Product Overview

The Principles Of Successful Freelancing

Index

Symbols

43 Things, (Establishing Goals and Milestones)
88Miles, (Tracking Your Time)
99designs, (Outsourcing)

A

accountants

benefits of, (Hiring Professionals)

accounting

software, (Obtaining Accounting Software)
terminology, (Accounting Basics)

ad hoc loading, (Calculating Your Rates)

advertising

branding, (Marketing and Advertising)
costs, (Costs Checklist)
jobs, (Outsourcing)
where, (Selling Your Clients)

advice

requesting, (Asking for Advice)

anger

managing, (Resolving Issues with Problem Clients)

articles

and branding, (Writing Articles)

asking

for referrals, (Asking for Referrals)

availability

in client service, (Maintain High Availability)

B

backups, (Backing Up Regularly)

computer and web files, (Engaging Assistance)

Bam Creative

naming, (Using a Fictitious Name)

bartering skills, (Step Five: Calculate Your Hourly Rate)

Basecamp, (Tracking Your Time)

benefits, from salary, (Disadvantages of the Freelance Life)

blogging

and branding, (Blogging)

bookkeepers

benefits of, (Hiring Professionals)

Boulton, Mark

interview with, (Interview with Mark Boulton)

branding, (Creating “Brand You”)

about, (Creating Your Brand: the Preliminaries)
blogging, (Blogging)
business networking, (Networking in Real Life)
marketing and advertising, (Marketing and Advertising)
online social networks, (Online Social Networks)
public speaking, (Public Speaking)
web site, (Polishing Your Web Site)
writing articles, (Writing Articles)

business brokers, (Selling Your Clients)

business cards

alternatives to, (Networking in Real Life)

business skills, (Business Skills)

business structures

types of, (Considering Your Business Structure)

buying versus leasing, (Planning the Start-up Shopping List)

C

case studies (see Emily case study; Jacob case study; interviews)

cash flow, (Cash Flow Is King!)

debtors, (Dealing with Debtors)
defined, (Accounting Basics)
payments, (Encouraging Prompt Payment)
recurring revenue, (Recurring Revenue)

chairs

ergonomics, (Considering Ergonomics)

cheap

risks of, (Step Five: Calculate Your Hourly Rate)

checklists

costs, (Costs Checklist)
pick-me-up list, (Asking for Advice)
to-do lists, (Discovering Your Personal Productivity)

client profiles

ideal, (Creating an “Ideal Client” Profile)

client service, (Give Great Service)

about, (Basics of Client Service)
benefits of great service, (Benefits of Great Service)
communication, (Communication Tips)
ethics, (Being Ethical)
problem clients, (Resolving Issues with Problem Clients)
project management, (Project Management)
when retiring from business, (Retiring from Freelancing)

clients

office needs for, (Planning Your Office Space)

Collins, Stephen

interview with, (Interview with Stephen Collins)

communications

client service, (Communication Tips)
costs, (Costs Checklist)

community

for work-life balance, (Supporting the Community)

competitors

offerings, (Reviewing Your Competitors)

contracts

about, (Polishing Your Contracts)
types of, (Calculating Your Rates)

costs, (Determining Your Costs)

accounting software, (Obtaining Accounting Software)
checklist, (Costs Checklist)
insurance, (Considering Insurance)
list of, (Planning the Start-up Shopping List)
outsourcing, (Outsourcing)

courtesy

client service, (Practice Courtesy and Respect)

D

debtors

cash flow, (Dealing with Debtors)

decision to go freelancing, (Making the Decision)

delegating tasks, (Hiring Professionals)

desk

ergonomics, (Considering Ergonomics)

domain names, (Using a Fictitious Name)

E

88Miles, (Tracking Your Time)

Elance, (Outsourcing)

email

out-of-office responder, (Communication Tips)
productivity, (Maintain High Availability)
writing, (Communication Tips)

Emily case study

background, (About Emily)
client service, (Emily)
final episode, (Emily)
money, (Emily)
selling, (Emily)
setting up, (Emily)
transition to freelancing, (Emily)
work-life balance, (Emily)

energy efficiency, (Being Green)

environmental awareness

for work-life balance, (Being Green)

equipment

costs, (Costs Checklist)
donating, (Supporting the Community)
environmental awareness, (Being Green)
purchasing, (Planning the Start-up Shopping List)

ergonomics

office space, (Considering Ergonomics)

ethical issues, (Outsourcing)

ethics

client service, (Being Ethical)

expectations

managing clients’, (Manage Client Expectations)

