Ever feel like you’re flying by the seat of your pants? That’s probably because you’ve just taken the leap into the world of freelancing. Now that your regular income isn’t guaranteed, can you afford to turn down work – even if it carries a risk? And how do you fight your pangs of loneliness, or trust in strangers for issues outside your expertise, like getting paid on time and being properly insured?
To give you some much needed reassurance, we’ve put together a list of four inspirational people who went it alone and provide some sound advice to avoid common freelancing pitfalls.
Ozzy Osborne
“Don’t bite off more than you can chew” is sound advice for any freelancer, even coming from a man who once bit off a bat’s head in front of a live audience. The Prince of Darkness decided to go it alone at the height of heavy metal group Black Sabbath’s popularity, launching a highly successful solo career and headbangers’ paradise Ozzfest. One thing Ozzy did neglect, however, was $1.7m in taxes. The taxman finally caught up with him in 2011, proving you need to take responsibility for paying more than just attention to detail to stay on top of things.
John McLane
At some point you’ll end up the wrong guy in the wrong place at the wrong time. In this case, you’ll have some empathy for Die Hard’s John McLane, who’s forced to take charge of a situation with unintended consequences. Having public liability insurance as standard can be a huge reassurance, although this doesn’t usually cover throwing explosives down a skyscraper elevator shaft (it’s in the small print).
Batman
Bruce Wayne is seriously creative when it comes to finding solutions to any problem. Of course, we all know he gets by with a little help from his super-organised and diligent butler. Alfred’s faithful and assertive approach would have made him a sensational account manager in one of our large, specialised teams. Handling client management in a seamless, integrated manner, they’re as handy as any of the Dark Knight’s gadgets.
The Lone Ranger
You don’t have to be the Billy No Mates your job title implies – just like our hero, the lone survivor of six unfortunate Texas Rangers. Working side-by-side with his trusty sidekick Tonto, The Lone Ranger knew a kemo sabe could help get the job done. Being securely employed by an umbrella company will make sure you’re not on your own when it comes to taking on work, payroll services and providing comprehensive information about critical legislation changes.
Each of our four heroic figures managed to find their own way, and are a great inspiration on how to succeed when going it alone. If, however, you’re in a similar situation and don’t have a direct line to any of the above, we can provide a full range of advice and services found using the link below or contacting us directly.
Call us on: 01244 500195
Email: info@exchequersolutions.co.uk
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