When I turned 40, something unexpected happened. I freaked out. 

It happens to most of us at some point in our lives. We reach a milestone and suddenly find ourselves suffering from a bad case of existential angst. Something needs to change and it can no longer wait. 

In my case, that something was a career (or lack thereof.) I had moved from city to city with my husband over the years for his job. I worked a bit here, volunteered there but, all in all, I never found my own path. Four years ago on my birthday, that all changed. 

Stop Being Scared 

I know that’s easier said than done. Believe me, I’ve spent the last 44 years being scared of something. I’ve been afraid of failure, success, offending someone, not being liked.

You name it, I feared it. The worst part, I allowed those fears to keep me from pursuing work I really wanted to do. 

Just Do Something 

I started writing and developed a blog. At first, there wasn’t much of a plan. This was good and bad. I needed some time at the beginning to figure out where I wanted to go.

I was not prepared to jump into a full fledged business. I knew I wanted to write online and create some sort of personal brand.

I also knew that getting bogged down in too many details before I had dipped my toes in the shallow end might have spelled the end before I had begun. 

Get the Facts, Get Focused…

…and then worry about quitting your day job. 

I spent well over two years writing social commentary, building up a following on my website and learning just about every possible way to use social media to get myself noticed.

That was all well and good but I wasn’t able to monetize it. I realized that I was tired of working for free. 

At the same time, I had people coming out of the woodwork asking me for social media advice and help. “Why not integrate this budding social media consulting into my existing website,” I thought. I did and it was a bad idea. 

For all intents and purposes, I had developed a personal brand with my social commentary blog. The people who came to it along with my Facebook page had certain expectations.

Getting social media tips were not part of them. My readers were confused. Engagement suffered. I was frustrated.

Find a Mentor and Make a Plan 

I dawdled for more than a year, doing a bit of social media work while further muddling my brand. I finally understood that if I was going to make a successful go of my business, I had to brand it separately and take it seriously. 

Part of taking a business seriously is investing in it and yourself. Coaches are not just for high school football teams.

There are plenty of people out there who can help you frame your business and get you moving down the right track. Hire one. It’s money well spent. 

Work Within Your Skill Set 

When I first started out, I let myself get overwhelmed. People would ask me to help them with certain projects and without delving enough into the nitty gritty, some of the time I would find myself working on things that were just beyond my skill set.

I would spend too much time on a task and then not bill for all of it. I was doing a disservice to both myself and my clients. 

These days, I only take on work that I know I can do well and makes sense for my business. When I’m faced with something I need to get done, I ask myself if I have the time and skills to do it efficiently. If not, I outsource it. 

Remember to take into account how much you charge for your time. If it takes you three hours to do something that will only take someone else 20 minutes, it probably makes sense to pay that person to do it. The frustration factor alone may be enough to tip the scales. 

What is getting in the way of your business goals? Let us know what sparked you to start down a new path.

About the Author:

Jen Havice is a forty-something blogger, writer, and social media consultant. When not helping small businesses navigate the social networking jungle or writing commentary for her humor blog, she chases after two large dogs and rides an even larger horse. She and her husband call Minneapolis home. Follow her on Facebook (facebook.com/makementionmedia).

Once I established myself, I had to face transitioning from free work to a paid position. And now that I’m responsible for paying my bills as a full-time freelancer, instead of relying on my regular paycheck, it’s even more vital that I re-evaluate my time. 

This especially applies to the projects I do and clients I agree to help. Like I mentioned, some free endeavours are necessary and look really good in your portfolio, but that doesn’t pay the bills. 

So how do you transition from free work to a paid position? 

Thanks to a recent discussion in the Freelancers Club, I’ve compiled a list of the best strategies, including many from my own experience. 

1. Be Straightforward 

Nothing will turn off a potential client more than approaching them with an emotional plea. Even when you’re trying to get a raise at a traditional job, experts advise not to share your sob story about your financial or personal situations. 

Bosses and clients don’t really care that you’re a struggling freelancer or surviving in a single-income household — all they’re thinking about is the bottom line. 

When jumping on the phone or Skype, remember to talk calmly about your desire to transition to a paid position. 