F

faces

remembering, (Networking in Real Life)

fear

overcoming in selling, (Overcoming Your Fear of Selling)

Featherstone, Derek

interview with, (Interview with Derek Featherstone)

fictitious names

use of for branding, (Using a Fictitious Name)

files

backups, (Engaging Assistance)

finances (see money)

financial security, (Disadvantages of the Freelance Life)

fixed price contracts, (Calculating Your Rates)

43 Things, (Establishing Goals and Milestones)

freelancers

personality traits, (Successful Freelancer Personality Traits)
skills, (Are You Freelance Material?)

freelancing

advantages, (Advantages of the Freelance Life)
defined, (Why Freelance?)
disadvantages, (Disadvantages of the Freelance Life)
full-time, (Freelancing Full-time)
on the side, (Freelancing on the Side)
retiring from, (Retiring from Freelancing)

Freshbooks, (Obtaining Accounting Software)

full-time freelancing

advantages and disadvantages, (Freelancing Full-time)

fun, importance of, (Asking for Advice)

furniture

ergonomics, (Considering Ergonomics)
purchasing, (Planning the Start-up Shopping List)

G

Geek Dinners, (Staying Connected)
Get a Freelancer, (Outsourcing)
goals, (Establishing Goals and Milestones)

H

Harvest, (Tracking Your Time)

health

taking care of, (Separating Work and Life)
work-life balance, (Maintaining Health and Wellness)

Highrise, (Controlling That Sales Funnel)

hiring

staff, (Hiring Staff)

holidays, (Maintaining Health and Wellness)

Holzschlag, Molly E.

interview with, (Interview with Molly Holzschlag)

honesty

client service, (Be Honest in All Communication)

hourly rates

calculating, (Step Five: Calculate Your Hourly Rate)

hours of work, (Advantages of the Freelance Life)

I

ideal client profiles, (Creating an “Ideal Client” Profile)

insurance

costs, (Costs Checklist), (Considering Insurance)
importance of, (Accounting Basics)

interpersonal skills, (Interpersonal Skills)

interviews

Derek Featherstone, (Interview with Derek Featherstone)
hiring staff, (Hiring Staff)
Mark Boulton, (Interview with Mark Boulton)
Molly E. Holzschlag, (Interview with Molly Holzschlag)
Stephen Collins, (Interview with Stephen Collins)

J

Jacob case study

background, (About Jacob)
client service, (Jacob)
final episode, (Jacob)
money, (Jacob)
selling, (Jacob)
setting up, (Jacob)
transition to freelancing, (Jacob)
work-life balance, (Jacob)

L

leasing versus buying, (Planning the Start-up Shopping List)

legal issues

outsourcing, (Outsourcing)
software licenses, (Costs Checklist), (Registering Software)

Less Accounting, (Obtaining Accounting Software)

licenses

software, (Costs Checklist), (Registering Software)

life-work balance (see work-life balance)

lighting

environmentally friendly, (Planning Your Office Space)

LLC (limited liability company), (Considering Your Business Structure)

loans, (Loans and Savings)

location

of work, (Advantages of the Freelance Life)

loneliness, (Disadvantages of the Freelance Life)

M

M.Y.O.B, (Obtaining Accounting Software)

marketing

branding, (Marketing and Advertising)
costs, (Costs Checklist)

mentoring, (Asking for Advice)

milestones, (Establishing Goals and Milestones)

money, (Manage Your Money)

accounting, (Accounting Basics)
cash flow, (Cash Flow Is King!)
costs, (Determining Your Costs)
financial security, (Disadvantages of the Freelance Life)
hiring professionals for handling, (Hiring Professionals)
loans and savings, (Loans and Savings)
rates, (Calculating Your Rates)
salaried benefits, (Disadvantages of the Freelance Life)
savings, (Consider Your Situation)

N

names

use of for branding, (Using Your Own Name)

networking (business)

branding, (Networking in Real Life)
for work-life balance, (Staying Connected)

99designs, (Outsourcing)

nutrition, (Caring for Yourself at Work)

