Any self employed people here?

[Arkitech]

What kind of business do you have? How many hours of work do you put in per week?

 

[drbrock]

I run a very small tax practice in Florida. Loving it so far. I use it as supplemental income. Maybe 10 hours a week.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Hired gun for S/W development.

Work what I can bill

Then 3-5 for self to try to keep up with technology

 

[chin311]

On-site computer services

15-40 hours depends on demand

 

[Arkitech]

I'd really like to become self employed. Just not sure what direction to go into.

My home is paid for so I don't need a lot of money per month. It would be great to find a business that I could work 20-30 a week just to pay the bills.


I'd like to get into maybe doing wireless network for home users, it's quick work. Just got to figure out how to advertise myself (for cheap)

 

[chusteczka]

Business: Product development
Hours/Week: 55 more or less, 8 hours/day every day

This last month, I have taken a break from work and have not worked at all.

I quit my job as an Oracle database programmer to develop a patent I co-invented for a countertop water filter. I also am a co-inventor for four patents related to oil drain plugs that I am learning how to market. This past year, my partners and I have submitted over 8 utility patents for our water filter development. The possibility exists that I may return to paid programming work early next year since my savings are running out.

 

[ViviTheMage]

madgenius.com is part time, ummmmmmm, probably about 20 hours a week.

 

[highland145]

Consumer finance. Took 18+years to find the capital to open my own. Open 7 years, today. TBH, under worked and over paid but that's the benefit of 25 years experience.

Plus no asshole telling me how to run an office when they have "forgotten" how. Not my previous employer but pretty standard for the industry.


My only advice is do what you know.

 

[manimal]

My only advice is do what you know.

this


What skills do you have?

What services can you offer that differentiate you from your competition?


I have seen many people over the years fail by not understanding the business they are trying to enter.

 

[bbhaag]

My family owns a small garden center/greenhouse in Illinois.
www.washingtongreenhouse.com The websites a little messy right now, hopefully I can get it updated soon.

In the months of February through June I usually put in between 65-70 hours per week. The rest of the year it's only 45-50.

 

[D1gger]

I operate a construction, property management and development business. I work an average of 60-65 hours a week.

 

[Franz316]

Multimedia designer here, I have about 10 steady clients and work on 1-2 projects at a time. I work about 35 hours a week although it is highly variable.

Some weeks I have tons of free time, other times not so much. Doing all the self employment tax stuff is kind of pain but I wouldn't trade the freedom it offers for anything.

 

[brianmanahan]

i would totally be self employed except that i would not be able to get health insurance for any less than like 15$k

 

[xanis]

Multimedia designer here, I have about 10 steady clients and work on 1-2 projects at a time. I work about 35 hours a week although it is highly variable.

Some weeks I have tons of free time, other times not so much. Doing all the self employment tax stuff is kind of pain but I wouldn't trade the freedom it offers for anything.

What kind of projects are you working on, if you don't mind me asking? I'm currently a full-time UI/UX designer at a firm in Philly but I'd love to go full-time freelance.

 

[GregGreen]

I work as a self-employed front-end web developer. I've been working with one client for the last few months and they've been my only client. Taxes are a pain in the ass. Going to be doing a little less work with this client and adding a couple more. We'll see how it works.

 

[RKS]

I hung my own shingle about 9 months ago and . I probably put in about 40 - 50 hours. It's stressful taking vacations because the calls don't stop (not a bad thing). I can't see myself working for anyone again.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Does slinging rock count?

 

[GasX]

PRN Gas Passer - I work as much as I want / need too

 

[sdifox]

What kind of business do you have? How many hours of work do you put in per week?

IT sub-contractor.

could be 0, could be 80

 

[Greenman]

Building contractor. Hours vary, generally 40 a week, with an hour or two most evenings doing paperwork.

 

[Tweak155]

Online retail business / application consultant. Was great last year, this year not so much. Probably bring in $45k (aiming for $60k if things pick up before the year is over) when last year was about $190k. That's the way it goes sometimes. But wife is an electrical engineer and works full time, so have always had a steady guaranteed income and is added on top of these numbers.

EDIT:

Last year averaged 20hrs per week, this year I'm around 30 (when I actually started working a few months in). As of the last few weeks though I've been hitting a steady 30-40hrs.

 

[Franz316]

What kind of projects are you working on, if you don't mind me asking? I'm currently a full-time UI/UX designer at a firm in Philly but I'd love to go full-time freelance.

No problem, it's a pretty big range of project types that I work on. Two of my clients are in the medical supply field, so I do a lot of 3D animations for their products in use. These can be anywhere from 10 seconds to a full minute.

I also work for a general graphic design studio that calls me in when their workload gets too much for their full time people. I recently did work for a local TV station that needed some motion graphic work for their new TV series they are doing. Often times I work with a company's design division for the length of the contract.

When I made the jump to full time freelance, it was definitely hard at first. I did have a few contacts at the studio I worked full time at so that helped me get a head start. To find more, I met peers at meetups who I collaborated with, met their clients and it kind of snowballed. Repeat clients are the best but when you first start out you may have to take on some less than ideal work. I rarely take on a random project anymore. The more contacts you have the better, companies love hiring contract workers right now.

BTW, I am single and live well below my means so I didn't have a family to support when I made the jump. I'm not sure what kind of UI work you do but if you are web related, or something to do with app UIs then there is plenty of demand for that.

 

[Miramonti]

n/m

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Own a real estate photography business. Make maybe $50K/yr, work 10 hours or less a week. I need to find other things to occupy my time, because this much free time when your needs are already met can be a deadly combination for stagnation. When you've got your needs met, you're generally not as hungry.

 

[Nebor]

Does slinging rock count?

So you're like a self employed miner? I used to do that in Ultima Online before I found it more profitable to learn to blacksmith myself.