Leave the emotions out of it — even if you’re slightly jaded they’ve taken advantage of you — and focus on being honest and straightforward about what you want. 

2. Know Your Value 

The best way to approach a client about paying you is to offer cold-hard facts about what you’ve brought to the table since working together. 

How has the company or brand been impacted since you started working for them? Share any accomplishments, milestones or success stories, and use them as proof to why you should start getting paid. 

It’s difficult for clients who previously got you to work for free, to suddenly see the value in paying you for that same work. So it’s your job to know your value, and prove to them that you’re more experienced now — and worth getting paid! 

In my situation I listed out all the tasks I did every day plus the increase in stats and other accomplishments. Then I listed my regular rate for similar projects. This showed my client all the work I was responsible for along with milestones I helped them achieve.

3. Leverage an Anniversary Date 

Ideally, you’ll have signed a contract stating how long your free work term should be (for my situation it was 90 days) so the client won’t be surprised when you ask to continue with the gig but would like to start getting paid. 

However, if you didn’t set those guidelines ahead of time, go ahead and point out how long you’ve worked for them for free. 

Make your case to them about how many hours you’ve worked, how much time and effort you’ve put in and, of course, prove to them how valuable your skills are. 

If you’re coming up on the 6 month anniversary mark, now’s the perfect time to pitch them about paying you. Using something like the end or the beginning of the year as an excuse to get paid, is a very smart strategy many freelancers use to raise their prices as well! 

4. Consider Charging a Lower Rate 

In the case of non-profit companies and volunteer positions, they might never have the budget to hire someone for that position.

In this case, consider lowering your regular rate to something more affordable and within their budget. 

You still need to keep your overall time in check, but if the project is something you really enjoy or feel you’re making a difference, charging less than normal could help you transition that “free work” spot into a bit of revenue. 

“The person that hires you for free will NEVER pay you (in general) because that’s why they hired you; you were free.” – Seth Godin

5. Be Prepared to Walk Away 

If you apply all of these tips and find that you and the client just aren’t able to come to an agree, be prepared to walk away from the gig.

The goal of doing free work is to eventually leverage paid work from other clients — whether that’s from direct contacts or something that looks good in your portfolio. 

If the position isn’t helping you accomplish either personal or professional satisfaction, you’d be better off pursuing other clients. 

And if you’ve done your job right (whether you’re getting paid or not) you’ve become a valuable asset to the team. 

So even if they don’t want to continue working with you on a paid basis, they might be able to work out a different type of deal. Things like introduction to contacts and media exposure are other types of “compensation” that might help. 

But don’t be swayed by these extras — remember not to spend too much time on free gigs, so you can focus your time on making enough income to pay the bills, and in turn, grow your business. 

Another perk to doing your job well is that they might approach you in the future when they do have the budget to hire you! 

If nothing else, you’ll be the first one that pops into their mind when they have a paid opening or know a contact who is looking for someone like you.

Have you gone from free work to a paid gig? Are you in a situation like this? Share your thoughts in the comments!

After all, who doesn’t like being their own boss?

Franchising is also one such business that you can invest your money into to. However, if you look around you’ll find yourself overwhelmed with options. It can get confusing.

Even if you’ve chosen the industry that you want to invest in – how do you find the best franchise business opportunity? How do you select one that works for you?

Even though there are quality options out there such as the Liberty Tax franchise opportunities where you can confidently invest your money and expect good returns in the long run, you will still need to do your homework to determine if a franchise opportunity is right for you.

Below we look into a few simple tips that will help you focus on the right things when selecting such a business opportunity…

#1: Have What It Takes

The first thing that you need to ask yourself is – do you really have what it takes to get into such a venture?

In order to run a successful franchise, you need more than seed money. You also need to have passion and motivation to keep going.

In addition to that, you must also possess a strong commitment to give superior level of customer service, have keen attention to detail and also the ability to commit yourself to expand your skill set continuously.

#2: Do Your Research Well

Although most of the time research is time consuming and daunting, it will help you discover the entrepreneur in you and find the small business “career path” that will work for you and fits with your individual goals and needs.

