If you are considering making the leap from work to self-employment, you will feel a mixture of excitement and uncertainty. Starting a new business from scratch is a scary prospect for many, with several unknowns. A better way is to make a plan based on your current situation. Start where you are and use what you have for a smoother, less daunting way to make the transition.
Here are five easy ways to go from employee to self-employed.
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Do your existing role as a freelancer
One option is to fill the role you currently hold for the same company, but on a freelance basis rather than salaried employment. Perhaps you base the contract on a certain number of days per month or, even better, on a certain set of outcomes.
What matters to your current employer is not the number of hours you put in, but the output or results you produce and the quality of your work. If you know your job will cost you less than 40 hours a week, see if you can convert your employment into a contract instead. Not only will this free up your time to find other customers, it also means you can make better use of your time and achieve more with less.
Leaving out the mundane aspects of work can be more efficient and enjoyable. Saying no to team-wide meetings, performance appraisals, and clocking in and out at a specific time might just be the flexibility you’re looking for. This small step can lead to big leaps and new opportunities that arise elsewhere. If you approach the conversation the right way, your employer will understand the benefits of not having you as a staff member.
Join Freelance Marketplaces
Assuming you want to stay within your current field, you can join freelance marketplaces where you build a customer base from inbound leads. With People Per Hour, Fiverr, Upwork, 99Designs and many others, you can list yourself and your skills and secure project-based or ongoing work.
This approach is especially effective for roles such as designers and writers. This approach involves supporting yourself to win customers and doing the work to create an impressive profile, complete with work samples and references. Once that’s done, it can be a bountiful source of future customers. Securing the first few will lead to reviews on the platform, attracting more people to ask questions.
Whatever your skills, whatever your industry, there are companies and individuals looking for them. Put yourself out there to make sure they find you. Set up your profiles without submitting your notice, then make the transition to self-employment if your workload requires it.
Working as a partner of other self-employed persons
Do you want to do the work, but not the business development? Instead of focusing on finding customers for yourself, create relationships with people who do the same job and who may have too much to handle. Busy service providers have limited hours per week, and they may be happy to pass you customers on a white label basis or for a finder’s fee.
See employees, not competition. Someone who does exactly what you want to do can be your biggest source of income if you partner with them at the right time. Don’t be afraid to ask the question; you never know where it might lead.
Seasoned self-employed professionals are often looking for ways to make more money and impact without simply working more. Be confident that your proposal is a win-win situation and be exceptional in every interaction with them. They will look at you through the eyes of their customers, so make sure you impress.
Become a contractor for other companies
In addition to asking your current employer if you could contract them for them, make a shortlist of similar companies you could approach as well. For example, graphic designers could get work from multiple agencies on a regular basis. The same goes for telesales professionals, business development, HR and legal experts.
Having a range of companies that know your style and succeed at your job means your weeks will be varied and flexible. It gives you freedom over your time and freedom over which performances you accept.
Start with small projects and build up. Inquire about overflow and see if you can lend a hand, prove yourself and win bigger commissions. Trusted suppliers are worth their weight in gold, and as the contractor of choice for all your customers, the work keeps flowing.
Know your ideal customer mix before you start. One day a week for five individual clients or working less regularly with more? Maybe something in the middle? Collect recommendations and keep meeting new businesses until you have the ideal amount of work for your income and lifestyle goals.
Create a membership or commission offer
Can what you do take the form of a membership? Imagine that a legal counsel starts a $99 club where companies can get ad hoc advice in exchange for a small monthly commission. In addition to taking their calls, send helpful summaries and avoid problems that may arise. How many customers could you serve and how much value could you have?
This business model could work well for multiple areas of work. Human resources, accountancy, graphic design, research and intelligence. Make a mind map of your membership club and what members receive, then show it to a few potential customers and see what they think.
Set your revenue goals and work backwards from there to determine the members needed and monthly fee. Aim to add 10x value so subscriber costs are a good idea. Think about what you could add. Think about the benefits your customers will receive from being part of your club. Ask your current employer and ask your existing customers. Having regular access to your wisdom may be just what they need.
Five ways to go from work to self-employment without starting from scratch so you can take the first step now. If you’re still not sure, think about the worst-case scenario and what you would do if it came true. It’s very likely that as long as you don’t burn bridges you could still go back, in which case there’s no reason not to try. Could any of these options be the one you’ve been looking for?
Janice has been with businesskinda for 5 years, writing copy for client websites, blog posts, EDMs and other mediums to engage readers and encourage action. By collaborating with clients, our SEO manager and the wider businesskinda team, Janice seeks to understand an audience before creating memorable, persuasive copy.