To Go From Employed To Self-Employed.. 5 Straightforward Ways

If you think about moving from job to freelancing, you will feel a mixture of excitement and uncertainty.

Starting a new business from scratch is a daunting prospect for many, one that holds many unknowns. But the best way is to make a plan based on your current situation. Start where you are and use what you have, for a smoother, less stressful way to make the transition.

Here are five straightforward ways to go from worker to freelancer:

Independent worker

One option is to undertake the role you are currently in, for the same company, but on a self-employment basis. You might base the contract on a specific number of days in a month, or even on a specific set of results.

What matters to your current employer is not the number of hours you put in, but rather the output or results you produce and the quality of your work. If you know your job takes less than 40 hours a week, see if you can turn your work into a contract instead. Not only will this save you time finding other clients, but it means you can make better use of your time and do more with less.

Cutting out the mundane aspects of employment can be both effective and more enjoyable. Declining team-wide meetings, performance reviews and appraisals, and having to sign in and out at a certain time might be the flexibility you're looking for.

This small step can lead to huge leaps and new opportunities that open up elsewhere. If you approach the conversation the right way, the employer will understand the benefits of not having you as a member of their staff.

Join freelance marketplaces

Assuming you want to stick within your current field, you could join freelance marketplaces where you build a client base from inbound leads. People Per Hour, Fiverr, Upwork, 99Designs and many others allow you to list yourself and your skills and secure project-based or ongoing work.

Particularly effective for roles including designers and writers, this approach involves you backing yourself to win clients and putting the work in to create an impressive profile, complete with work examples and references. Once that’s done, it could be an abundant resource of future clients. Securing the first few will lead to reviews on the platform, attracting more people to make enquiries.

Whatever your skills, whatever your industry, there are companies and individuals looking for them. Put yourself out there to make sure they find you. Set up your profiles without handing in your notice, then make the transition to self-employment as your workload dictates.

Join the independent marketplaces

Assuming you want to stick with your current industry, you can join freelance markets where you build a client base of internal leads. People Per Hour, Fiverr, Upwork, 99Designs, and many others allow you to list yourself and your skills and secure project-based or ongoing work.

Whatever your skills, whatever your industry, there are companies and individuals looking out for you. Put yourself out there to make sure they find you. Set up your profiles without handing over your notice and then go freelancing as your workload dictates.

Be a contractor for other companies

In addition to asking your current employer if you can hire them, shortlist similar companies you can contact as well.

  Graphic designers, for example, can receive regular work from multiple agencies. So do telesales professionals, business development, human resources, and legal experts.

Having a group of companies that know your style and traverse your business means your weeks are varied and flexible. It gives you freedom in your time and freedom in what you accept.

Start with small projects and build them up, inquire about surplus and see if you can help, then prove yourself and earn bigger commissions. Reliable suppliers are worth their weight in gold, and being the contractor of choice for all your clients means a steady flow of work.

Know your customer mix before you begin. 1 day per week for 5 separate clients or less regular work with more.

Gather recommendations and keep meeting new companies until you have the perfect amount of work to meet your revenue and lifestyle goals.

Create a membership or retainer offering

Set your revenue goals and work backwards from there, to ascertain the members required and the monthly fee. Aim to add 10x value so the cost to subscribers is a no brainer. Think about what you could throw in. Think about the benefits your clients will access, being part of your club. Ask your current employer and ask your existing clients. Having access to your wisdom on a regular basis might be exactly what they need.