Re: FN-FORUM Advice on going it alone

date posted 29th September 2002 16:48

Given the current state of the market, I doubt it will be a good time to
start now, unless you already had a couple of clients who you knew were
willing to pay.

Starting up a business now would cost you a not inconsiderable amount of
money and may, if you get committed to some work, hinder you in getting a
longer term contract/employment.

If you can find some work, go for it, but otherwise spend the time honing
your skills and possibly getting some more qualifications that will help you
find work.

Whatever you decide, though, I hope you have good luck

Mark.

BTW. That 'creative freedom' you hope for is quite elusive as unfortunately
clients tend to think they can tell you what to do and frequently lack the
good taste we all feel is ours :)

----- Original Message -----
From: "Beth Sutherland" [EMAIL REMOVED]
To: [EMAIL REMOVED]
Sent: Sunday, September 29, 2002 4:18 PM
Subject: FN-FORUM Advice on going it alone


Hi all,

I¹m considering becoming freelance and wanted to know if anybody has any
advice or suggestions. I¹ve been unemployed since June and am currently
looking for full time work. I have a BA in Visual Communication and 2 years
commercial experience as a new media designer.

It seems to me that while I¹m not working I should invest my time in
researching how viable the option of becoming freelance is to me and
whether I would be able to go it alone. I have the skills and experience to
do so, but no client basis at the moment. I think though that this is
something I would be able to develop, by providing competitive rates and a
good service and by contacting and marketing to prospective clients. I feel
that I could really make a go of it working freelance and would enjoy the
overall creative control and freedom this would give me. Also how would
working freelance affect the options I would have in the future of finding
full time employment if I wanted to?

Presumably, I can contract work out to members on the list, such as
programming and other more technical aspects of web design, if my skills
don¹t reach those required for a project.

I guess the thing that puts me off the most is the accounting, business plan
and tax side of things, as I don¹t know much about what would be required,
but appreciate how important these things are.

My current plan of action is to investigate the requirements and
possibilities available to me as well as getting a URL up that is more
commercially inclined than my personal site, with a company presence and
branding.

If anyone knows of any resources, advice or experiences that would be
useful, suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I really need to start
researching the possibilities available to me. I am sure there are companies
within Glasgow, where I live, that offer support and advice on starting your
own business. I don¹t want to get to January next year, still unemployed and
still looking for work. At least this way, I have the opportunity to develop
my own services and design in a positive way, that I could actually make
some money from and possibly expand on if I am successful.


Beth


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Beth Sutherland
Graphic and New Media Designer

learn create explore
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/beffyp/

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