Most of the serious franchise business owners tend to first do their research by spending at least 11-12 months on it before they make a purchase. So this is one step that you can’t ignore.

#3: Speak with the Franchiser in Detail

It’s very important that you talk to the franchiser that you’re thinking of working with. Start with the key questions related to projected market growth, startup capital required, projected ROI, scope of growth income wise, etc.

Once you’ve gotten a clear picture on this and are sure of moving ahead that’s when you discuss things like mentoring, support provided in the form of training, public relations, marketing, and also don’t forget to discuss business development.

Keep in mind that all reputable franchisers tend to observe different legal requirements/needs for disclosure. And the franchise agreement will usually contain the terms & conditions that you need to agree upon, under which this franchise will be operating.

#4: See to it that You Have Enough “Working Capital”

While different franchisers have different requirement, some of them do require you to have 6-12 months of working capital with you before you buy a new or even an existing franchise.

Ensure that you discuss all the financial and legal implications of your investment or purchase with your financial planner, accountant and of course, your solicitor.

Conclusion

When it comes to choosing a franchise business opportunity, you need to be careful and if possible, consult experts before you take a decision.

Once you’ve gone through the steps that we discussed above, go ahead and carefully review the paperwork. Then take a step back and seriously consider whether investing in this franchise will be a good decision or not.

Here are some of the common hardships that are involved in owning your own business, especially within the first year of open business.

Health and Safety

As with all businesses these days, health and safety is one of the most critical aspects to running a business. If you’re not compiling risk assessments, you’re on site making sure that your business is a safe and friendly environment — for both yourself, your customer and employees.

Be sure that you’re up-to-date on risk management paperwork, and have regular checks of fire and burglar alarms. This will show local authorities that you are dedicated to safety in your work place.

Here’s a neat guide on health and safety. It’s an invaluable skill to have — especially as an on-site manager and business owner — and will help keep your business from being potentially prematurely closed by authorities.

Paper Management

Don’t kid yourself that owning your own business is gonna be all laughs and seeing how happy your customers are when they receive the service you provide.

Most of the time, and owner is going to be in the back office, making sure taxes are paid, that employee schedules do not conflict and that the business is running smoothly.

Paperwork is no easy management. Luckily, there are several online programs and apps that will:

• Reduce the amount of paper and waste
• Keep it all neatly organized

There are all types of business management software, such as health club software, IT software, bar and restaurant software etc.

Financial Management

Keeping on top of your projected income and expenses is a skill that is learned through experience. However, a little help won’t harm your chances of successfully projecting these figures for your first quarter.

With staff inconsistencies (such as illness, vacation and any other disabilities) it can be tough to make a good call on your expenses for these payments. Then couple that with daily customer inconsistencies and you’ll end up with a tough figure to project.

Advertising

Advertising is harder than most people recognize, and often, is more expensive than people imagine. This can be an invaluable expense to help your business get off the ground.

But because it’s pricey we can’t forget that the best advertising, is word of mouth!

I have to admit, I never thought I’d be writing a post like this, and I’m still recovering from the shock that the Huffington Post actually published my writing last week.

Although I’ve been a freelance writer for almost 2 years now, getting published on the Huffington post feels real and (to be honest) a little terrifying and exciting all at the same time.

For my Huffington Post article, I wrote about my family’s decision to move to the Caribbean so that my husband could attend medical school. While it sounds like a dream, it was actually one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make.

Not only that, but I revealed to the world just how much debt we got into because of that decision, and I described how alone I felt when my husband decided to go there ahead of me so I could stay back home and work to support us.

Don’t get me wrong. I write about this sort of thing all the time on my blog, but to have it so public and out there on such a big website made me feel a little vulnerable.

Yet, that feeling quickly faded as 100+ friends on my Facebook page congratulated me throughout the day and took the time to share my post on their social media channels.

I even had a few e-mails from people who told me that they thought my story was inspirational, and that meant the world to me because that’s all I really wanted to do — inspire others — and show them that what might seem impossible is actually in reach.

The same principle goes for getting your work featured on a large website. It is possible, and I’m happy to share my method with you so that you can do the same:

1. Learn From the Greats

When I first started blogging, I enrolled in Jon Morrow’s Guest Blogging Course, and it changed the way that I viewed my website.

