Many people at some point in their life, consider the option of moving to freelance work. To some, it might offer the ultimate opportunity to gain some control over their time choosing when, where and how they work. To others, it might be an interim period of freelance work before they commit to a full-time position giving them the opportunity to trial different work environments and sharpen their skills on a variety of projects. We spoke to some of our regular freelance candidates on what seasoned and sage advice they’d give to someone considering taking the plunge into the freelance lifestyle.

1.    Do your research.

An experienced Account Service freelancer suggested to have a coffee with someone who has been freelancing to get their perspective. They said it can be quite a shift from agency life. “On one hand you are free from agency politics and gossip – which is liberating, but you also do have to be self-motivated and resilient with the ability to hustle, cope with quiet periods and self-manage your time. Learning not to “over-commit” can take time”.  Ask friends who are freelancing and recruiters you know what the market is like – is there demand for freelance talent? When are the peak or slow periods? What daily rates can you expect?

2.    Build a network.

Don’t expect to change your Linkedin title to “freelance” and expect the work to roll-in. You need to have a good network base of people who can recommend you. It’s great if you can build a bank of “regular” clients you work with and align yourself with trusted recruiters who can keep you across opportunities – keep them up-to-date on times when you might have availability.  One of our Freelance Digital consultants stressed the need to keep up your network alive not only for prospective jobs but to also keep your skills relevant and fresh – keep up to date with the latest technology as well as trends and projects that are happening in the industry.

3.    Get an Accountant.

A number of Freelancers strongly suggest speaking to an Accountant and having a good understanding of how to set yourself up initially.   You need to understand your personal tax implications, apply for your ABN Number, understand day/hourly rates, invoicing (are you covering yourself for superannuation and GST?) Ensure you have a buffer of funds for quieter periods or delays in payment.

4.    Ask the right questions.

Long term freelancers point to a few things that they recommend to people starting out. Such as knowing the questions to ask before embarking on a contract term – these include:

• Clarifiying the day rate so you are clear if GST is included or additional to your day rate.
• Ensuring you are covering yourself for superannuation, sick days, public holidays in your fee (particularly for longer term contracts).
• Asking if equipment such as a laptop/phone will be included.

5.    Hone your business skills.

A thriving freelancer often needs to have an ability to use quieter times effectively and maximise the busy periods. It often takes a bit of a hustle to keep an eye out for the next role so keeping a broad network, highlighting availability on LI and using your recruiter network is vital. Having a pricing “range” or being flexible according to contract length and your own “demand” can also be beneficial.