If you’re toying with the idea of going freelance but are not sure how you might enjoy life working for yourself, here are a few pointers that may help you make up your mind.

No commuting

I live in London and here’s a typical scene of commuters going into work at around 8.30 in the morning.

And here’s me at 8.30 in the morning, doing a spot of balcony gardening.

It’s hard to get your freelance business off the ground when you’re still working full time in your day job.

I recently heard an interesting talk from Cali Bird from Lead the Life You Want to Lead who has written a book about this subject. Here’s the advice she gave:

1. Write an action plan

What things do you need to put in place in order to start earning money as a freelancer? These are things such as devise a marketing campaign, get a website, work out where there are gaps in your knowledge you need to fill etc.

Follow your heart, not your head.

Are you tired of your day job and want to start freelancing?

Or have you been made redundant and want to try your hand at going it alone?

Bravo! And welcome to the world of self employment.

The next question you have to ask yourself is: What kind of freelance work should I do?

Answer: Do something you really love doing. Something you have a real passion for and enjoy so much you’d still love doing it, even if you didn’t get paid for it.

For example, if making cakes is your passion, start to make and sell your own. Or if shoes are your passion, start an online shoe company.

Or, if you have gained years of experience as a marketing person but what you really enjoy is imparting the knowledge you’ve learned along the way, why not run marketing courses and workshops?

Welcome to guest writer, James Adams, who provides advice on how to set up your home office.

If you want working from home to be successful and productive, then it should be separate from your personal space, distraction free, and inviting. Avoid the temptations to cobble together a desk and chair in the corner of a room and calling it your office. Take it from me, it won’t work! So if you’re taking your work seriously, then take these ten essentials on board and apply them to your freelance office.

1. Room

Rather than the kitchen table, take over a room in the house as your home office. It will be easier to claim this space on your taxes and serve as a barrier between your personal and work spaces. Train people to leave you alone when the door to your office is closed. Keep this area away from the highly trafficked areas within your house so you can have peace and quiet.

Guest writer, James Adams, explains to newbie freelancers the nine things you’ll need to get started.

When it comes to becoming a freelancer, it would seem that all you need to get started is a computer and a sought-after skill. However, there are other things a freelancer needs in order to succeed. Here are my nine suggestions:

1. Dedicated workspace

First, a freelancer must have a dedicated work place. This will allow you to focus and really get to work on projects. Too often, people think they can simply work from their laptop on their bed or at a restaurant, but this encourages so many distractions. That’s why having that dedicated office space will be a work haven for you. And, speaking of work space, you will need a comfortable chair. No-one wants to sit in front of their computer on a chair that’s the equivalent of a bar stool. So be sure to find one that’s comfy and supportive so you don’t develop back issues later.

Welcome to guest writer Hannah Marcheselli. Hannah started freelancing over the summer and recounts her experiences so far of going it alone.

I’d always thought that I would end up working for myself one day, but somehow the time never seemed quite right. With more than ten years as in-house writer for various large financial institutions, publishing houses and agencies, I was started to get frustrated by the constraints of being employed by someone else and the horrors of the daily commute to London. I could have gone on for years finding excuses not to take the plunge and set up on my own, but when I got married in June this year, I used it as an opportunity to make some more big changes to my life.

Launching myself into my new business