Jon’s class is for both new and experienced bloggers, and the entire aim of his class is to teach others how to get featured on popular blogs.

When I started the class, I was just looking for tips. I never dreamed that it would help me land the ultimate guest post on the Huffington Post.

The most important lesson that Jon taught me was to intimately study the blogs that I wanted to guest post on, and he has a lot of specific techniques that you can learn if you take the class.

I knew I wanted to get published in the Huffington Post Money Section, so I became an avid reader of it. I started to notice the type of posts that they published, and I kept a running list of topic ideas specifically for the Huff.

While I didn’t comment on other money section posts regularly, I would actually recommend it. You never know who will be reviewing your post submission, and they might recognize your name if you comment all the time.

I should note that I’ve actually used this method to get hired as a staff writer too, because I think it’s impossible to pitch a post to someone when you don’t know what their site is about.

2. Copy the Style

The only person that I actually knew who was already writing for the Huffington Post was Carrie! In fact, I never knew it was even possible to contribute until I saw her posts (thanks, Carrie!)

So, I did something else Jon Morrow’s class taught me: I copied her style. Now, I don’t want you to think of copying style as plagiarism or anything like that.

What I mean is that I pasted every single one of Carrie’s posts into Microsoft Word, and I wrote down how many words she used, and I took note of the way she broke up her paragraphs.

While the way I write is unique to me, I made sure that my post submission resembled hers when it came to formatting, paragraphs, and word count. After all, they’ve accepted several of her posts, so something she did was obviously working!

As you can see from the photo below, I even used Carrie’s first post for them as inspiration for how to phrase my title.

By using this method, I was able to guarantee that my post would need very little editing, something that probably helped it get published.

3. Pitch it the Right Way 

There are a thousand ways to send a pitch e-mail, and there are likely way more experienced people than I am who have a better method.

However, the route I took was a very short and sweet e-mail. I guessed that the Huffington Post got a couple of hundred pitches a day, and I wanted to make sure that when mine got to them, they would only have to read it for a few seconds.

My hope was that it was interesting enough to get them to open my attachment. Here it is below:

Dear BlogTeam,

Thank you for taking the time to review my post. As you know, most people pay off debt in pretty normal ways. They cut back their spending or they pick up extra jobs.

Not me.

I had to actually move 3,000 miles away to a tiny Caribbean island in order to finally get the momentum I needed to knock out my debt once and for all. I attached my story to this message, and I appreciate the consideration!

Best,
Catherine Alford

4. Send it to the Right Place 

While the Huffington Post has a place where you can submit your blog post pitch through a “contact us” page, I wasn’t sure about the little box that they provided. I knew from my experience as a staff writer that it helped to have a good e-mail address to send things to.

Maybe I’m a little Type-A (okay, a lot Type-A) but I just wanted to make sure that the e-mail sent, you know? I am the person who checks my sent folder every time I send an e-mail, and for something so important, I wanted to have the peace of mind that it got there.

I did a little research, and I found this at the bottom of a post in the Huffington Post book section:

To me, it’s better to send it to that e-mail address than wonder if the “Contact Us” box will preserve my formatting.

I’m sure the Huffington Post website is sophisticated enough that the “Contact Us” box works just fine! However, I just wanted the peace of mind for myself.

Also, the BlogTeam could take anywhere from a few days to a few months to get back to you, and unfortunately, they might not have the time to send out “thanks but no thanks” messages. So, just be prepared that you might be living with the unknown for a while once you submit.

5. Give Them Everything They Need

Last but not least, give them everything they need. When sending in your blog post for consideration, include a headshot and a bio.

You’ll notice that every blogger has a headshot next to their name on the Huffington Post, so providing that along with a short and sweet bio gives them everything they need, and they won’t have to spend time asking for it. In fact, it will show them that you are prepared.

Extra Tips:

I’m not sure exactly why my article got selected for publication, but I think it’s because I have a unique story.

However, we all have unique stories; we just don’t realize it. It might take some time to craft your article for them, so don’t rush it. It’s better to have a polished and perfectly formatted post ready to go a month from now than to hurry up and submit today.

