How to become a freelancer? You're talented at what you do but how to turn that into a business that gives you the income, flexibility and satisfaction that comes with the freelance lifestyle? We’ve all thought about pursuing our dreams only to dismiss the idea as fantasy and end up sticking with the 'safe' option. Rent, a mortgage, kids, bills... the list of reasons not to follow your ambitions are endless. Did you know that on average freelancers earn £52,000 per year? It's how you set up your freelance business that generally dictates your success and we've 3 key tips to get you thinking. 

Waking up in the morning and being your own boss sometimes seems almost too good to be true, doesn’t it? Nobody to answer to, organising your day at your own pace, working on projects as and when you see fit, not having to deal with office politics... there are many perks to living the sole trader dream. Here are a few of the benefits and limitations you may want to consider.

What does your portfolio say about you as a freelancer? Is it a visual CV, a trophy cabinet or something else? Does the work remind you of a particular time in your career, a certain client, a moment of pride or realisation – perhaps the project that changed everything? 

Do you have a burning desire to become a full-time freelancer? Are you in a 9 to 5 job that you hate and spend most of your time looking at ways to escape? Full-time freelancing brings its own set of unique challenges but, if you get it right, can offer the flexibility, financial security and job satisfaction that's rarely found in a full time job.

Are you still working to live? As an increase of millennials choose freelance careers over full time roles, we explore the changing mindset and perceptions of a generation.

We get asked about how one should make the transition from part time freelancing to full time freelancing and from full time work to part time freelancing a lot. And those we speak to are worried about, well, everything! Will I have enough money to pay the rent? Can I run a freelance businesses on my own? Did I put a red sock in with the white wash? Ok, maybe not the last one so much but the fear of going freelance is common and something all freelancers must deal with at some point. Before you make the leap, here's a few pointers to consider.

Whilst studying Fashion Management at university, I tried my hand at styling, costume design and copywriting as side modules. Although I studied all of these skills simultaneously, I didn’t realise that I could apply a similar structure to my future career as a multi-disciplinary freelancer.

A lot of people think that being a freelancer is a walk in the park – I mean all we do is sit at home drinking tea in front of the computer, right? Definitely not right! Although there are, of course, plenty of perks to being a freelancer, it’s not all Cappuccinos in our PJs and things can certainly get frustrating.