Join in if you are self-employed and work from home

Serendipity2_2

Hi Everyone,

Yes I am self employed and working from home so I thought I would join in! I can get so distracted, browsing MSE is just one of the ways and it is great to find some other people who do this too!!

It's a lonely life sometimes working from home, with just those piles of filing and unfinished course work to chat to. I really thought it was just me who worked like this.

Have read most of the threads and have a lot in common.

starxtrouble

Hey everyone... been really busy with visitors over the weekend, but I have done nothing so far this week. Mainly due to me having what I call a 'bad day' yesterday cos of my illnesses.. nothing I can do about it, just frustrating. I have to do some work this afternoon, although I have to shower and go out and eat dinner as well before 5 30... netball match.. good for me thou.. natural endorphins. However I have had 3 agencies emailing me that I have sent my details too, all of which will put me on their database, if I do a practice translation for them first - standard practice in the industry, unfortunately they wont pay me for it . The sooner I do them, the more chance I have of them giving me work quicker. I havent been motivated to do the first too as they didnt give me a deadline, but the third one that arrived back today, wants it back on Thurs. But as its literally only 250 words, it really shouldnt be a problem. My cold is still nagging at the back of my head thou and I cant think properly :S

Anyone want to poke me lots so I do summat?

Hope everyone is more motivated than me today!

Star

Mudbath

Hiya
I've had two clients today. I forget that i'm lucky that I get paid as soon as I work....i've only had one cheque bounce in 13 years and the lady who's cheque it was was mortified!

The three fold leaflets I ordered arrived today. Really pleased with them. I've been toying with ordering them for ages and this thread made me do it. I'm so pleased I did as they do look fab!

Off to do school run then sort out some more business paperwork and do today's accounts. I'm getting obsessed with keeping up to date but it's easier in the long run. Speak later xx

moneymabel

speaking of leaflets - can anyone recommend a supplier? Not sure if I want flyers , postcards or brochures yet. Obviously if it's your own firm then PM me to avoid getting into trouble!thanks :-)
Have been a good girl and finished my bookwork, £50 loss this year overall but better than I expected as that includes all my set up gear, materials, photographic setup,tools,website building etc etc. Hopefully next year apart from materials which aren't mega expensive and advertising (which is)the rest will be mine!

Mudbath

Moneymabel - i've always done leaflets myself as the only quotes I could get were for silly amounts like 10 000 leaflets which I didn't need. I've got all business cards, postcards from vistaprint but only when their products are free. You pay postage but that's all. It takes a while to edit on their site but I got there in the end and all my cards / price lists look professional now.

ETA - not sure if i'm allowed to mention a firm actually, if not sorry!!!

moneymabel

yeah was thinking if trying them, I've got business cards from them before. Just need to decide whether flyers,postcards or brochures would be better.Am leaning towards postcards as only need to put a couple of photos on them. Thanks for info Mudbath.

Nelski

Afternoon peeps.

Had a good day today cracking on with some selling for a change. Have managed to send one pitch and loads of emails as well as making a couple of chicken calls. (These are calls you are quite wary to make for what ever reason so if you schedule one or two around nice stuff then it doesnt feel too bad )

Also updated my contacts on linkedin (its like facebook but purely business orientated so good for networking) I have asked for a business link appointment too hoping they are still willing to help even though I have been in business well over the "start-up" time.

Now if only MSE would close Monday to Friday I would be able to do even more:D

sashanut - I was nearly put under by my first big contract with a well known building company (now in trouble i believe:rolleyes:) they were such bad payers but I was scared to chase in case they stopped giving me business. Now I will chase on the day it is due - I have never had a problem from the companys I have done this to and I can do a good line in making them embarrassed for being late!! credit control is so important for us all.

Essex girl - good to see you posting, keeps us away from the slow cooker eh:rotfl:

Anyway off to make just one more call

getitsorted_3

Hi Everyone
Spent a couple of days reading through the posts and its all very interesting.
I handed my notice in at my full time job yesterday as it is really getting me down and they have been taking the p*** out of me for far too long now. :rolleyes:

I am a Graphoc Designer and have taken the plunge to go freelance. I have obviously asked my place of work if they want me to carry on doing their design on a freelance basis and they are looking into it.

I am quite scared, but it was always the plan from being at uni, and work the way it is has just given me that push.

I am ok with most of the tax issues i think as my dad is a bricklayer and i have done his tax return for years. I know it is a bit different but i think generally i should be ok.

But may need to come and get some encouraging words when no work comes in.

Great thread. :T

Amanda

Horace

Welcome Amanda

Don't forget to register as self employed with the HMRC and do it sooner rather than later.

Well I can honestly say I haven't done much work today - I was busy going to the doctors and the hairdressers:rolleyes: (well, the hair definitely needed doing). I did buy some chocolate earlier on as part of my research - I have been chatting to business link about a product launch (when will the client get their act sorted? ) so I thought I had better try the chocolate made by the firm - its not too bad, a little sweet perhaps but edible.

Oh and I visited a shop that makes and sells advertising banners today (it is next to the hairdressers), well they had locked the door which wasnt a good sign and peering through the window the front section (probably about 2 wide by 10ft long) was cluttered with a tatty chair and threadbare carpet which didnt bode well. This lad about 20 years of age, came to the door and opened it and stood there blocking my way in, lad looked dirty and seemed a bit spaced out, so I asked about prices for making a banner so big by so big and got the answer "we don't do quotes" ok says I do you have a price list "no we don't have a price list because you will go somewhere else" to which I said that I will only go somewhere else if their price is too high and how would I know if I didnt have a price list and didnt have a quote, he grunted:rolleyes: Apparently its not company policy to give out such details so I told him that it was obvious that he didnt want my business and that I would take it elsewhere and he didnt seem that bothered. What the fffff... is he in business for if he can't give a quotation or provide any kind of pricing, what are customers supposed to do - just order and use a crystal ball to guess the price:mad: Well, that nincompoop won't be getting any business.

Mind, its like the posh wedding shop in Barnt Green they have a partner (they don't call them suppliers - anyone would think they were John flipping Lewis, with all this talk of partners) who plans all their weddings and she does it for free:rolleyes: What an idiot not charging to organise a wedding - somehow I don't think they'll be in business for long:j

So I suppose I have kind of been working today - as for those assignments they're still not written well, not properly anyway:rolleyes:

Mudbath

Good luck Amanda...just think, no more having to put up with having the P taken! There's lots of support on this thread so if you can think of any questions fire away and i'm sure someone can help you!