Essentially, just be yourself and be open.

Say something that others will connect to. Write in a way that makes people feel like they are included or write about something others wish they could do. I mean, I had to move to a Caribbean island to get out of debt.

That’s a little weird, right? But, that’s my story, and sharing it with others in a very open way gave me just the right combination of materials to get it noticed.

I have no doubts that if you do what I listed above, you have a good chance of getting noticed too. Good luck, and let me know how it goes!

About the Author:

Cat Alford is a personal finance freelance writer who currently lives in the Caribbean with her husband and spoiled pup, Julep. When she is not writing for other websites on all topics frugal and fabulous, she enjoys sharing her adventures on her blog, www.BudgetBlonde.com.

The hardest thing about quitting one thing to move onto another is finishing strong — or more specifically not wanting to check-out even though you really want to.

Every situation in life, whether it’s a job, a house or a relationship should be ended on the best terms possible.

It’s not hard to take the easy rode and just walk out the door not caring about the people and bridges you’re burning behind you. But it takes real character and discipline to stay the course until you cross the finish line.

Even though my job situation was brutal, they treated me like a Girl Friday slave and I worked all day, all night and on weekends, I still wanted to finish out my experience in a professional manner.

After a decade of hard work and dedication, why spoil my reputation now?

Looking at where I was this time last year, I hit some pretty big milestones, but I never thought I’d be quitting my job and branching out on my own. I can honestly say I’m proud of how far I’ve come and have no regrets!

Top 3 Favorite Posts

The Complete Guide to Negotiating and Setting Freelance Rates - Lifehacker (by Tom Ewer). This is by far the most comprehensible and helpful guide to setting your rates as an online freelancer. Tom covers everything from pricing format to value and time.

How to Resign from Your Job Without Burning Bridges – Brazen Careerist. During the process of quitting my job over the past few months, I implemented all of these tips and was able to make an exit with my self-esteem still intact. And my boss doesn’t hate me!

How a New Freelance Writer Landed a $150 Gig with No Experience, No Samples & No Website: 4 Things She Did Right - Inkwell Editorial. If this doesn’t prove that you CAN be successful with freelancing even when you don’t have experience, then nothing else does. This writer’s persistent and ingenuity is the key!  

Popular Guest Posts

Freelancing: Make Sure You Don’t Get Stuck With a Huge Tax Bill – H&R Block

Outside-the-Box Ways to Promote Your Business – WePay

Popular Posts I’ve Written

Although I’ve been talking about quitting my job for awhile now, behind the scenes I wasn’t just sitting back waiting for my quitting date. I created a plan of action with seven steps to take before becoming my own boss. 

Freelance Business and Blog News

1. Official Freelancers Club Launch

Throughout the month of April The Freelancers Club was having an Insider’s Launch to everyone who’s stuck with me throughout this Beta process. But now the Club is officially open to EVERYONE who’s interested in seriously growing their online business (and maybe even quit your job like me)!

We have some awesome stuff lined up this month with an expert Q&A, a Twitter course giveaway worth $179+ and unlimited access to me and other inspiring freelancers. Don’t miss out! Join us: http://www.carefulcents.com/club/

2. New Ebook Checklist

I’m currently working on a checklist/ebook called, Taking the Leap From Day Job to Full-Time Freelancing. It’ll be about my complete journey from quitting my job to becoming my own boss.

I’m sharing everything in detail; from planning, to strategizing, telling my boss, finding more clients, building my business and lots more behind-the-scenes stuff.

I don’t have a timeline on when it will be done, but I’ll keep you posted. Also, please email me with any questions you have about my journey, or topics you want me to cover.

For the last month working as an employee, I’d say THAT’S A WRAP!

These aspects are appealing, but when you freelance, you also miss out on certain benefits, like paid sick leave.

Like every other human being, you get sick from time to time. You may be able to work through certain illnesses and keep your business moving. Other times, you may need to take a few days off and recoup.

Several scenarios can trigger a work timeout, such as mental burnout, a virus or infection, and various types of personal injuries. But these health setbacks don’t have to impact your income.

