Many people would rather leave their nine-to-five jobs and be their own boss. They no longer want to commit to a position they don’t enjoy. Some are tired of the endless office politics. Others would rather work remotely and not be restricted to a definite working schedule.
For the brave souls who made their decision to build a freelance business instead, most are now enjoying life more than they did before. They enjoy the freedom and flexibility that freelancing has to offer. They now work on projects they pick, work with clients they chose to work with, and even earn more than they did before.
But then, freelancing comes with risks. If you don’t take the necessary steps to protect your business, you can end up with a hefty bill pay and a handful of angry clients. If you really want to safeguard your freelancing business, then it would be best to avoid committing the following mistakes.
Failure to Backup Your Files
One extraordinary perk of running a freelance business is you get to work from virtually everywhere, depending on your services. Your office could be at home, at a cafe, from a hotel, on a plane, or even in varying distant places. For as long as you have your equipment with you, are can work from wherever you like.
You may have chosen an Apple computer due to its luxurious design, low maintenance, great customer service, and more security features. But even if their laptops are not a usual target of hackers, the does not mean all your files are already safe.
There are things that Apple’s operating system can’t guarantee. That is to protect your invaluable data from falls, spills, fire, and even flood. This is why you need the best cloud backup and recovery for your Mac.
With reliable data recovery and backup solutions, you can have peace of mind knowing your files are safe. You don’t have to worry about losing hours’ worth of work and disappoint your clients just because you dropped your laptop or someone stole it. You can access your files from everywhere and resume work as needed.
Accepting Work Without a Contract
You may already know a client after they used your services a few times already. But that no matter how small your next gig may be, make sure to never skip a contract. Remember that your income depends on every client you work with.
A contract serves as your protection in case a client chose not to pay for your services. This should include every term that defines your scope of work, how many revisions you allow, the contract terms, how the payment system will be, etc. You should explain to them the contract, and answer their questions before letting them sign the agreement.
Keeping an Outdated Website
Your website should have all the necessary elements to help you make a good impression online. A beautiful website is not enough to wow potential clients. High-quality clients will want to work with professionals who understand the legalities of running a business online.
Make sure you update your website with all the necessary details, including your business details, terms of service, and privacy policy. These are the elements that show clients how you run your brand while protecting your content. Failure to include these in your website or simply copying content from another company can have legal ramifications.
Note that if a disagreement with a client ends up in a legal battle, your terms of service will serve as the court’s basis in determining your contractual terms. With a good website term in place, this can help limit your liability and safeguard your rights better.
Skipping the Liability Insurance
Having the right insurance is crucial for businesses, even your freelancing brand. This can provide you enough coverage depending on the type of insurance you buy. This is one reason why you should do enough research to see what kind of insurance you need for your brand.
For freelance businesses, you need liability insurance to give you protection in case you made omissions or errors. You can avoid getting sued and avoid a legal dispute from ruining your brand’s reputation. This can also cover the legal costs in case you are indeed held legally liable in court.
A general liability insurance policy can also cover your business in case of copyright infringement or slander. You may have a client suing you after offending a third party or a client claims they should own a copyright to your work. With the right insurance, you can sleep better at night knowing your business is well protected even in case of a lawsuit.
There are lots risk that comes with running any business. You build your freelance brand in hopes of gaining more control and freedom of your career. The last thing you want is to ruin your chances of being a successful freelancer just because you forgot to update your website, failed to make a client sign your contract, or you lost your files. Learn how to best protect your business and you can be better prepared for whatever curveballs life throws at you.
Meta title: 4 Costly Blunders That Puts Your Freelancing Business at Risk
meta desc: Many things can threaten your freelance business. If you are not careful, these can easily bring your brand down. To secure your brand better, here are some slip-ups you need to avoid.