I am soon to leave my full-time job to become a free-lance trainer/consultant, I have already been informed I will need to become a Ltd. company and have sought advice from an accountant for the tax, pay implications etc..
I would be most greatful for any help, advice, websites, book suggestions re: any other aspects of going into Free-lance training work.
many thanks in advance
Buffy Sparks
5 Responses
welcome to the club
Hi Buffy
You don’t NEED to be a ltd co, though there may be advantages.
The real question is “How do you propose to generate your income?” depending on your answer you will find a number of different things that fall into place. If you propose to freelance for larger consultancies some will insist on Ltd Co status, others don’t. If you plan to work direct for clients then Ltd status doesn’t often raise its head.
Initial Style, the venue people, run a trainer club with networking days.
Feel free to contact me if you want to talk, I’ve been doing this off and on for 15 years
Rus
Find your Niche
Buffy
The market now contains a great variety of coaches and trainers.
To be effective you need to be sure of your own niche. Get a product to deliver that is distinctive and in which you believe.
When you are happy in the above you will find it much easier to focus on the strategies you need to follow to get work.
Give me a call on 012324 750828 if you want a chat.
Peter
Many thanks
Many thanks Peter and Russell for your invaluable feedback, I would like to take you both up on your offer of a chat and will be contacting you later this week, if you are both free.
Lots to think about
Buffy
There are lots of things to think about and the advice below should be valued, talking to people is good, both for advice and for contacts. Don’t be shy about selling yourself.
One big bone of contention is rates, cos regardless of how good you are and how hard you work, if you don’t charge enough, you’ll starve.
If you haven’t seen it already there is a very useful article by Jeremy Hall on http://www.trainerbase.co.uk called Training Consultant Pricing and can be found in http://www.trainerbase.co.uk/Useful/items.asp?CategoryID=11
Take a look in the research section of the site as I did some research into gender preferences which progressed to the rates charged.
Hope this helps, and best of fortune (you make your own luck) for the future.
Peter
Founder/Editor of TrainerBase
Keep in touch
You will find it well worth while keeping in touch with as many people as possible – even your current company. Many people end up going back and doing some work with their previous employers.