“Winging it” is the surest route back to where
you started--working full-time for someone else. Before you
make the move, you should be able to answer each of the following
questions:
What services am I going to offer?
Do I have the necessary skills and/or certification to
offer these services? If not, how will I get them?
Who needs my services? Where are they located? How can
I contact them?
Do I have at least one client “in the bag?”
If not, how can I secure one?
Do I have a proven track record of success? A portfolio
of my work? Satisfied clients to use as references?
How much am I going to charge?
Where am I going to set up shop?
Do I have money in the bank to cover at least 3 months
of living expenses?
What’s my fallback position if I can’t make
ends meet? Do I have another option (i.e., substitute teaching,
temping)
other than going back to work full-time?
How am I going to pay for health insurance, life insurance,
etc.?
Do I have a plan for setting aside my self-employment
and other taxes?
Have I created a marketing and promotions plan?
Do I have someone to go to for advice if I get stuck?
How long am I going to give myself to make a go of this?
