running a small business
Something that freelance writers and other similar professionals know is that they need to think of themselves as a fully-fledged business in order to succeed. If you are a freelance writer, and you have not yet got to the point of thinking of yourself in this way, you might want to ask yourself what it is that’s stopping you.
No matter what, you need to ensure that you are doing everything you can to take yourself seriously. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to make sure that that is the case. Let’s have a look at how you can take yourself seriously as a one-person business.
Register
First of all, let’s take a look at the actual process of legally becoming a business. No matter where in the world you are located, you can guarantee that your local government body will want to know that you are a trading business.
As such, you need to ensure that you officially register yourself, otherwise you might find yourself in a whole heap of trouble further down the line. Registering these days can normally be done online, and is relatively straightforward, but be aware that you do need to have a business name. This can just be your name, or if you prefer you can choose something else, so long as it has not already been chosen.
This first step is vital, and will also go a long way towards helping you take yourself more seriously, so be sure to do it.
Stock Up On Supplies
It is often surprising to newcomers just how many supplies you actually need to be a freelance writer one-person business. Even if most of what you do is online, you will find that you need a lot of standard office supplies as well.
When it comes time to set yourself up as a business, make sure you go out of your way to get all the supplies you need - and be sure to buy in wholesale to save money. Places like the Postal Tube Shop are a good place to start, but you should also be sure to shop around. Buy in bulk so that you save as much money as possible, and gradually you will fill up your office with everything that you need.
Some things to start with are:
File folders
Notebooks
Pens
Pencils
Printer paper
Tape
Staples and a stapler
Set Aside Some Space
Most likely, you will be working from home - a situation which has many pros and cons. Most people find that they quite enjoy working from home, but you should prepare yourself, as it can also be a little lonely at times.
In order to take yourself as seriously as possible, ensure that you set aside a decent space in which to carry out your work. This will really make a huge difference when it comes to doing your work, as you will feel much more like an official business. It doesn’t have to be anything over the top, just a corner of a room will do - as long as you have your specific writing space in which to carry out your work.