"I wish this book had been available when I began my independent career. There's only one word for it - PRICELESS!!!" -Shay McConnon, psychologist, trainer, coach, magician and mentor "Grounded in common-sense and humour and very clear about what can send you off track.IF YOU NEVER WANT TO WORK FOR SOMEBODY ELSE AGAIN, YOU NEED STARTING UP ON YOUR OWN! Chances are that if you're looking at this book you are at least thinking about taking the big step of going it alone. Or you're already in business as an independent and you want to get better at it. Well, you've come to the right place. Starting Up On Your Own covers everything you need to get ready to work for yourself and, once you've taken the plunge, how to develop your business and stay the course. If you're not already in business, the first step is to decide if this is the right path for you. To help you with this critical decision, this book takes you through the reality of what's involved and has a unique self-assessment quiz to help you check out your suitability for the independent working lifestyle. You're probably an expert in your chosen field.That's great: you'll be selling your expertise. But when you're working for yourself you have to be good at a whole lot of other things too. Starting Up On Your Own covers everything you need to do to make money and survive as an independent. * Where do I start? * How should I market myself? * How can I get repeat business from my clients? * How do I win new clients? * What should I charge and what do I need to do to make sure I get paid on time? * When can I put up my fees? (And when shouldn't I?) * Can I work from home? * How much will I need to invest? * Should I hire someone else to work for me? * How shall I organize my time? The answers to all these questions and more are right here. What are you waiting for? Mike Johnson began life as an independent, freelance consultant in 1982, before founding a corporate communications firm in Brussels and London, following a career in journalism and corporate communication for multinational corporations.In 1999 he started again as an independent consultant and freelance. This book is about what he has learned on his freelance journey. His focus today centres around the world of work, talent management and corporate communication for both private and public organizations The author of eleven books on business and management issues, including Winning the People Wars, Talent Magnet and The New Rules of Engagement, Mike also developed a series of World of Work studies for the Financial Times and The Economist and for many international corporations and consulting firms.