the list. You need to want it! Freelancing isn’t the option you take because you’re lazy or don’t want to wake up in the morning. You want to make a name for yourself. You want freedom and you want it now!

12. You love your pyjamas

You may be spending a lot of time in them.

SOURCE: Freelancers Union