Top Ten Resources

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Thank you for joining us at one of our Top Ten Tips workshops. We hope you enjoyed your time with us and learned a thing or two!

Below is a reminder of our Top Ten Tips, and all the links you’ll need to help you make the most of the session. Don’t forget to check out our Resources and Free Stuff for more help.

Tip #1: Know What You’re Getting Yourself Into

Running a creative business is hard work, whether you’re an individual freelancer, a partnership or a larger arts organisation. You’ll need to be sure that this is the right path for you, by working out what you want from this endeavour, and understanding why you’re choosing self-employment. You’ll also need to get really good at setting – and meeting – your internal goals.

Tip #2: Be Business-Like about Your Creative Work

Applying professionalism from the beginning of your business means that you’ll get taken seriously that bit quicker. This includes getting an ABN, working out what the professional name will be for your business, considering which business structure you’ll be, and formulating a basic business plan.

Tip #3: Be the Boss of your Time

Time management is one of the keys to being accountable in your creative business. Learning how to manage everything will allow you to make the most of your business, creative and personal life.

Tip #4: Take Care of Your Money

Having an irregular income is the hardest part of working for yourself, and you’ll need to figure out ways to take care and control of your money. That includes working out how much things are going to cost (your budget), how much you should charge, and understanding how money will come in and out of your business.

Tip #5: Understand your Unicorns and Workhorses

Not all the work we do in our creative business is designed to make money. Some of our work will never be paid, but has it’s own reward. The secret to making a creative business work? Understanding the unicorns as well as the workhorses.

Tip #6: Learn the Basics about your Tax Situation

Nobody expects you to like tax, but learning about your situation can actually be very empowering and help you understand your business that little bit more. At the very least, get help from the ATO and/or your accountant to clearly understand what tax deductions you are entitled to, and how to plan effectively for your tax responsibilities.

Tip #7: Learn about the Law

Understanding your legal situation is vital to making your business professional, and that includes having a contract with your clients and suppliers. It also includes understanding how IP and copyright affect you as a creative business person. Check out:

Tip #8: Find your cheerleaders

Running a creative business is an unusual choice, and you’ll frequently meet people who just don’t understand what you do, or why you’re doing it. Finding helpful supporters and cheerleaders can help you to keep going on track and moving forwards in your business. That includes getting an awesome accountant, an understanding bank, a network of peers, a mentor from your industry, and professional guidance when you need that extra education.

Tip #9: Marketing is a Journey, Not a Destination

Marketing is a process, not simply website or a facebook page. Spend a little bit of time all the time working on your marketing strategy and thinking about how best to connect to your clients and audience. This includes thinking about who you are and what you’re offering, researching strategies that are available, and working out ways to measure the effectiveness of those strategies.

Tip #10: Hang in there

The trick to making a creative business work is simply hanging in there. Creative entrepreneurs need to be thick-skinned, well organised, and good-humoured. Believing in yourself and what you’re trying to achieve is also vital. There’s no secret to creative business success, just remember to enjoy the good times and learn from the tough times. The payoff is entirely worth it.

Once again, thanks for joining us for our Top Ten Tips!

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PHOTO CREDIT: Shutterstock