Quitting your day job to freelance full-time can be difficult. Ask yourself these 7 questions before taking the plunge and ensure you’re fully prepared for the transition, ask yourself these questions before you leave your 9-5 and become a freelancer. Whether you’ve dipped your toe in freelance writing or you’re an intermediate writer, you may have considered quitting your job and becoming a freelance writer
Do you have a clearly defined niche?
While writing across the spectrum opens the work pool, you may be stuck working on low-paying projects
- Choosing a freelance writing niche has its advantages
- Higher expertise = higher rates
- More experience = write more quickly and accurately
- Easier to market yourself
How do I quit my job and be a freelancer?
Ensure that your freelance writing business has the right systems and is producing enough revenue to support the lifestyle you desire
Is your portfolio and website marketing you properly?
Your freelance writing portfolio should always be future-facing
- Continuously update your samples with higher-quality and more relevant writing samples
- Update your website with testimonials and case studies
- Invest in a compelling layout and build your brand visuals
Will you be leaving your job on good terms?
Give your employer at least two weeks’ notice before going freelance full-time.
- Offer to help facilitate the transition by helping train your replacement.
- Freelance writing isn’t for everybody. If you realize it’s not for you, you have your old job to possibly fall back on.
Are you acting like a business owner?
Set aside money for taxes when clients pay your invoice
- Create a system for pitching prospective clients
- Procrastinate less and focus on building the discipline needed to operate your freelance business full-time
- Prioritize your professional habits
Are you willing to assume the risks of self-employment?
You have the potential to build a highly lucrative enterprise, or go broke.
About the Author
Dan Marticio is a freelance writer specializing in SEO content for FinTech and B2B companies.
Do you have a financial plan?
Make sure your freelance writing income is enough to sustain you
- Ideally, you should be making equal to or more than your day job. If you’re not making enough, gain more experience and increase your freelance working rates so you can afford to live on them.
Do you have work in the pipeline?
Client retainers are useful for providing stable, predictable income
