When you’re self-employed (or thinking about becoming self-employed), one of the more important decisions you’ll need to make is whether you want to do this work full-time or part-time. That’s a difficult question for many people, and here are some things to consider when making that decision.

Full-Time Benefits

* You can have a career that you love that also brings you enough money for your needs

* You can devote yourself to skill-building

* You will be available to your clients more often

Part-Time Benefits

* You can spend more time with your family and friends

* You can have another job at the same time, either full-time or part-time

* You can “test the waters” to see if you really want to go into this career

* You can go to school to complete your training, and earn money on the side to pay for it

Whether you choose full-time or part-time, you need to consider your personality (do you want to do this work full-time?), your skill level (are you still in school or just learning the skills?), how much you need to make (do you have enough clients to do this full-time?), and whether full-time work offers you the best balance in your life style.

You may find that you want to keep your regular full-time job and do this work on a part-time basis until you’re more sure of yourself and your ability to get enough clients. This is often a “best of both worlds” scenario, though it requires a lot of time and commitment. If you do this work part-time, there is likely to come a time when there is simply too much opportunity and you have to make a decision to go full-time. Until then, part-time may be the answer for you.

If you choose to continue working your regular job and doing your business on the side, you will need to decide whether your regular job coworkers should know about your other work or not. In some companies, having your own part-time business is not seen as “acceptable,” and it may hurt your chances of being promoted or put on special projects. I have heard of cases where people were fired from their job when their boss found out they had their own business on the side. Only you can know your company’s work culture; if you’re unsure, it might be best to say nothing.

Karyn Greenstreet is a Self Employment expert and small business coach. She helps you increase sales and profits, and learn practical small business skills.

Get the free audio and ebook, “The Art of Networking and Referrals” by visiting http://www.PassionForBusiness.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karyn_Greenstreet

Self-employment offers a lot of benefits to people who have grown tired of the daily grind of their eight-to-five jobs. For one, it gives them the flexibility and freedom to work at their own convenience and to be their own boss. However, self-employment is not for everyone. In fact, it entails more hard work and patience compared to working for a company. There are certain things that have to be considered to know if being self-employed is the right choice. Are you planning to quit your day job and become self-employed instead? The following are seven questions you can ask yourself on how to determine if self employment is really for you.

1. Does your target market have the potential to grow in the long run?

2. Who are your future competitors? What will be your competitive edge?

3. Are you flexible? Can you multitask? Compared to employment for a company, self-employment deals with uncertainties more often. If you think you can adjust to that setting, then self-employed is right for you.

4. Are you comfortable with marketing yourself and your business? If you feel iffy about doing sales talks and promoting your business, then you might be better off staying employed in the company you are currently working for.

5. Do you have the right motivation and self-discipline? When you are self-employed, there is no time for slacking off—even if you are your own boss.

6. Do you have enough contacts that can help you start and grow your business?

7. Can you do away with benefits (such as health and life insurance) that are usually provided by a company? Remember, one of the drawbacks of self-employment is not having the benefits that a company may offer.

With self-employment, you either sink or swim. It is not for the faint of heart—it takes a lot of courage and discipline to be able to profit from being self-employed.