Nathan Levesque

This is the first in a series of articles describing how to start yourself in freelancing. Each article will focus on a few main points that are important to consider as you start this new branch in your career. Specifically, it will focus on Web Design, as that is where I started my freelancing career.

Have a Plan

Above all else you should have a plan for what you want to do. They are many ways to make a plan, but at the very least you need a simple goal, such as “I want to have 5 steady clients within the first 18 months of operation.” It’s a good idea to plan for both long term and short term goals. The main goal here is to not set yourself up for disappoint or to over exert yourself. Make plans and goals that are reasonably attainable within the time frame you give yourself. It’s also important to reevaluate these goals as your business develops.

Operate Like a Business

One thing people are often looking for when they hire a freelancer is a more personal interaction with you. While this is a fine way to do business if it works for you, it does have occasional pitfalls:

• You may get communications at odd hours. If you work from home it is a good idea to state your hours (or at least your phone-answering hours)  upfront. Also, using a mobile phone for business is a good idea since it can be turned off and provides a separate line that can’t so easily be connected to your residence. This can help keep the family/spouse at ease.
• Personal business relationships can encourage unbusinesslike behavior on both sides. It’s best to keep things at least semi-formal.
• A lack of professionalism can sometimes be scary for a client. It makes him/her hesitant to sign off on that contract.

Of course, you need to find what works best for you, your personality and the personalities of clients and their businesses. However, if trouble ever comes, it’s much easier to manage through with professionalism

Contract, Contract, Contract

Unless you’re doing a website for your mother or best friend, always have a contract drawn up. I’m not going to go into examples of these, as there is plenty of information around about it. A contract will protect both parties and can help reassure a client if they have not worked with you before. Most people hesitate to use contracts when they enter freelancing for a number of reasons the main one being that they feel like it hinders developing business relationships with client. I beg to differ however, the contract, when used properly, defines the relationship between client and service provider (you). It’s clear, specific, and signed by both parties. If there were to ever be a dispute or misunderstanding, you and the client should be able to go back to the contract to determine the best resolution as defined by it.

Important things to include on this are payment, payment schedules, deadlines, rights to intellectual property and  distribution of these rights to the client. Include whatever additional clauses you find necessary but try to be direct and don’t try to sound like a lawyer if you aren’t one. Offer to your client to put in any clauses they would like (and that you agree to, of course).

That wraps up the first installment. Keep an eye out for future ones!