Freelance or not to freelance?

[creative craig]

After working on my own websites for 3 or 4 years in my own time and now moving into a full time design/seo job, I am just wondering how long I will last being told what to do before I go it alone.

The thought of working for myself looks good at the moment. I know that there is alot more to think about... gettign enough clients, the tax man and motivation etc, but the general idea sounds good :)

How long did it take for others here to go freelance, is there anyone who went out on their own straight away?

Craig

[Rossie]

Hi Craig,

I started on my own 5 years ago and did pretty well for the first couple of years. Then I got bored working on my own so joined the company I'm now with and have enjoyed the last 3 years in an office environment - albeit one where I don't get told what to do as I'm one of the owners.

Seriously contemplating going on my own again shortly, though, and I reckon the marketplace is sufficiently large to be able to sustain an enormous number of us - especially if, like I intend to, you concentrate on SEO. (Never liked web design and was crap at it anyway).

Working for yourself can be tough, but if you discipline yourself to put in the same amount of effort as you would in a normal job the rewards should be much greater.

Ross

[claus]

I made the move last winter and i can only confirm that the general idea is good. For me it took around six years to get there.

The money would be better had i stayed on some odd payroll but that's no surprise during first year, and i'm very much happier in general, even when i'm not.

Btw. congrats with the 1K post :)

/claus

[dragonlady7]

I'm just making the move myself... I'm full-time at my day job still but am trying to get a start on the evenings and weekends. My worry is that I can't devote enough time to the biz to get it to be full-time, without devoting full-time time to it. In short, I haven't got enough savings to work on it full-time hours without full-time compensation, is my problem.
I've got a deadline in mind, though, to quit this current job.
I'm so ready, I'm wishing the deadline would come quicker, but then I won't have time to do all the work I have to between now and then...
It's hard work already but I'm looking forward to being independent. I don't mind being dirt-poor as long as I can pay my bandwidth bill and my rent; I don't mind living on noodles and rice and never going out. It's worth it to get away from this ridiculous corporate playpen with the childish games of dress-up and telephone and king-of-the-mountain.

I mean... not that I'm bitter. ;)