The benefits of being self-employed

Why work for yourself?

1 in 7 people in the UK are self-employed. For many people, being their own boss is a lifestyle choice, more than a financial one. Here’s why:

• You’re the boss. You don’t have to answer to anyone. There’s no one telling you what to do, or when to do it.
• Go casual. Answer emails in your pyjamas; no one will know! Every day can be casual clothes day when you’re in charge.
• Flexibility. You can choose where you live, where you want your office to be and how much holiday to take.
• More family time. Meetings will be a thing of the past and so will the 6.30am start. You can decide what hours you work and there won’t be a morning commute.
• Have your achievements recognised. You’ll get out what you put in and see the direct results of your hard work.
• Choice of customers. Only work with clients you want to work with. You’ll be more productive knowing you’ve picked the best projects.

 How do you start your own business?

Make sure you know what you need to do to set up your business. The gov.uk website is a great place to start.

You don’t have to do it all on your own. Getting the right training will help you discover if you’re ready to go into business and answer all of your questions. Becoming self-employed will require organisation skills, perseverance and hard work to get your business off the ground.

Stonebridge offers distance learning courses that you can complete in your own time. This means that you don’t need to give up your job to get the skills you need to start your own business. Work from home, take as long as you need to complete assignments and share experiences with fellow students online. Find out what you’re capable of.