Advice from Business Coaches on Freelancing: The Business of One
The jump from freelancing to make extra income to freelancing full-time can be intimidating. You’re becoming reliant on your ability to find new work consistently. Essentially, you are becoming a business of one. Fortunately, several business coaches have advice that can help you.
I’ve asked business coaches from around the world for an answer to an important question:
“What advice would you offer freelancers who want to go into business for themselves?”
Ask Yourself Key Questions
“It’s important to have an honest conversation with yourself… What’s your niche? Do you really have the energy to commit? Do you have enough grit to play the long game? What does success look like? Once you’re as clear as possible, listen deeply to yourself and you’ll know when to leap.”
Dave Brunelle – President, Bearfence Leadership | Bearfence
Go One Step at a Time
“Business development can be overwhelming. If you don’t look at the entire daunting journey, but just look at the next BEST place to put your foot, you have made a great choice. Once that’s complete, then take the next BEST step.”
Bethany, Web Developer/Owner | Seymour Digital Marketing
Know You Are a CEO
“Strategize, plan and organize yourself, your mindset, and your business around being a CEO. Assess what you need to put into place to work on your own, with only yourself to be accountable to.”
Bernadette Boas, Executive Coach, Trainer, Speaker | Ball of Fire Coaching
Remember Your “Why” for Going Into Business
“Remember, you’re not going into business for yourself; you’re doing it for some audience that needs your solution to a problem, or because you can do it better, faster, cheaper, or with an unexpected, yet delightful twist, all of which makes your buyer very happy.”
Andrea Feinberg, Cert. Strategic Business Leadership Coach; Cert. EQ Mentor; Cert. Prof’l Behavioral Analyst; Cert. Prof’l Speaker, Business Catalyst | Boss on the Beach
Don’t Compare Yourself to Others
“Don’t worry about what other businesses or freelancers in your industry are doing. Focus on your own business, find your USP, and be confident in your own abilities.”
Bee Kingshott, Virtual Assistant | Bee Assured Business Solutions
Use Contracts
“Have contracts – ALWAYS – with the scope of the project, payment terms, and delivery times. Having a contract in place allows you to gracefully redirect clients to the terms of your service without feeling pushy.”
Adina Kroll, Business Coach | Adina Kroll
Be Confident in Your Abilities
“Find ways to root yourself in your knowledge and experience. I keep a document with positive feedback from clients. Whenever I’m feeling discouraged, I visit that document and remind myself that I’m a talented, accomplished, successful freelance professional.”
Amy Julian, Business Developer/Branding | Amy Julian
Shower Your Clients with Love
“The easiest and fastest way to grow a business is through signing repeat clients and through signing clients by word of mouth. You can start over delivering today and feel confident that the rewards will continue well into the future!”
Carly Hamilton-Jones, Life/Business Coach | Carly Hamilton-Jones Coaching
Make Sure You Have Grit
“Grit is what you will need. If you don’t have grit, growing a business will help you develop it. And that’s the best part of the journey, being challenged as you challenge others to pursue the things that matter to them.”
Cynthia Baker, Business Coach | Cynthia Baker
Learn to Sell
“Learn how to sell and be confident in your offer and fulfillment. If you can sell (on calls and through social media), you’ll be leaps and bounds over everyone else.”
Dalton Jensen, Business Coach/Strategist | The Thinking Project
Don’t Fear Rejection
“Don’t let your fear of rejection stop you from getting started, nor let the MANY, MANY rejections you will get along the way make you give up.”
Chris Gaskill, Web Design & Marketing Consultant for Service Businesses | Chris Gaskill
Be Your Own (Great) Boss
“Be the best boss you ever had! Many people leave regular employment due to their managers rather than their jobs. Don’t make the mistake of working more hours than ever for less money than you earned in employment! That makes you a worse boss than the one you left!”
Louise Jenner, Business/Career Coach | Louise Jenner
Make Time for Fun
“There will always be something to do. You’ll get home and think of something and start working on it. This will burn you out and as a result your business will suffer. Force yourself to do at least one fun thing a month. It is a mental health exercise.”
Austin Reville, Owner, 2 If By Sea Tactical | 2 If By Sea Tactical
We’d love to add your expert opinion here too! Please reach out to us with your answer to this question:
“What advice would you offer freelancers who want to go into business for themselves?”
Contact us today to contribute your answer!