The Nuts and Bolts of Launching a Career in Freelancing or Consulting

“I’m going to work for myself.” For many people, the dream of independence can be turned into a reality. Freelancing and/or consulting is the most straightforward path toward working for a great boss — you. Because it is a tremendous commitment, however, it’s important to think logically and take steps toward this career move seriously.The most important thing to consider is the purpose of freelancing/consulting. Are you looking to fill some free time? Do you want to earn extra money? Are you looking to work for yourself? Want to test the waters in a new career? These are all questions central to the issue of income expectation. Decide whether you will freelance/consult on the side, as a part-time position, or as a full-time move. It’s wise not to quit your full-time position until you’ve been consulting on the side for a few years and have a good sense of the flow of your intended business.Another thing to consider is pricing. If you browse around the freelance boards you can see that there is stiff competition for US freelancers from offshore providers. Obviously, they can offer much lower prices than US providers. There are some things you can do to give you a competitive edge and compete at higher prices. Read the rest of this entry »

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