Full-time to freelance – how to make the transition easier

Thursday October 12, 2017 , 3 min Read

The first rule of freelancing is being financially prepared before diving head-first into it. If you're tired of working out of a cubicle five days a week and are dreaming about working in your pajamas, this is just the article for you. While freelancing definitely has its perks, transitioning from a full-time job into a freelancer is a plunge you should take only after you've given the idea considerable thought. If done right, sustaining a well-positioned freelance life can be just as rewarding as having a full-time job.

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The scariest part is taking the leap. Here are five tips to enable your smooth transition into the freelance economy and double your income:

Create a professional work space

The best part about working from home is that you can have a portable work place. One day you can work out of your favorite coffee shop and the other day you can occupy a corner in a nearby library and work from there. You can even choose a corner in your home and make it your work space by setting up a desk and chair in that area.

Prepare financially

Before you decide to move to freelancing, you need to ensure that you have an emergency fund that can cover you for six months in case you don't land a very profitable gig. Even after you've started pulling in a steady income through freelancing, you should always keep money in your emergency fund as stability is a distant dream for most freelancers.

Create your online portfolio

Since you're going out on your own, it is important to get the word out so that business will be good from day one. Start by creating a business website or an online portfolio which you can share with potential clients. Get the word out on social media that you're available to take freelance projects. If you have a strong portfolio at your side, work will pour in faster than you think.

Set goals

It is easy to get distracted from your work goals and deadlines when you don't have a boss hovering over your head all the time. It is for this reason that you need to set short-term and long-term goals that will keep you focused and motivated. You can even make a list of your dream clients and approach them gradually.

Treat your freelance life like a full-time job

Just because you don't have to get dressed and go to office while freelancing, it doesn't mean you skip showering or having breakfast daily. Treat your freelancing career as a 9-to-5 job. Schedule appointments with colleagues and clients to expand your network. Doing this will help you relish the freedom of freelancing while also following a structure at the same time.

Making a triumphant jump from full-time work to a booming freelance career is not impossible. Use the above-mentioned five tips to double your income while you work out of your home and in your pajamas all day.

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