Have you recently become self-employed?
There are so many benefits to self-employment, including more flexibility and higher earning potential. Whilst this is the case, being self-employed can also be a daunting prospect. Without the guidance of a manager or boss it can be difficult to make decisions, and finding a good work-life balance can be tricky.
If you are looking for ways to succeed in self-employment, the following guide should help.
Be professional
Regardless of the type of work you are undertaking, it is always important to remain professional. Without the pressures of a corporate work environment, it can be tempting to operate in a less professional manner. This could include anything from joining zoom meetings in your pyjamas to not prioritising the admin elements of your business.
While one of the main perks of being self-employed is that you get to make the rules, it is important for customer retention that you maintain some level of professionalism.
As well as carrying yourself professionally, it is valuable to assess things from a business perspective rather than a personal perspective. For example, if there is an area of the business that you aren’t confident in conducting yourself, outsourcing might become necessary. Just because you are self-employed, doesn’t mean you need to take everything on yourself.
Create a network
Self-employment can sometimes become lonely, especially if you work primarily on your own. In order to combat this, it is good to create a solid network of connections. These could vary from other self-employed professionals to experts in your field.
You may want to consider seeking a business mentor or working from a co-working space if you find that solo working doesn’t particularly suit you.
If you are unsure where to get started when it comes to meeting like-minded people, consider creating a LinkedIn profile or attending an industry event.
Invest in your business
Investing adequately in your business is an effective way to ensure you are able to offer the best service to your customers and increase repeat business.
Where you invest will be entirely dependent on the type of work you do. For example, as a hairdresser, you should make sure to invest in a professional hair dryer, whereas if you are a consultant you may choose to invest in Microsoft programs to increase your productivity.
Prioritise continuous improvement
With any business, continuous improvement is imperative. Being self-employed is bound to come with challenges but what is most important is that you can learn from them and make positive changes for the future.
Make sure to ask clients for their feedback to help guide where improvements could be made.
Look after your health
Being self-employed can come with a lot of pressure and you may feel inclined to work whilst you are ill as you aren’t going to receive sick pay. Although this may be tempting, it is crucial that you take care of your health to avoid sustained illness or burnout.
Make sure to give yourself regular breaks and scheduled time off, as you would if you worked for someone else’s business.