Sunday, April 3, 2011

You Think You Can....But Can You?

I never thought I'd say this, but language schools, I feel your pain!

Many teachers come up to me asking if they should become an independent freelancer.  The question isn't "Should you?" but "Can you?" This goes for becoming a travailleur independent AND/OR an Auto-entrepreneur.  Do you have what it takes to strike out on your own?  Sure being your own boss sounds cool, but before you take the leap, I strongly recommend you take a good hard look at what language schools go through - because that's exactly what awaits you once you write that letter to UR$$AF or sign on to be an auto-entrepreneur.

Are you ready for: 
  • Finding clients (in France, this means, are you good enough so that your trainees talk about you and recommend you. In France it's all about word of mouth, so put down that phone before you make one very chilly cold call).  
  • Comfortable with communicating the price of your services to prospective clients.
  • Writing up contracts in French (and understanding their company's jargon if they are the ones drawing up the contract). 
  • Maintaining clients (e.g. follow up, assessments; quality control of your own services).
  • Monthly billing (and keeping up with it).
  • Chasing after payments (are you willing to get tough? If you're subcontracting other teachers, do you have enough in the bank to pay those teachers in the event the client "forgets" to pay your invoices?).
  • Keeping track of your earnings and business expenses (a.k.a. keeping track of itty bitty pieces of paper and filing them in chronological order). 
  • Understanding the frequent love notes from government agencies such as UR$$AF, CIPAV, RSI et al.
  • Setting aside money you earn during the good months for the bad months (in France this means one thing:  July, August and much of September).
  • Setting aside money for when UR$$AF and CIPAV and RSI bills appear in your postbox every 4 months or so. 
  • Getting to know your accountant and double checking any dirty work he side-dishes to his interns.
  • Keeping a close eye on your own sanity and professionalism.
All of these slippery round orbs one must keep in the air are important and necessary.  I've said it before: it's not for everyone. But it's also an adventure and a never-ending learning experience.
 
Posted by at 9:55 PM

4 comments:

  1. When I saw the bad months (july-sept), I laughed out loud. The country stops all together, doesn't it!

    I can remember cycling for a few weeks last august and I couldn't find a boulangerie to feed me poor churning calves. :)

    nice post. will RT :)

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  2. Another two ideas, learned from hard experience in Spain:

    º Are you willing to be your own marketing manager and best fan? No one knows your product as well as you do, so you'd better be prepared to explain exactly why it's better than everyone else's...
    º Are you willing to say no to students who will end up costing you more money in the long run? Can you filter out the ones who insist on calling long after bedtime, the ones who will expect to cancel whenever they want, the ones who will bug you every so often for free translations....

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  3. Thanks for the post Brad. Yes, Paris, a major metropolitan city turns into a ghost town during the summer. While I compliment the French on their ability to separate business and pleasure, it sure puts a wrench in any well-oiled machine of a company.

    Someone recently asked me if they could come to France to teach during the summer.
    I smiled-snorted saying, "Sadly, no." But it took every ounce of my being to hold back the guffaws.

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  4. Patricia what sound advice! Perfectly put. You are so right.

    When does a freelancer learn how to say: "No." How does one filter the high-maintenance clients that could potentially hurt your business or prevent you from doing your best work? Those are key questions.

    I think all freelancers go through a flattery stage. They are so flattered when a client calls them up to ask for their services. It's great to feel wanted. But what clients want may not always be what *you* should be providing. Do we have the guts to say:

    --"Sorry, that's not my area of expertise."
    --"I'm afraid I'm not the right teacher for you.
    Let me refer you to someone else."
    --"It sounds like you are trying to do too much in too short a time. Why don't you wait until the vacation period to take private lessons. Perhaps you'll have more time then."

    Sometimes being straight with a prospective client will win you respect and a possible contract (and another referral) in the future.

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