Ten Things To Do Before Starting a Freelance Business

There are a lot of things to think about when starting out as a freelance writer, and it's not just about the query letters, the writing, the submitting, the search for publications, etc. It's about running a business and being a professional.

Here are 10 housekeeping items to do before starting your freelance business:

1) Create an inspiring work area. Set up your desk, your book shelves, your cup of pens. Put images on your walls, pictures on your desk. Whatever makes you feel most comfortable and inspired.
2) Get a website. I am a full-time freelance writer who still has not finished a website, and I'm doing alright, but I have made several connections who wanted to know what my website was and I couldn't direct them to anything. Try to do this as one of the first things you do.
3) Get business cards. A very simple and inexpensive marketing tool for networking and giving current clients little reminders when you stuff one in with your invoice.
4) Get a separate checking account for business. Never use your personal account, the IRS doesn't like this when it comes to tax time and it's easier for you to keep track of your expenses and receivables.
5) Get a savings account for your business. Then put a percentage of what you earn into it every time you are paid for estimated taxes you will owe.
6) Get a blog and keep up with it. A great marketing tool, it lets people see your expertise, your style, etc. It helps to brand you a leader in your niche or field.
7) Choose your niche(s). You can be a generalist or specialist, but either way you should have a few (no more than approx. 4) niches that you know well. More on generalist vs. specialist in another post.
8) Create spreadsheets. I use one for all corporate jobs, one for publications, one for general contact info of clients and one for general contact info for publications. Lots of database upkeep, but VERY helpful in the long run.
9) Create a filing system. You'll need this to hold receipts for things you've purchased for your business so that you may deduct them at tax time, you can keep hard copies for everything you do, keep a file for every client you have, keep your banking info there, keep EVERYTHING.
10) Make a daily or weekly schedule. This can be tentative but I find I stay on task a little bit better if I have a schedule of what I need to do for the day or week and I break it up into segments of time judging from an estimate of how long it takes to complete each task. Don't get too worked up if you don't ever end up following it exactly. It's about finding out how you work best and making changes as needed. A schedule can just be a guide for your day or week, not an absolute.