As self-employed entrepreneurs freelance journalists benefit from creative freedom and adjustable work schedules. Getting rid of the boss brings certain negatives that most people can not foresee though. In the past few years many news agencies have done considerable downsizing and outsourcing increasing demand for freelancers, but also flooding the writer pool with people who are unsophisticated a business sense. In every endeavor there are opportunities for professionals who can competently run their business and give their customers value.
Setting one's own hours, choosing which projects to take on, and taking time off when wanted sounds good to everyone. Most people though, lack the discipline needed to get work done without working under deadlines, being supervised, and threatened with loosing their livelihood if they do not preform.
People in the writer's life will not recognize working at home alone as a real job. Friends and family will not allow him to complete his work free of distraction unless he puts his foot down. This can be stressful and harmful to relationships but not having firm work schedules will cause failure.
Determining the number of annual days and hours of availability for work is the first step. Take care to allow for all days off such as vacations, holidays, and outside tasks.
The next task is to find out how much annual income will be needed. Anticipate all expenses including personal and business related. The benefits you formerly received from your employer such as health care and retirement must be evaluated and included.
Dividing the available hours into the necessary or desired income, will yield average hourly and daily rates that need be charged for your work. Consistently taking projects below this rate will result in an inability to pay bills, or have the standard of living that was desired. This will add considerable stress to the already stressful tasks of writing and running a business.
Hours will need to be allowed for marketing and administration since not having enough work coming in to fill all the allotted hours will have the same negative effect. More hours must be allowed for billing and accounting or you will not get paid for completed work and will not know how the business is doing until it is too late to make adjustments.
Freelance journalists must be business professionals and work at least as hard as they would for an employer. If they have writing skills but cannot market, sell, or manage their business, they will be better off finding the best job they can. Read more about: freelance journalists
Setting one's own hours, choosing which projects to take on, and taking time off when wanted sounds good to everyone. Most people though, lack the discipline needed to get work done without working under deadlines, being supervised, and threatened with loosing their livelihood if they do not preform.
People in the writer's life will not recognize working at home alone as a real job. Friends and family will not allow him to complete his work free of distraction unless he puts his foot down. This can be stressful and harmful to relationships but not having firm work schedules will cause failure.
Determining the number of annual days and hours of availability for work is the first step. Take care to allow for all days off such as vacations, holidays, and outside tasks.
The next task is to find out how much annual income will be needed. Anticipate all expenses including personal and business related. The benefits you formerly received from your employer such as health care and retirement must be evaluated and included.
Dividing the available hours into the necessary or desired income, will yield average hourly and daily rates that need be charged for your work. Consistently taking projects below this rate will result in an inability to pay bills, or have the standard of living that was desired. This will add considerable stress to the already stressful tasks of writing and running a business.
Hours will need to be allowed for marketing and administration since not having enough work coming in to fill all the allotted hours will have the same negative effect. More hours must be allowed for billing and accounting or you will not get paid for completed work and will not know how the business is doing until it is too late to make adjustments.
Freelance journalists must be business professionals and work at least as hard as they would for an employer. If they have writing skills but cannot market, sell, or manage their business, they will be better off finding the best job they can. Read more about: freelance journalists