The Freelance Handbook: be your own boss this year

January 03, 2013 | 5 comments

The second in our six-part series of practical manuals, The Freelance Handbook is your definitive guide to being your own boss – and it's on sale now in the UK and online.

New year, new start – right? If you’ve made it your new year’s resolution to go freelance in 2013 then you’re in luck: there’s never been a better time to be your own boss. With more and more employers outsourcing their work, and social media connecting you better than ever before, it’s a great time to take the plunge into freelance waters.

But the road to solo success isn’t always easy. So whether you’re thinking about making the leap or are a seasoned freelance pro, pick up a copy of The Freelance Handbook – 116 pages of practical tips and essential advice for making it alone.

From setting your rates and managing your time to getting noticed, winning work and more, The Freelance Handbook brings you everything you need to succeed as a freelance creative.

Chapters include:

Go it alone
Win more clients
Work smarter
Manage your money
Be more business savvy
Promote yourself
Well-being
Essential resources

You can find The Freelance Handbook in WHSmiths in the UK or buy a copy online. Here’s a glimpse of what’s inside:

Go it alone
Kick-start your freelance career with essential guidance on everything from what you’ll need and how to get the ball rolling, to the risks involved and benefits on offer.

The Freelance Handbook, chapter one — Spread from chapter one, 'Choose the right route'. Should you register as a sole trader or limited company? And where's the best place to set up studio?

Win more clients
Drum up new business with our in-depth guide to generating new work. Plus: win your dream projects, and how to deal with difficult clients.

The Freelance Handbook, chapter two — Illustrator Ryan Chapman lent his character design skills to each chapter opener, including 'Win more clients'.

Manage your money
While chapter three is packed with pro tips for managing your time, chapter four lifts the veil on one of the least talked about aspects of freelance life: money. You’ll find invaluable advice on how to calculate your fee and control your cash flow, as well as tips for making more money, tackling tax and more.

The Freelance Handbook, chapter four — Spread from chapter four, 'Manage your money'.

Promote yourself
With the business side of things nailed in chapter five, chapter six offers a plethora of practical advice for how to shout about your skills and instantly raise your freelance profile.

The Freelance Handbook, chapter six — Spread from chapter six, 'Promote yourself'.

Well-being
Staying sane as a freelancer is as important as being able to balance the books. Whether it’s knowing when to turn down work, how to get objective feedback or what to do when the creative juices just aren’t flowing, chapter seven helps you strike that essential work-life balance and produce the best work for your clients.

The Freelance Handbook, chapter seven — Spread from chapter seven, 'Well-being'.

The third in the Computer Arts Presents series, The Self-Promo Handbook, will be on sale from 21 February 2013. Pick it up from WHSmith in the UK, Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million in the USA, Chapters in Canada and other retailers worldwide.

And if you're a design or illustration student, check out The Design Student Handbook - your definitive guide to breaking into the creative industry.