Things I Learned The Hard Way: The business adventures of a freelancer

use S.M.A.R.T principle: specific.measurable.achievable.relevant.time framed. Define Your Wage because if you don’t earn, you have no bread on your table. (define what you need by calculating all your costs) not earning enough? reconsider your business plan Get A Good Accountant: a good accountant can save you a lot of money, but most of all a good accountant thinks along with you

Things I Learned The

Hard Way

Ine Dehandschutter

@matuvu www.matuvu.nu Bizcamp.be 2012

The business adventures

of a freelancer

I’m Ine,

a (web)designer & photographer, currently based in Ghent, Belgium

(I’m also lead designer of Emphas.is)

I have been a freelancer since 2000.

And I made loooooads of mistakes during the years.

You don’t have to!

Enjoy this presentation.

If you do, don’t hesitate to like

& share it,

@matuvu

because you will suffer

cry blood tears die

over and over again

Have A Dream To Die For

@matuvu

use S.M.A.R.T principle:

specific.measurable.achievable.relevant.time framed

Outline Your Plan

@matuvu

because if you don’t earn, you have no bread on your table.

(define what you need by calculating all your costs) not earning enough? reconsider your business plan!

Define Your Wage

@matuvu

a good accountant can save you a lot of money, but most of all a good accountant thinks along with you!

Get A Good Accountant

@matuvu

never ever work for free

unless it is for your mom

Don’t Sell Cheap

@matuvu

when you can, ditch the friends, family and fools.

they’re perfect for starters,

but bad for pro’s

Find Real Clients

@matuvu

learn from the 20% 80% rule:

20% stand for 80% of your trouble

keep the good clients, ditch the others

Teach Those Clients

@matuvu

and follow up your cash flow.

don’t play bank to your clients

no money on the bank = no bread on the table

Charge Fast

@matuvu

it is the best way to find exiting new clients.

or to find new partners

or to do fun stuff

Network

@matuvu

the best way to loose your uncertainties is to talk to colleagues.

unite with others

(consider co-working, join certain business groups, )

Surround Yourself

@matuvu

measure everything you do.

your time, your projects your profits

learn from your mistakes and do it better

Measure, Evaluate

@matuvu

try it: nononono.

it will earn you more

if not in money, in quality

Learn To Say NO

NO

@matuvu

don’t spend to ‘save taxes’

if you pay taxes you keep 50%

if you spend you keep nothing

Save For Later

@matuvu

make time for your personal life

‘later’ = ‘now’

it is gone before you know

Live The Now

@matuvu

be prepared to fail, to change, to adapt.

sometimes stuff works, sometimes not

Most Of All Be Flexible

@matuvu

It Is A Bumpy But Adventurous Ride

@matuvu

Thank You

Ine Dehandschutter

(web)designer & photographer & talker

www.matuvu.nu

@matuvu www.linkedin.com/in/matuvu www.slideshare.com/matuvu