8 Ways Freelancers Can Act More Like Business Owners

Editors are helpful people, and freelance editors are no exception. It’s part of what makes us good at our jobs. Sometimes, though, our helpfulness gets in the way of running our freelance businesses. We say yes too often, take on projects that don’t serve us, and treat our clients like bosses instead of partners. We forget that we’re not employees but business owners. And that mindset shift changes everything.

Here are eight ways to start showing up like the boss you actually are:

1. An employee asks for a raise.
   A business owner tells clients that their prices are going up.
   
2. An employee takes the work they’re given.
   A business owner declines projects they’re not suited for.
   
3. An employee uses the technology their employer provides.
   A business owner chooses their own technology.
   
4. An employee receives training through their employers.
   A business owner chooses their own training.
   
5. An employee does the work they’re told to do in the way they’re told to do it.
   A business owner decides what the work is and how it should be done.
   
6. An employee can take only as much time off as their employer allows and when it’s allowed.
   A business owner decides how much time off to take and when.
   
7. An employee must play nice with their employer’s problematic clients.
   A business owner doesn’t have to put up with problematic clients.
   
8. An employee has a boss.
   A business owner is the boss.

Making the shift from employee mindset to business-owner mindset takes time, practice, and a little guidance, but it’s key to building a sustainable freelance editing career. Want more practical tips like these? My book The Chicago Guide for Freelance Editors offers actionable advice to help you run your business with confidence and clarity. Check it out on Amazon or wherever you buy books.