If you are freelancing, you are no longer “you.” You are a business and a brand, and  you will only regret it in the long run if you don’t structure yourself correctly from the start.

We know the basics. You outline your service(s), you pick a name, and you put your brand somewhere online. But that’s only the beginning of setting up.

Branding & Design

Have you branded yourself? Well?

If you can’t afford a designer in the beginning, your logo can just be your name written out in a font you like. The point is having a clear and consistent look. Pick colors, fonts, and a logo — and stick to it. Make sure they represent you and give off a vibe that is consistent with your brand’s personality (which may or may not be an extension of your own).

Use this brand system to set up all of your online channels, your invoices and receipts, and whatever else you may need for your business. There are online templates that can help you if you don’t know how to make documents look professional.

Basic Accounting & Contracts

You will need some sort of accounting system. How will you keep record of expenses and income?

Look at everything you need to run your freelance business, how much does it cost? You should price yourself in order to cover those costs and make some sort of profit.

Research what your peers are charging and ask yourself where you lie when it comes to experience, professionalism, and quality of work. Be very honest with yourself here and price accordingly.

If you can’t afford a lawyer, there are resources online that can help you craft a simple contract between you and any potential client. Make sure to read through the whole thing and that you are happy with the terms. You can edit a template to fit specific projects, but make sure to always include:

• Exact deliverables
• Timelines
• Payment terms
• How disputes/dissatisfaction will be handled (if you are a creative, be sure to limit redos here!)
• A chance to get out of the agreement for both parties
• A confidentiality clause ensuring that you are both comfortable sharing the information you will need to share.

Practice Professionalism

Here are a few basic tips that will ensure you continue work professionally throughout your experience after setting up:

• Manage your tasks effectively by writing them down or keeping track with an app. Check your list throughout the day and update it every night.
• Schedule your meetings and send an invite to their email calendar. Follow through to confirm the meetings on the day of or the day before.
• Take notes when you are having conversations with collaborators and clients.
• Send an emails outlining exactly what’s need on clients’ part for their project to succeed. Keep important conversations in the inbox so that you can have a record of everything said.
• Do not do anything without signing a contract first.
• Stick to the timelines you promise. Don’t promise any timelines you aren’t certain about, you may end up delaying them more than you realize.
• Be honest: if you can’t do something, refer them to someone who can or just say, “no.”
• Be nice, but don’t be a pushover. At the end of the day, this is a mutual exchange where you are both bringing value to the table. Keep professional and respectful boundaries up on both ends as much as you can.