Here are a couple of ways to stay on top of things while you’re under the weather:

1. Build an Emergency Savings Cushion

The same way you plan for vacations and other time off you need to plan ahead for illnesses. Some employees have paid sick leave, where they can take a few days off from work and still get paid.

It doesn’t work this way when you freelance. But with enough cash in the bank, you can afford to take time off and rebuild your strength. Take 10% of your pay off the top and deposit this cash in a savings account. For a higher return, consider a high-yield savings account.

How much do you need to earn each day to keep your freelance business thriving?

Stash a little cash each month and build a two or three-month emergency fund. This provides enough cash for a worst-case scenario. This way, your bills get paid and you don’t have to feel guilty about taking time off.

2. Outsource Your Work

Not only do you need to recoup and get better, you also need to keep your clients happy. Staying ahead of deadlines can help.

In this case, you might be able to take a day or two off and complete assignments by their due dates. You can also ask clients for a due date extension, but this isn’t the most professional move.

If you have to take several days off and you fear missing several deadlines, consider temporarily outsourcing your work to other freelances. This approach won’t work for everyone.

You’ll need to read your freelancing agreement carefully, as some clients may prohibit outsourcing. Build your network of writer and you can become each other’s go-to person during illnesses.

Make sure the writers can provide stellar content and match the tone of your client’s website. Be sure to proofread and edit content before submitting to your clients.

3. Keep Yourself Healthy

Illnesses are inevitable, but healthy lifestyle choices can reduce your number of infections. And this might mean working less on some days when you’re getting too stressed out. (Something I remind myself often.)

Maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise can give your immune system a boost, thus helping you avoid many illnesses.

Proper rest is also key and you should aim for eight hours of shut eye each night. Likewise, it helps to take breaks. Working nonstop might benefit your bank account, but burnout can take a toll on your mental and physical health.

That’s not to say I’m not scared of the unknown, but since I’ve taken some smart steps to prepare, I’m a lot less fearful — and stressed out. Oddly enough that’s something I never expected. 

As an A-type personality I like things to be in order and all tied up in a neat little package. Of course life isn’t like that — at all. Life is messy, unpredictable and full of the unknown. The best we can do is create a plan, prepare for any setbacks and keep moving forward.

 If you’re thinking of quitting your job, becoming your own boss, traveling the world or following whatever ambitions you have, here are eight steps to take before making that leap.

1. Hire a Business Coach 

I’ve always been skeptical of hiring a coach — whether it’s a business coach, life coach or any other type. But at the beginning of 2013 I needed a change, and felt like I couldn’t catapult my business alone. 

So I reached out to Steph Gordon, and asked if she’d work with me and my “side-hustle”. Little did I know, towards the end of our sessions my side-hustle would turn into a full-fledged freelance business, and I’d be quitting my day job. 

There’s no way I could accomplish all this — plus all the other things I’ve been working on — without her help, encouragement and perspective. After my experience I HIGHLY recommend finding a coach to help you through your next big career decision. 

2. Finalize Your Decision 

Do you want to only work part-time, one day a week, as a contractor, or do you want to quit your job altogether? 

These are questions I asked myself to make sure I knew what my desires truly were. In the beginning I didn’t want to quit my job entirely, but my boss wasn’t flexible or understanding so it made my situation very difficult. 

Eventually it came down to an ultimatum (which I’m pretty sure they didn’t think I would take), and were surprised that I said I had to quit. But now that I’ve come to the end of it all, I’m actually thankful they put me under pressure to finally make that decision. 

3. Launch Your Own Product or Service 

I know a lot of online entrepreneurs suggest this, but I can honestly say it will make your transition to being your own boss that much easier. If you need extra money in any given month, you can promote your own product or service, to make up for any gap in income.

You’ll have more control over what you earn and how you earn it. That’s not something you can say when you have to answer to clients. 

In less than 4 months, I created and launched a premium membership forum called The Freelancers Club. Not only does it give me a little bit of recurring income, I’ve made some valuable connections in the event I need to reach out to my network for support, or a new gig. And the street goes both ways for all the members too, so it’s a win-win! 

