Why do people want to strike it out on their own? Why do they want to give up the security of a pay check? The answers are pretty obvious. We all dream of building something new from scratch without being held in check. We all want to be our own bosses, the sole masters of our time and energy, and get to enjoy the fruits of our hard work.

The freelancer bug has caught the imagination of hundreds of thousands of people and each year the number of people taking the plunge keeps growing. Part entrepreneurial, part grit, and part a sense of fun, the journey to financial independence, however, is an upward climb. You can pick up the technical skills required for the trade, vocation or profession of your choice by going to school or by learning on the job. But what do you do when you decide to do everything on your own without an employer having your back?
 
Let’s see now. Legal incorporation? Check. Bank account. Check. Website? Check. Marketing to customers? Check. Managing clients? Check. Taxes? Check again. And list goes on and on with no end in sight. With one person and probably a small group of family and friends to give you a hand, you’d have to prioritise tasks, drive around town to get the services you need and quite often get things done all by yourself with paper and pencil. All along you’d also have to deliver services to your customers and clients without skipping a beat.

Fortunately, a lot of the services freelancers, micro businesses, startups and professionals need are on the cloud. Other business services which are critical for delivery, growth, efficiency and compliance are also available online. It’s possible to access almost everything from a laptop or mobile device. You don’t have to leave home for work. Or if you do, you can access what you need while you’re on the move.