One thing I'd be concerned about if I became a freelancer would be... where would I work? The obvious answer for this would be 'from home' - but surely you'd be leaving yourself open to distraction?

 

I'm asking as the place I work at has some desks for rental by the week, so was wondering if it would be worth getting something like that if I did become a freelancer? At least that way I'd still feel like I was going to work!

Renting a workspace will add a lot of unnecessary cost IMHO, I don't know how much this would be but all that money could go to better use like paying your gas/water/elec bills. Most freelancers work from home, and often at clients premises and distractions are one of those things you have to manage yourself - if you have a spare room you could set up an office there.

 

Another thing I find about freelancing is that it's more about a lifestyle than "going to work". I mostly choose when I do things so can work at any time that suits. If I had to do something like "the school run" it wouldn't really be any hassle because I can work around those times.

well I have desk.. it currenty has 4 glasses, 1 mug, 2 aerosoles, a razor, 3 dvd cases, 6 cd's, a camera lens, and one of those hand-squeezy-exercisy things. More importantly it also has my computer and associated peripherals on it.

 

working from home can be a distraction, but you get used to it.. of course having children would make it nearly impossible to work from home.

 

For maximum "work", you have two options:

1 - rent an office or part of an office space, gives you a good place to work with clients, and lets you "put your work hat on". But it will cost you between £4k and £12k a year depending on where you live to get anything approaching whatever is the opposite of "grotty" or "mank"

2 - make an office in a spare room of your house. Do not put anything like a TV, or your DVD collection in there. Or books. Do not allow any "home" stuff to get into your office, and do not allow and "office" stuff to get into your home. Enter the office at 9am, only leaving for lunch, and at 5pm.

 

The 2nd option is cheapest, and for some people it works really well. At any rate, it beats having your work-area squeezed between your bed and your wardrobe.

The 1st option has the huge disadvantage of not being able to do a tele-meeting in your underwear.

I work from home, and whilst you do have distractions, like TV programs (property programs manily get me ), online games e.t.c you do get used to working.

 

I tend to find that now, I have the freedom to go to the nearest town, go shopping e.t.c and I like that

I am not in a position to comment on applying oneself and removing distractions because I have a day job and supplement it with a few websites, however when you are on your own with mortgage / rent looming Ibelieve that would be enough to drag you away from the distractions of your home.

 

My partner works from home and she says her biggest problem is friends / neighbors who know that she is there.....just dropping in for a coffee....will you just watch my kids for 10 minutes....etc. etc.

 

I think the rent a desk idea is bad because you still have to commute / conform etc. but home working requires discipline from you are those around you.

I work from home and, like Penguin said, have nothing distracting in my office (not by choice; it just happened that way). The biggest distraction for me is and always will be the Internet - check emails, check Protrade, check WDF... we all do it. Renting a desk wouldn't solve that if you're that type of person.

 

Everyone's different though, so the best bet would be to try working from home, and if it doesn't work (heh) then you can rent a desk. Personally, I'd call in sick if I rented a desk, and who's going to stop me? Maybe I'll give myself a written warning or something.

 

The biggest issue with working from home is that you don't have business premises, so you can't invite clients 'round and you shouldn't use your home address as a business address (plastered all over letterheads, etc.), especially if you don't own your home. A PO box solves the second problem, I guess.

I was playing with the idea of setting up a design studio. Finding other freelances within the design industry and set up an office or studio to work it. Everyone still working independently, but surrounded by a creative environment as oppose to sit home alone.

Nice to have someone to bounce ideas to and collaborate with if a client asks for things outside your scope.

 

And it's always nicer to talk to another person instead of muttering to your monitor all day.

true yeah.. don't know how that would work though... they might all turn against each other or rob everyone's ideas