[thelist] Freelance Web Designer

Sandy Sherman sandy288 at msn.com
Tue Apr 3 16:15:04 CDT 2001


AMEN!

The more Business experience you have, the more valuable you will be to your
clients, and the more likely you will run your company properly.  It's
easier to learn the hard knocks of business when you're working for someone
else, before you have to bear them yourself.

In addition to the things already mentioned, don't forget that you'll need
contracts (both between yourself and your clients, and between you and any
graphic designer you use), an accountant and probably an attorney if you
have a large list of clients.

Yes, I'm a freelancer.

Sandy


> This may sound harsh, but if you are good at what you do, charge what the
> market will bear for it. If you feel you are still in practice mode, then
> now is not the time to freelance. Find an entry-level job in the industry
> where you can hone your skills, then start your business after you've
> learned something about the way businesses are run, what clients want and
> how they act, and how to provide top-notch customer service. Remember,
> freelancing is not just the many hours spent happily creating web pages.
It
> also means paying your own taxes, marketing your business, keeping your
> books, and managing other vendors. This stuff takes time, and you NEED
> billable hours to make up for the fact that a good chunk of your time will
> be spent on these management tasks.
>
> Don't get me wrong, freelancing is a fabulous way to do what you love and
> control your own destiny. But don't jump in without a clear picture of
what
> you're getting into. You can get a lot of jobs by networking, but if you
do
> not know how to follow through with great work, great service, and solid
> business practices, your network will soon disappear.







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