Advice re Contract/freelance work?

[RobertInOntario]

I've also been trying to pick up a little money on my own - selling stuff I no longer need, offering services to friends or neighbors, and helping my parents get rid of unwanted junk. But the things that keep me from going into business on my own are the same headaches you are dealing with. I hope you wind up with some steady contract work - and a new full-time position before long.

Thanks... It is a learning curve but I think it can be manageable. Over the years, I've got to know quite a few contract workers who are now giving me advice.

The good thing about my situation -- at least I think it's a good thing! -- is that because I know my main client (my former employer) very well I don't need to rush ahead with a lot of other issues. The other issues being: how to write a finely-detailed contract, choosing a business name, obtaining a tax number, etc.

If I were starting from scratch with clients whom I don't know or trust, it would be different. My plan is to solve these things as I go. It seems that I don't need to obtain a business name right away (maybe never?), so I won't rush with that. And I don't need to obtain a tax number until my income exceeds a certain point and I think my current contract is good for now but I will want to revise it if I pick up other clients.

So I would encourage you to try this as well -- solve some of these things as you go and don't feel stressed to solve them all at once (which is usually my tendency!).

Rob