<![CDATA[Latest posts for the thread "About to go into self employment"]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/54.page JForum - http://www.jforum.net About to go into self employment
Anyone got any experience with self employment if so, any tips that will help in the long run? ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/622968/7349686.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/622968/7349686.page GMT About to go into self employment http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/622968/7349714.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/622968/7349714.page GMT About to go into self employment
whatever else my advice is to network the feth out of yourselves.
Join local chambers of commerce/enterprise groups.
Frequent Conservative/Labour/Liberal clubs.
Any groups where you may find clients or get to know where clients may be.
Basically get to know everyone who may come to need your service.

Oh, and have thick skin.
]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/622968/7349725.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/622968/7349725.page GMT About to go into self employment
marv335 wrote:Be meticulous with your accounts.


Mr. Burning wrote:Good for you guys!

whatever else my advice is to network the feth out of yourselves.
Join local chambers of commerce/enterprise groups.
Frequent Conservative/Labour/Liberal clubs.
Any groups where you may find clients or get to know where clients may be.
Basically get to know everyone who may come to need your service.

Oh, and have thick skin.


Listen to all of the above. Protect your personal assets and market your most important one (yourself)]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/622968/7349750.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/622968/7349750.page GMT About to go into self employment
Other randomw thoughts:
1. Kno your target market and go for it.
2. Don't pay for advertising/marketing. If you are paying you are doing it wrong.
3. Track everything and make sure you know the ROI on it.

Edit: Expect to be poor and broke for a long time while you work really, really hard. ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/622968/7350183.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/622968/7350183.page GMT About to go into self employment
]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/622968/7350201.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/622968/7350201.page GMT About to go into self employment
What are your experiences with Advertising/Marketing what worked and what didn't.
Networking is a must, fortunately I have someone who attends most events in my area!]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/622968/7350505.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/622968/7350505.page GMT About to go into self employment http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/622968/7351258.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/622968/7351258.page GMT About to go into self employment http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/622968/7351327.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/622968/7351327.page GMT About to go into self employment
I'm sure you know already but be prepared to be considered wrong by people who have no idea.
You may struggle to find any leadership or someone to sign off projects in areas such as public works, social enterprises, business consultants.
The people who want Helvetica - but with serifs (true story!)

If budget and time allows present two pitches - the first should be what the client said they wanted the second should be your vision. Offering the former makes the client more likely to to respond to the latter.

And find out what the client really wants. Most of the times you will be pitching to people who see ideas as risks to their careers.




]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/622968/7351518.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/622968/7351518.page GMT Re:About to go into self employment
I think the best advice I can give you is not to fall into the trap of feeling that because you are new, you need to undercharge or do free work to build up your portfolio. If you position yourself at the bottom, the only clients you will get are tightfisted bottomfeeders who won't have any respect for you or your work, and they're the hardest to get money out. You don't need clients like that and you won't enjoy working for them.

You need to be very careful to make sure you get paid for your work. There is a tendency in this business for clients to ask for stuff and then change their minds when they see it. Obviously this means more work for you, but they won't want to pay more because it isn't what they wanted (even if it is what they asked for). You need to make sure you get everything in writing. Even if you have a face to face meeting. Ask the client afterwards to email you a list of everything that was discussed to make sure you haven't missed anything. They will usually be eager to do this, and it's important to have later. You also need to make sure you charge for things like consultations and designs, otherwise you'll get clients who will just keep bouncing back your design ideas forever without telling you what they want or committing to anything. People will take your time more seriously when they're paying for it.

With regards to accounts... HMRC and Companies House are the worst bureaucratic bastards ever. Their websites seem to be purposely designed to confuse, but being confused is not considered an excuse for filing your accounts wrong (and they will fine you if you mess up). You really need to get an accountant to deal with them for you (otherwise you'll just go nuts and end up in belltower somewhere with a rifle). Accountants can be expensive but if they do a good job they can often save you more money than you pay them (so I guess it's a bit like they're paying you) ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/622968/7351900.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/622968/7351900.page GMT About to go into self employment
don't dip into this even if times are tough (you may think you can replace it in time, but sods law says you'll fail and then bad an expensive things will happen)]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/622968/7352328.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/622968/7352328.page GMT