While for many people working from home simply means “I have a normal 8-5, which I now do from home”, for many others it means trying to figure out a way to make money flexibly, and ideally at odd times (like after kids go to bed or late at night after work).
Having worked at this endeavor for years, I can tell you that there are usually a handful of pitfalls that we all seem to stumble upon again and again. After reviewing what has and has not worked in the past 11 years, I formulated this guide for you.
The 3 secrets to working from home that will make you a boss:
1. You Need To Realize You Are Now A Business
Whether you intended to become a business owner or not, when you make the commitment to start making money from home, you are now a business.
Having your own business (or perhaps we should say “becoming your own business”) comes with a frame of mind that most of us are not in the habit of employing.
+ You Need to Consider Your Tax Status
(Please note: I am NOT a CPA or Tax Professional! This is simply a subject I am bringing to your attention, not advice I am dispensing! 😉 )
For one thing, you need to get ahead of the game by thinking of your tax status. Will you be an LLC? An independent contractor? Having these issues thought-out before you go seeking work will greatly help you in your ability to negotiate the work you want to land. Employers who hire freelance workers are usually expecting you to be able to sort these issues on your own, and may even ask you how you prefer to be paid or what your business status is before they even offer you the job. Knowing these answers in advance gives you a leg up in negotiating, and also helps you to be more professional.
If you need help deciding which of these will best fit your needs, I recommend this resource.
+ You Need a Business Plan
Remember when I said you are a business? Well, truly successful businesses have a Business Plan, and so should you. It doesn’t have to be overwhelming or complicated (in many cases, a small business= a small business plan), but you need to have thought out things like LLC structure (if applicable), how you will track expenses, what your branding and marketing plans are, and what your goals are for each month of the coming year.
+ You Need a Marketing Plan
Just as you need a Business Plan, you also need a Marketing Plan (in many cases it is PART of your Business Plan). Going to the great pond that is the internet with the hopes of catching the best fish (or in this case, the best contracts) means you better be fishing with the best lure. That’s you: You and your business are the bait, and if you are wanting to catch a big fish, you better be prepared.
Work at home jobs are fiercely competitive, and being educated on every advantage you have can only help.
(Note: If you’re really stressed about this, try THIS RESOURCE, which I discuss in more detail in section 3).
+ You Need a Contract
Being your own business may seem overwhelming, but with a little front work, it doesn’t have to be. If you know your tax status, business plan, marketing plan, and have a pre-made contract, you are already ahead of most in their first semester of business school. Businesses can be as easy or complicated as you want, but the thing to keep in mind is to always remember to act, perform, and plan like a business, because you are your most important employer.
2. You Need to be Actually Productive
Landing all the contracts in the world won’t help you if you aren’t productive. Productivity is something we struggle with as a nation almost daily, but when the time comes to start working from home, it gets that much more challenging.
Freelance Employers know this, and trust me: They are watching.
If you want the freedom and trust to be a freelance or at-home employee, you need to work twice as hard as a normal employee to prove you are up to the responsibility.
If you’re wanting a totally comprehensive guide on productivity, you can read my post about it here, but if you really want to become a productivity Master, I highly suggest this resource.
In the meantime, keep these things in mind: When it comes to working from home, it’s just as important to have a productivity plan as a business plan. Think about your schedule, and what your (actually attainable) amount of “free time” to work looks like. When is the house quiet? What does your workspace look like? Do you need to make improvements to your work space? Are your expectations of how much you will be able to get done without distraction or fatigue reasonable? What is your plan for minimizing distractions and staying focused in your work space?
Have a plan, or plan to fail. If you stay on top of this, you will absolutely be successful.
3. You Need to Know How to Find The Best Resources and Best Education
You can be one of the most accomplished, professional, well polished individuals out there, if you don’t know the places to look for work, you probably won’t be successful.
The majority of us know about places like Upwork and Glassdoor, but sometimes the best ideas come from side hustle resources like Side Hustle Nation and Flex Jobs.
If you’re willing to dig, the possibilities are endless.
However, if you are wanting a comprehensive list of the top 150 work from home companies, you can’t go wrong with this.
Learning the art of working from home can sometimes be overwhelming. If the thought of chasing resources on your own feels like more than you can bear, try giving yourself a hand up with the Work At Home Ultimate Bundle.
For $47 you get over $1600 worth of online education via e-courses, e-books, audio files, and templates. It’s like getting a degree in working from home without having to actually go to business school. And, as an added bonus, they not only offer links to hundreds of employers, they also include everything you need to market yourself, brand and legalize your business, and even have a pre-drafted contract for you. It’s like walking into a turn-key business.
I hope this article has been helpful to you, and I can’t WAIT to hear how your work from home venture goes! Stay in touch, and don’t forget to sign up for our VIP Club. Not only will you get instant access to all of our best Vitamins and Vodka freebies, but we’ll be sure to shoot you a (quick, non-spammy (of course!)) email when anything you absolutely need to know about is coming around the corner.
Peace, Love, Vitamins and Vodka,
XoXo,
