Freelancing: Should You Start -or- Start Hiring?
Freelancing is one of the fastest ways to gain flexibility in how (and where) you work. Whether you're offering your skills or bringing in outside help, tapping into freelance talent opens doors you might not have known existed.
Why Freelancing Is Worth It: Want more control over your time? Prefer picking the projects you work on? Freelancing offers both, and the bonus of a low-risk income stream you can build alongside a nine-to-five job. There's no need to quit your job, just start small.
How to Get Started: Pick something you're already good at, maybe what you're doing at work, and break it down into project-based services. Writing, design, coding, social media management, SEO optimization, virtual assistance, or general consulting in your area of expertise. If you have done this work before, even for yourself, package it up with descriptions, mockups, or screenshots to include in your portfolio. It doesn't need to be fancy, just real.
Recommended Platforms (No sponsorship here, just useful starting points):
UpWork - Free to join and one of the largest freelance platforms.
Fiverr - Fast-moving gigs across 700+ categories.
Toptal - High-end, vetted talent and clients.
Freelancer - Global access to short and long-term projects.
Start Small: Starting something new can be scary. Bid on small projects, learn the ropes, and get feedback. You'll build credibility, testimonials, and momentum fast, enabling you to grow!
Hiring Freelancers: If you have never explored freelancers or virtual assistants to scale your output, now is your time. You can find specialized expertise at a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire and move much faster.
How To Maximize a Freelance Team Member:
Be Clear on Scope - Avoid assumptions. Spell out deliverables, timelines, and communication expectations.
Test Before a Big Commitment - Start with a small project and if it goes well, build from there. Try the same test with 2-3 freelancers and choose your best fit.
Pay Fairly & On Time - Good freelancers have choices. Respect their time and they'll prioritize yours.
Dependability over Dazzle - An impressive portfolio is great, but someone who communicates well and delivers reliably will drive long-term value.
Start Today: Whether you're freelancing to gain freedom or hiring freelancers to grow your business, the future of work is flexible. You just have to take the first step.
Remote Rhythm
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Why Cashflow, Not Profit, Keeps You Alive
You can set sales records, show a profit on paper, and still run out of cash. That may sound impossible, but it happens more often than you think.
Profit is Great, Cash Pays the Bills: You don't pay your team, your suppliers, or rent with profit. You pay your bills with cash in the bank. If you're not tracking your cashflow, you're flying blind.
The Silent Killer of Growing Businesses: Ironically, growth often creates cash problems. Tools that help you scale, like credit cards, credit lines, and net payment terms, can quietly drain your cash if you're not planning ahead. Growth means more outflow up front, more stock, more hiring, more spending, all before the revenue shows up.
What to Start Forecasting Right Now: To avoid a dreaded zero-balance crisis, build a simple cash forecast to track key inputs:
Timing of Receivables - When do your customers actually pay you?
Inventory/Supply Purchases - Are you buying just in time, or months in advance?
Debt Repayments - Do your repayments grow as your business grows?
Large "Lumpy" Expenses - Annual renewals, licenses, or once-a-year surprises
Payroll - Is it bi-weekly? Are bonuses or OT coming due?
The 13-Week (Or Longer) Forecast: A 13-week forecast gives you visibility over the next 3 months. This isn't a budget. This is real cash in and real cash out. The clarity this gives you is a game-changer. Spot gaps early, adjust while you have time, and protect your runway.
Boost Cash Without Taking on Debt: Once you've got visibility, here are a few suggestions to improve your position:
Negotiate Vendor Payment Terms - Push payments to Net 15 or Net 30. Cash in later > cash out Now.
Incentivize Early Payments -Offer small discounts for ACH or early payments instead of waiting 30+ days.
Delay Non-Critical Expenses - Press pause on anything that doesn't have a fast ROI.
Tighten Up Credit Offered to Customers - If you're offering Net 30 (or more), shorten it. You're not a bank.
Payroll - Know when it hits, and account for variable factors like bonuses, commissions, or overtime.
