Self-Employed? 3 Strategies to Better Manage Your Finances

Financial success is difficult for most people, but for the self-employed, it’s an entirely more complicated beast. You don’t have the luxury of asking anyone for a raise or negotiating better benefits. Sure, you have the flexibility to make your own hours and you don’t have to deal with a micromanaging boss, but sometimes that’s the hard part: it all comes down to you.

So while the flexibility of being your own boss is second to none, so is the weight of that responsibility. That’s why you need all of the help that you can get when it comes to making strategic financial decisions for both you and your company.

Don’t Rely on a Single Income Stream

While it may be hard to imagine how you can make time to generate income from anywhere but your main business, diversifying your income stream is crucial to financial security when you are self-employed. Get creative and think of ways you can serve clients in new ways through side projects, whether they relate to your current business model or not.

Another option is to generate income in an entirely new realm, through direct sales, real estate or property management. For instance, you could invest in a multi-family development to generate rental income. Or you could build a guest house in your backyard and rent it online through Homeaway or Airbnb.

Keep an Open Mind for New Business Strategies

Change is inevitable, so keep your business nimble by always remaining open-minded to new business strategies. Learn as much as you can about the state of your industry and current trends by attending conferences and classes. Listen to the needs of your target audience by requesting their feedback at every opportunity, and incorporate your findings into new business strategies.

Some new strategies may seem counterintuitive, but they could be best for your business in the long run. For instance, many companies resort to outsourcing their product manufacturing to save costs, but direct sales giant Amway found that the “Made in America” sticker helped them stand out and save costs in many areas, reports Forbes. However, for liquid products that are expensive to transport, the company completes its manufacturing in other countries.

Set Financial Goals & Reach Them

When you are busy juggling all of the responsibilities that are required to keep your business running and generating an income, a year can flash by before you know it. For this reason, it’s critical to set financial goals for the year and check in on your progress each month to ensure you can follow through and achieve your goals by the end of the year.

To help maintain this habit, set a calendar event to repeat every month so you can spend time evaluating your progress. All you need is an hour to review your goals and make plans for how you can reach new heights toward your financial goals.