4. Reach Out to Your Network 

Once you officially decide to quit your job and strike out on your own, one of the smartest things you can do is reach out to your current network of friends, colleagues and existing clients. Let them know that you’re quitting soon, that you’ll have some more time on your hands and are trying to grow your business. 

How will your network keep an eye out for awesome opportunities for you, if you don’t let them know you’re looking? This is a mistake a lot of business owners make — they don’t utilize their current network. 

Don’t forget to reach out and follow-up with existing clients too! Once I did this, I increased my workload (and pay) for several clients while connecting with some very influential people. 

5. Streamline Your Expenses and Test it Out 

I think this step is something everyone starts freaking out about (I know I did!). How are you going to cover all your expenses? Can you really live on the income you make from starting your own business? 

The only way to really know is to readjust your budget (or create one if you haven’t) and start living on the income you currently make from freelancing. Cut your expenses back as much as possible and start saving whatever’s left to help make your leap smoother. 

You’ll notice that it will be a difficult at first, as you and your bank account adjust, but after a few months, it will be much easier. Then once your last of work comes, you’ll be more than prepared to become your own (successful) boss! 

6. Create a Freelance Schedule

There’s very little chance you’ll be able to survive as a solopreneur if you don’t set a schedule and put it into practice. 

Take it from my friend Andrea, who runs her own hosting and design business out of her home office. Often times when she tells her friends or family she’s working that day, they take that to mean they can come over anytime, drop off their kids for her to babysit and basically use her time as they please. 

These days most people don’t understand — or won’t respect — your time when you’re “working at home”. So enforce yourself to live with a schedule and enforce others to answer to your calendar. 

Don’t forget to schedule in time for YOU. My business coach and I call this “self-care” time. You can’t — and shouldn’t — work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Why else would you quit so you can have more free time? 

Put yourself and your health, on top of the priority list. This will keep you sane and allow you to actually make money! 

7. Finish Strong 

This is definitely the most difficult step out of all the rest — at least was for me. Once I put these tips into action and had my awesome plan of being my own boss in motion, I wanted to instantly check-out of my day job. 

But that would not only be unfair to my boss, but to myself too. After putting in over a decade of hard work, dedication and discipline, I knew I needed to finish strong!

Don’t cheat yourself out of the last few days at your job. Instead, use it as a testing period, to help guide you as you experiment with living on less income, enforcing a freelance schedule and taking time for self-care. 

If you can use your last few days, or months, as a testing ground, then when the last at your job hits, you’ll be able to take the leap smooth and seamlessly — and set yourself up to succeed!

Did you recently quit your job? Have you taken to the leap to being your own boss? Share another step you took to help you succeed! 

Of course, your business may still be quite small and financially vulnerable — making the wrong hire literally has the potential to take your fledgling business under.

Do you really need to hire?

The first thing you need to do before choosing to hire someone, and taking on the associated cost and liability of having an employee, is consider your needs carefully. It may be more cost effective to outsource.

In the early stages of your business, you don’t need executive level staff—you need workers who can help with the nuts and bolts of your business.

They need to build, assemble, bake, pack, mail, answer phones, type, sort, sell and serve. If you feel you need strategic help or training look for small business consultants.

Write a Good Job Description

Once you’ve decided that you need to hire an employee, begin the process by writing up a formal job description.

No matter how flexible and casual your small business is, a job description is essential for both you and your employee to have clear expectations.

List all the tasks that will be related to the job being as detailed as possible. Note the work hours and any other requirements—do they need to own a smart phone and car to make deliveries? Or, do they need to be able to lift boxes over 50 pounds?

Finally, take a look at the job description and write a list of what skills, training and education would help a person be successful in the position. These are the things you should be looking for in a candidate.

Find Candidates Through Your Network

Often the best way to find good candidates is through referrals. If a potential employee is referred by someone you know and trust, there is a much better chance of that person working out in that position, than a stranger you hire on the basis of a resume and interview.

So, put out the word that you are looking for someone to fill a position. A word about friends and family — sometimes hiring your sister or best friend can work out great — other times it’s a total disaster!