O

oDesk, (Outsourcing)

offerings, (Determining Your Offering)

competitors, (Reviewing Your Competitors)
ideal client profiles, (Creating an “Ideal Client” Profile)
prospects’ needs, (Asking Prospects What They Want)
USP, (Developing Your USP)

office

costs, (Costs Checklist)
paperless, (Being Green)

office space, (Planning Your Office Space)

ergonomics, (Considering Ergonomics)
planning, (Planning Your Office Space)
sharing, (Staying Connected)

on the side freelancing

advantages and disadvantages, (Freelancing on the Side)

organizational skills, (Organizational Skills)

out-of-office responder, email, (Communication Tips)

outsourcing, (Outsourcing)

overhead

determining, (Step One: Determine Your Overheads)

P

paperless office, (Being Green)

parties, (Staying Connected)

passive income, (Recurring Revenue)

payments

cash flow, (Encouraging Prompt Payment)

personal productivity tools, (Discovering Your Personal Productivity)

personality traits, (Successful Freelancer Personality Traits)

phones

answering, (Maintain High Availability)

physical fitness, (Maintaining Health and Wellness)

pick-me-up list, (Asking for Advice)

piggybanks, (Consider Your Situation)

planning, (Taking Time to Plan)

(see also transition to freelancing)
about, (Taking Time to Plan)
costs, (Planning the Start-up Shopping List)
financial, (Hiring Professionals)
goals and milestones, (Establishing Goals and Milestones)
office space, (Planning Your Office Space)
SWOT, (Creating a SWOT)

Port80, (Staying Connected)

privacy

donating computer equipment, (Supporting the Community)
office space, (Planning Your Office Space)
outsourcing, (Outsourcing)

problem clients

resolving issues with, (Resolving Issues with Problem Clients)

productivity

tools for, (Discovering Your Personal Productivity)

profiles

ideal clients, (Creating an “Ideal Client” Profile)

profit

defined, (Accounting Basics)

profit margins

setting, (Step Three: Decide on a Profit Margin)

project management, (Project Management)

prospects

needs of, (Asking Prospects What They Want)

public speaking

and branding, (Public Speaking)

Q

quality control

outsourcing, (Outsourcing)

Quickbooks, (Obtaining Accounting Software)

Quicken, (Obtaining Accounting Software)

R

rates

setting, (Calculating Your Rates)

recommendations

trusted, (Being Ethical)

recurring revenue, (Recurring Revenue)

referrals

asking for, (Asking for Referrals)

referring clients

when retiring from business, (Referring Your Clients)

Refresh, (Staying Connected)

research

competitors, (Reviewing Your Competitors)
for decision to go freelance, (Do Your Research)
job advertisements, (Outsourcing)
productivity improvements, (Discovering Your Personal Productivity)
skill improvement, (Avoiding Skill Rot)

respect

client service, (Practice Courtesy and Respect)

retiring from freelancing, (Retiring from Freelancing)

revenue

recurring, (Recurring Revenue)

RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury), (Considering Ergonomics)

S

Saasu, (Obtaining Accounting Software)

salary

calculating, (Step Two: Allocate Your Salary)
defined, (Accounting Basics)

sales funnel, (Controlling That Sales Funnel)

sales process (see selling)

SalesForce.com, (Controlling That Sales Funnel)

savings, (Consider Your Situation)

about, (Loans and Savings)

scheduling

time, (Scheduling Your Time)

scope creep

about, (Tackling Scope Creep)

Scriptlance, (Outsourcing)

search engine optimization (SEO), (Marketing and Advertising)

security

computer and web file backups, (Engaging Assistance)
financial, (Disadvantages of the Freelance Life)

self-discipline

work-life balance, (Having Self-discipline)

selling, (Win the Work)

branding, (Creating “Brand You”)
clients when retiring from business, (Selling Your Clients)
learning how to, (Learning to Sell)
offerings, (Determining Your Offering)
sales funnel, (Controlling That Sales Funnel)
sales process, (Understanding the Sales Process)

selling ahead, (Step Five: Calculate Your Hourly Rate)

SEO (search engine optimization), (Marketing and Advertising)

service (see client service)

SitePoint Forums, (Staying Connected)

skills

bartering, (Step Five: Calculate Your Hourly Rate)
building, (Avoiding Skill Rot)
freelancing, (Are You Freelance Material?)

SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely), (Establishing Goals and Milestones)

social networks

and branding, (Online Social Networks)

software

accounting, (Obtaining Accounting Software)
licenses, (Costs Checklist), (Registering Software)
popup software notifications, (Discovering Your Personal Productivity)

sole proprietor arrangement, (Considering Your Business Structure)

staffing, (Considering Staff)

(see also outsourcing)

SugarCRM, (Controlling That Sales Funnel)

suppliers, (Engaging Assistance)

professionals, (Hiring Professionals)

SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats), (Creating a SWOT)

T

teams, virtual, (Joining a Virtual Team)

technical skills, (Technical Skills)

telephones

answering, (Maintain High Availability)

templates

contracts, (Polishing Your Contracts)
documents, (Discovering Your Personal Productivity)

Tick, (Tracking Your Time)

time and materials contracts, (Calculating Your Rates)

time management, (Tracking Your Time)

delegating, (Hiring Professionals)
email and voicemail, (Maintain High Availability)
personal productivity, (Discovering Your Personal Productivity)
scheduling, (Scheduling Your Time)
tracking, (Tracking Your Time)

tools, (Organizing Your Tools)

about, (Organizing Your Tools)
backups, (Backing Up Regularly)
productivity, (Discovering Your Personal Productivity)
software licenses, (Registering Software)

tracking time, (Tracking Your Time)

trademarks, (Using a Fictitious Name)

transition to freelancing, (Prepare for the Transition)

assistance and advice, (Engaging Assistance)
branding, (Creating Your Brand: the Preliminaries)
business structures, (Considering Your Business Structure)
on the side versus full-time, (Deciding How Far to Jump)
planning, (Taking Time to Plan)

travel

costs, (Costs Checklist)

Tree Hugger, (Being Green)

trial periods

staff, (Hiring Staff)

U

USP (Unique Selling Proposition), (Developing Your USP)

V

vacation, (Maintaining Health and Wellness)

virtual teams, (Joining a Virtual Team)

voicemail

productivity, (Maintain High Availability)

W

Web Design Meetup, (Staying Connected)

Web Developer Forums, (Staying Connected)

web sites

branding, (Polishing Your Web Site)

Web Standards Group, (Staying Connected)

Webmaster Forums, (Staying Connected)

wellness, (Maintaining Health and Wellness)

(see also health)

work

hours of, (Advantages of the Freelance Life), (Step Four: Work Out Your Realistic Hours)
location of, (Advantages of the Freelance Life)

work-life balance, (Achieve Work–Life Balance)

about, (Separating Work and Life)
disadvantages of freelancing, (Disadvantages of the Freelance Life)
looking after yourself, (Looking After Yourself)
staying connected, (Staying Connected)

Work@Jelly, (Staying Connected)

writing articles, (Writing Articles)

Z

Zoho CRM, (Controlling That Sales Funnel)

About SitePoint

SitePoint specializes in publishing fun, practical and easy-to-understand content for Web professionals. Visit sitepoint.com to access our books, newsletters, articles and community forums.

By Miles Burke

Product Information

Features

Published: December 2008

7"x9" format
Includes FREE poster of your choice (while stocks last)
Entire contents of book in full color throughout!

Customer Reviews

Live, unmoderated reviews from our customers, typos and all.

I am a freelancer for the past 8 years. I just read the first 50 pages and felt like i was looking at a mirror. Coz Burke nailed it very clearly about the facts of freelancing which i have gone through all these years. I am excited to read more...

Nirmal, India

A very easy to read book that is NOT just for the web industry freelancers.
It contains many thought provoking topics that you may not have thought about as you enter or continue as a freelancer.
I didn't necessarily pass the freelancer test but still continue on my freelance path with the support of this book.
Of all the business books I have read I would definitely recommend this to someone thinking of going into freelancing and it is a book that I keep and refer back to along the often bumpy ride.
Best of all its for me is that it is written by an Australian.

Frances McLean, Australia

I just bought this book before three days from the great sale at Melbourne office.(A BIG Hi to all the nice and friendly people there)..

I don't need to comment on the content of the book beyond a simple "it's excellent"
I advice everyone who want to fly solo to use this book, it's organised and well structured.

The book takes a real world view of freelancing using relevant examples and giving useful advices.I liked the tips about life balance.

I have purchased many of your books in the past, and I am always satisfied. They are always presented in an easy to read format, and they look very presentable. I have gained a wealth of knowledge from them, and look forward to many more in the future.