Use Your Current Employer as Your First Freelance Client

If you’re nervous about making the big jump to freelancing or self-employment, consider this: You might already have a client who’s a fan of your work and willing to pay you for it.

That client is your current employer. Harvard Business Review says that about 20 to 25% of independent consultants’ first customers were their former employer. Before you quit, ask your boss if there’s a possibility the company will work with you if you go solo.

This depends on having a good rapport with your boss, of course. Even if your employer doesn’t become a client, it’s still worth keeping in touch with your old colleagues once you go freelance because those established connections could be invaluable in the future when you face the challenges of freelancing.

7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Going Freelance | Harvard Business Review

Illustration by TCmakephoto (Shutterstock).

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