Remember, you aren’t giving out jobs as a charity. You need employees who will work hard and dependable. By all means consider friends and family, but don’t hire someone just because they need a job.

Prepare a Thorough Interview

Write down your questions ahead of time. (Carefully review which questions you cannot legally ask and be sure to avoid them.)

If appropriate to the position, pose scenario-based questions to see how the applicant would solve a problem. Take note of the person’s non-verbal cues.

How do they dress and speak? Did they show up on time?

Anyone can rehearse for interview questions, but in a small business you need someone you click with. Someone you can work closely with and communicate well with.

Remember, if you are interviewing several people you may get confused as to which applicant said what so take notes.

Check References

Many people exaggerate or plain out lie on their applications and resumes. Simply verifying employment history and checking references will help eliminate potentially bad candidates.

Also, do a quick Google search on potential candidates — you might be surprised what you find.

Background checks are also an important way to weed out bad candidates and protect yourself against lawsuits. Depending on the type of position and responsibility, you may only need to do simple background checks like a credit check.

You’re Ready to Hire!

Once you’ve selected the candidate be sure to do everything by the book. There are many legal requirements when hiring an employee.

Your local Small Business Association is a great resource to help make sure you “cross your t’s and dot your i’s.”

Congratulations on making this important milestone as a business owner!

Do you find yourself stretching or visiting a chiropractor as part of your regular routine? Maybe you’re looking for a more permanent solution?

There are other solutions that are easier and less time consuming than resorting to spending unnecessary time and money multiple times a week.

How to Stop Back Pain

It is no secret that bad posture is one of the most common causes of back pain. Your parents have been telling you that since you were a child. So why is it so hard for us to change our habits?

If you work at a desk all day like I do, it’s likely you lean forward to view your screen better. And if you work in an environment that causes stress, you could be suffering from eye strain, headaches and back pain due to the anxiety. (All of which I’m currently experiencing).

But the good news is, there’s relief for this!

Using a comfortable ergonomic chair when sitting for long periods at a time will ease your pain.

• Make sure your chair has lumbar support.
• Keep your chair at a height that enables your feet to sit flat on the floor.
• Keep your body in alignment — your knees should be even with your hips and if necessary a pillow can be placed between you and the chair to help keep your back straight.
• Be conscious about the positions your body is in — it will go a long way.

Office chairs by Sitbetter.com could be a solution that can change your quality of not only your work life but your life outside of work too. By going ergonomic you will find a reason to be thankful for many years.

Prevent Chronic Pain from Sitting

If you’re sitting for long periods of time, it really doesn’t matter what position your body is in — this will cause your muscles to get tight, thus resulting in pain that’s not only uncomfortable, but damaging to your overall health.

Take breaks regularly, just a few minutes will do wonders to your body. This will also help you to work more efficiently, as being distracted by stiff muscles will take your focus off of the task at hand.

Again, make sure that when you take this much needed breaks that you use correct posture, as you may be defeating the purpose if you don’t.

When you are at your desk, try to keep your computer at eye level. This will help you to achieve the posture you are looking for. If your monitor is too low, you will be forced to slouch forward in order to read the screen properly.

If it’s too high, you’ll have to tilt your head in order to see the screen. This tightens your neck muscles, and as we all know the neck bone is connected to the back bone, the backbone connected to the hip bone, thus resulting in a domino effect of pain.

Change Your Work Habits

Changing your exercise habits is another way to ease pain, both mental and physical. Stretching regularly will keep your spine flexible. A few minutes a day will do the trick and keep you away from the chiropractor.

These tips are also vital if you want to stop headaches and keep your vision from going bad. I’ve already had to update my glasses prescription last week because I’m sitting to close to the computer screen all day.

It’s important to remember that if you’re currently suffering from pain in your back, neck or any other joints in your body, it’s likely there’s more than one explanation for this.

Changing one thing will offer some relief, but changing all of your bad habits will ensure that your solutions are not temporary. Habits are of course hard to break, so it is important you recognize when you’re making a poor choice, and alter it accordingly.

Incorporate exercise, good posture and healthy eating habits into your everyday life. Even if the pain subsides, stick to your good habits, and don’t go back to your old ways.