3 Pros to Being a Freelancer | Holly Rudge

“I’m a freelancer and these are my top three favourite things about going freelance.”

My name is Holly Rudge. I’m a freelance hair professional and Denman Creative. I began freelancing about two years ago. I’ve found my tribe at Sta Studios, and I’ve never been happier.

1. It’s a Growing Community

The freelance world is growing! Just because people choose to go freelance, it doesn’t mean they want to be alone. Connecting on social media is an easy way to form a network and build relationships with like-minded freelance professionals; I have found this has really broadened my horizons. There are a variety of different ways to go freelance, so I recommend exploring all of them until you find what works for you. In my experience, the freelance community is incredibly supportive – we are all walking our own paths, but we are doing it together!

2. The Flexibility and Freedom

The thing that motivated me to go freelance in the first place was when I realised I was most efficient when not confined to certain days and work hours – I wanted to put my energy into building my own business. So, if you decide to choose the freelance life too, be prepared and make sure you have enough of a client base to allow for a smooth transition (and make sure they can find you on social media!). Once that box is ticked, you can start shopping around for a freelance space. Remember, choosing a space that aligns with you and your brand is really important. Choose one that also harmonises with your clientele -they need to love it as much as you do!

3. It’s Your Business, So Go For It!

Becoming freelance is both liberating and challenging, but it’s so worth it. Be ready to really work on your own business – this might mean initially missing some nights out with friends, but once everything is in place, you will find yourself with so much more freedom. Managing your own time and really crafting a work/life balance is so important when working freelance, plus there are lots of apps like Slick to help you.

I’ve found that the biggest challenge is actually making the leap in the first place, as well as staying motivated. As long as you keep showing up and doing your best, you’ll find that everything flows perfectly… then you’ll probably find yourself working too much, but that’s another issue! My last word on being your own boss is to get a good accountant. Bookkeeping can be stressful, so get a great accountant and keep on top of the financial side of the business.