Self Employment - Pros And Cons Of Being Self-Employed

Thursday, 28 October 2010

 By: Abhishek Agarwal 

A majority of people all over the world spend their lives and resources working for large companies. Recently, a number of companies had to close down due to economical problems. This factor forced many individuals to try the unexplored territory of self-employment. Now, the self-employed comprise around ten percent of the working population, and the number is on the rise.
Self-employment, however, is not without its challenges. A person who has spend a major portion of his or her life working for others will be overwhelmed by the challenges offered by self-employment. If you can overcome the difficulties, however, you will have found a highly rewarding career.

When people consider self-employment, they think in terms of working at their own pace in the comfort of their own home offices. To a certain extent, this is true. A self-employed person, sometimes, has to work longer than he or she bargained for. Self-employed individuals also require a high degree of motivation, the ability to stick to goals, and make quality decisions in a short time. They also find themselves responsible for paying their social security, medicare, and quarterly taxes. At the same time, they enjoy the immense freedom to build and develop their careers according to their wish. The bonus of being self-employed is that many of the expenses they make are tax deductible.

Make a careful study of the various pros and cons of self-employment before jumping into it. You can use resources such as books, workshops, seminars, and websites. You will realize that you have a lot to learn about working by yourself--from dealing with the solitariness of your home office to the collection of debts. You will have to learn about how to lower tax burdens and to minimise expenditure until you really start making a profit. Join an organization or group of the self-employed. It is a rich source of information about the life of self-employed people, a place where you can garner information right from the horse's mouth.

According to a popular belief, older people usually adapt well to a self-employed life. They possess the knowledge and experience to do so and are also tough enough to handle the trials and tribulations of the self-employed. However, one cannot generalize. Younger people are equally qualified to become self-employed. With their enthusiasm and energy, they are more likely to put in more hours and work for the success of their company.

The prospect of owning ones own business is rising in popularity as the days pass.

0 comments: