Website? Tick. Accounting? Tick. Sanity?

Friends, freelancers in the making, and new subscribers. Welcome back to Freelance At Last! 

I don’t have a single client yet, which has made it hard to write this newsletter. Not because I expected to have clients so soon, but because when I’m doing all the work of laying down the foundations, it can be hard to see that I’m making much progress.

It’s a messy and strange time. 

But, if you’ll allow me to use this cliche, building a business is like building a house. Without strong foundations, you’ll run into problems in the future.

So, this past week or so, I’ve been busy doing just that: the un-glamourous, foundation-building, brick-laying side of going out on your own. 

From little wins to big realisations, here’s what’s happened (and what I recommend thinking about if you’re just getting started). 

The Wins!

1. I launched my new website (times two).

Yep, two websites, two goals. I have the Freelance At Last site, which hosts my newsletter, and my main website, where potential clients can learn about me and my services.

There’s something beautiful about hitting publish and seeing your work go live, even if the websites aren’t perfect yet. This acceptance is something I’ve had to force myself to learn. Everything is a work in progress and seeking pure perfection 100 per cent of the time limits progress.

2. I set up accounting software (insert eye roll).

Ugh. Invoicing. I'm a creative, so obviously the back end of running a business makes my skin crawl. 

Accounts payable, receivable, bills… it’s the stuff of nightmares quite frankly.

Luckily, my mum is an accountant who would NEVER let me get away with ignoring this side of things (despite my desperate pleas for her to just do it for me). Alas, she kindly pushed me towards accounting software. 

I chose Xero because it’s cheap (I’m on the $3 per month plan so it’s cheaper than my Netflix account), user-friendly, connects straight to the business bank account I set up, and will make tax time 10000 per cent less stressful.  

Setting this up was a massive win and I’ve never felt more professional or legitimate in my life.

3. I made a content plan.

Content planning is part of what I do for work, so it was by far the least daunting brick to lay.

For those who need convincing, content planning takes a huge weight off your shoulders in the long run and I highly recommend doing it. It’s something that forces you to really think about who you want to speak to with your content early on (especially if you’re using social media and emailing to find clients) and helps you develop your goals and schedule around that. 

It also means that on the days you’re feeling uninspired (which is a normal part of being HUMAN), you already have ideas and content ready to rock.

4. I decided what to charge people.

Okay, this is arguably the most convoluted part of the process. Like, what is a fair price to charge people? Am I charging enough? Will my prices put people off?

These are some of the things that ran through my mind while deciding prices. So, I did a huge amount of research before pinpointing exactly what services I wanted to offer and how much to charge for them. Finalising this was a big milestone, and while it’s easy to undervalue myself, arming myself with the research has helped me to feel confident in my prices.

As a social media manager and content creator, I’ve found that monthly packages are the best way to go about business instead of an hourly rate. 

Want more info on any of the above? Let me know in the comments and I can make sure to delve a little deeper into the setup process next week. 

What I’m Still Figuring Out 

1. Juggling it all.

Everyone says it and now I can officially confirm it’s true: freelancing means you wear ALL the hats.

Marketing, admin, planning, creating, website development, networking... Some days, it feels like I’m juggling so many balls that a few might drop.

2. Getting used to needing to be “on” at all times.

Last week, I said I needed to set boundaries with family and friends so I could make sure I’m spending time on my business even when it feels like there are no immediate deadlines.

The OTHER side of this is knowing when to put that laptop or phone down. No boss is checking in, and there are no colleagues to lean on—it’s all me. If I have a day off, I find myself thinking about what needs to be done and feeling guilty for not doing it. The pressure is amazing, exciting… and exhausting.

Lists, lists, lists.

I could never have done any of the above without writing lists. There are so many things to juggle and writing it all out takes away the fear of forgetting something while organising your plan and schedule.

Whether it’s a digital list or you prefer to hand write it out: use lists, I say!

This set-up phase matters, put in the effort. 

Some days, progress feels small or slow, but—to continue the metaphor—every brick matters.

This phase has taught me that even the seemingly unassuming parts are worth celebrating because they’re all making my business stronger and me more likely to be successful.

That’s all for now! Next week, I’ll be diving into what it’s like to find clients when you’re starting from scratch. Make sure you’ve subscribed for more lessons and behind-the-scenes stories.

Thanks for being here, it means the world.

See you next Tuesday!

Laura