by: Lance Cody-Valdez
If you’ve achieved success as a freelancer, you know just how difficult it is to juggle your work, deadlines, and relationships with clients. Anybody who’s managed to do this likely has the skills to sustain full-time work. Indeed, if you’ve entertained the idea of turning your freelancing gig into a small business job, there are a few steps you need to take to do so.
Establishing the Foundation of Your Business
According to statistics, there are over 31 million small businesses in the U.S. If you want to establish your own small business, you must first decide how you will structure it. There are many business structures to choose from, including a sole proprietorship, a limited liability company, or a corporation. Each of these has different requirements and tax liability, so you should choose carefully. This ZenBusiness – Start a Business Guide can help you in your research.
You can then create a business plan that outlines your company’s plans for structure, government, funding, and marketing. A business plan can help you improve the likelihood that your small business will succeed, and it can also help you flesh out important ideas. Be sure to detail who your target customer is, for example, and how your marketing will appeal to them.
Another way to invest in your success is to earn an advanced degree online. Going back to school can give you the tools you need to successfully establish a small business, leverage your freelancing experience, and earn a master’s degree. The flexibility and affordability of online learning mean that you can do all of this at an accredited school while still working full-time or taking care of your family.
Attracting Clients and Generating Income
Once you’ve established your business and written a business plan, you need to establish a steady flow of clients. If you previously found success as a freelancer, you can likely retain many of your prior clients. In order to attract new clients, you’ll need to invest in marketing. Marketing can be done online with social media campaigns or by investing in sponsored links.
No matter what path your marketing takes, though, you need to ensure that your brand is memorable to prospective customers. A logo is a great way to do this. Using an online logo maker gives you the tools you need to totally customize its design, choose unique fonts, and select the best colors. An attractive logo makes a great first impression, and that’s an asset to your business.
Finally, when your business is off the ground and thriving, you may find that it’s necessary to hire some additional help to ensure you meet clients’ needs. You can hire freelancers to work under you and take over part of your workload. You can also look for helpful software applications that help you manage your workflow and streamline transactions.
You Can Turn a Freelance Job Into a Full-Time Career
Freelancing is hard work. No matter what field you’re in, sourcing clients, accepting jobs, doing the work, and meeting deadlines are all exhausting tasks. You can minimize your workload, though, by shifting from a freelance work model to a full-time small business work model. The latter will allow you to hire additional help, connect with new customers, and take your talents to new heights. You can further boost your career by earning an advanced degree online while you’re working.
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