Welcome back to my mini-series on why people hold back on going freelance. Has it happened to you? Have you got a skill that you think others would benefit from, but haven’t the guts to take it anywhere? Here are the next four reasons why some people fear going freelance:

I’m just not good enough

A surprising number of people think they are just not good enough to go freelance, but most are. If you have the skills and the experience necessary to do a job and do it well then, believe me, you will always have work. There are those who do go freelancing and do fail because their skills are not up to scratch, so ask yourself this – does what I have to offer provide value? Do I have the qualifications to do what I say I can do? If you can answer a categorical yes to both questions, then you have nothing to lose. If you can’t, stick to your day job for a bit longer. Get the experience and the qualifications you need in your spare time and then go for it.

What if I can’t pay my bills?

Aside from a love of doing what you do, the biggest reason why you would want to go freelance is because of the money – your bills still have to be paid and you still need a roof over your head. If you have a good freelance client list, then money should never be a problem for you – just remember that you must be organized and dedicated, always looking ahead to the next job. And do keep some money in the bank just in case you hit a quiet period – it happens to all of us.

I don’t think I would be good enough to win any bids

Winning a bid when you are freelancing is not easy but, so long as you are selling yourself properly, that shouldn’t be too much of a problem. Whichever freelance sites you use, make sure your profile is complete and offers prospective clients a real look at who you are and what you can offer – do make sure you have a portfolio of your best work too; that’s what they want to see.

I’m worried that being a freelancer will be my only life

It’s a tough world out there; you don’t have anyone doing your marketing for you and you still have to do all your own admin work as well as doing the work you are tasked with. It does take up time and it can be stressful at times but, provided you have proper discipline, it doesn’t have to take over your entire life. Freelancing offers you the chance to work the hours you want to work; just make sure you get the balance right.

Never be afraid to grasp the nettle and get out there; freelancing can be incredibly satisfying and once you get going, you won’t look back.