Do you work for yourself?

Question

I'm thinking about going it alone but I'm a bit scared. What do you do? Has it been worth it for you? Do you work more or less than before? Has it been difficult? Has your income risen? Would you recommend doing it? Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences!

Answer 1

No I don't

But good luck if that is what you decide to do :)

Answer 2

I have worked for myself in the past and my husband is self-employed at present.

It worked for me as I was able to fit my work around my family (I was a tax consultant) The big difficulty was working from home I had to be very firm with friends that I was actually working and not available to do messages for them or for them to come round for coffee. I made the same money for less hours than when I was employed but I also had to pay out for insurance and the like - also had no back-up.

My husband is a plumber and odd job man. He likes being his own boss but earns less than he did before. He is at everyone's beck and call at all hours and 7 days a week. The worst thing is when a customer has a bathroom or kitchen fitted and it doesn't look exactly like how they thought it would - usually because of the room sizes or the tiles are different in a group than a single tile......

Only you can decide if it is right for you. A lot depends on what you will be doing and your own personality. Don't expect to make a lot of money in the first year or two - it usually takes a couple of years to get a good reputation.

Answer 3

Yes. I was apprehensive too. My experience might be slightly different because a company wanted me to work for them, but they didn't want to hire me. So they encouraged me to start my own business and then I could bill them for my time. I had to get a business checking account, which wasn't so hard. I had to think up of a name, which was hard. The worst part, I think, is buying my own health insurance. However, I get paid a lot more per hour than I ever would if I was on some company's salary roll. As for hours... it's nice to have the flexibility available. There's not as much pressure to work 40 hours every week, especially when you're feeling sick.

If you want to do it, go for it. There will be lots of people out there who can give you tips and pointers along the way. You're not really alone.

Answer 4

Not easy. If you're going to work from home, it's difficult to ignore other things. Like not having cleaned the kitchen. Some people take a walk round the block before starting work. I play some solitaire computer game, just to check I'm awake, (Sometimes I'm not). Depends what the job is. I give legal advice. Once the client realises I work from home, he/she thinks I'm working 24/7. My nearest and dearest have my mobile number. I don't answer the office number after office hours.

Answer 5

I do work for myself as a Real Estate Agent. I've only been doing this for 5 months and I have yet to earn a dime. It is hard, but I'm learning and I won't give up. Thankfully I have a husband and a part time job, which I'll likely step out on faith and quit after my maternity leave. Its a big leap but very worth it. I see others arounding me raking in the dough, but the best thing for me will be seeing how rewarding it will be when I help someone...with profit!

Answer 6

I work in an office, I have just gone part-time as I started lap-dancing 6 months ago which pays enough for me to go p/t . I have now enrolled on a photography course which I can now afford. I hope to be a self-employed freelance photographer in 6 months time, I am earning 3 times what I was 8 months ago & in the next 6 months I hope to double it again. Good luck with your project

Answer 7

Depends if you have expertise in what you want to do or not. To be self employed you have to be competent at what you do, and know that you have a "customer base" to start getting work from. I'm an IT Consultant, and for me, yes it's been worth it. I don't necessarily work less hours, but I do earn a lot more money than when I was employed. Disadvantages are of course you don't get holiday or sick pay, you have to arrange your own pension, and of course you could be without work for short periods.

Answer 8

You don't have to go it alone! Everyone is scared in the beginning when they've never done something before.

My team & I can offer you training & support that is ongoing. Daily encouragement and direction with the tools you will need to grow your business to whatever goal you set for yourself.

We have a wide range of phone training, recordings, team & company 24/7 message boards, team treaining web sites. You choose which is convenient to your schedule.

Feel free to visit my link below to review what I have to offer. If you find this may be something of interest, feel free to contact me through my 360 email. I will get back to you. Jot down any questions you will have and I'd be happy to answer them for you.

Best of Luck to YOU!

Answer 9

Sometimes working for yourself is cool, but there is a lot of hassle involved, like working out your own tax thing once a year, the inland revenue can work it out for you, or you can hire an accountant, but I found when my attempt at working self employed fell through you have a lot of sh*t to deal with and I dont think I will be rushing into working for myself again.

Answer 10

I have been self employed for a couple of years now. It's hard work; no guaranteed income, no sick pay, no holiday pay, etc. But I enjoy being my own boss and not having to cope with office politics.

Answer 11

Retired now - but would say that the only thing about working for oneself for any length of time, is that it makes you just about unemployable if you ever pack it in.
You get that used to doing everything for yourself that the 'I know best' attitude really sticks, but thats no bad thing!