As a self-employed bartender there’s a lot that you have to manage. From social media accounts to making sure that you’re asking for the right fees, there’s a lot that you have to pay attention to all the time.
In order to help you jump start your business, or help you reassess how you’re doing your business, you are six of the top tips that can help you grow as a self-employed bartender
Know Your Worth
Knowing your worth isn’t exactly something that is just for bartenders. This is something that many freelancers have to determine for themselves based upon the markets that they are in, as well as their own personal experience.
If you are an inexperienced bartender who is just starting out, your fees are probably going to be lower than someone who’s been bartending for many years. Essentially, experience matters.
Not everything relates exactly to experience. There’s also the fact that you have to keep up with your certifications, understand some of the concepts of gastronomy and there’s also the idea that you have to understand what trends could be about to happen, and what trends are happening.
All of this adds up to your worth as a bartender. By worth, I’m not talking about your self-worth, I’m talking about the monetary value that people are willing to pay in order to hire you as a bartender. Also remember as you decide your fees that everything is a competition.
Have Professional Forms of Contact
When you are working as a professional, you need to have multiple forms of communication so that people can easily reach you. This can be through social media accounts or it can also be through a professional email. Some people also host their own website with additional contact forms.
Something that you will for sure want, is a dedicated email for your business. If you are working underneath an LLC that you have created, then you will want to name that email after the LLC.
If you are working as a self-employed individual, then you will need to probably name the email after yourself. Avoid additional numbers if possible and ensure that your email is easy to read, as well as say.
Don’t Ignore the Power of Social Media
There’s also something to consider when it comes to social media. Not only is it one of the most powerful forms of advertisement, it is also one of the most overwhelming ways to constantly manage your work. .
There are websites that easily connect different accounts together in order to post the same content across different profiles, but that’s not always the easiest thing to manage.
If you’re going to use social media, then you’ll need to hone in on what your work is and what makes you. If you aren’t focusing on your special skills or what makes you unique, then your social media profiles are going to fall flat. One of the best ways to use social media is to ask for testimonials from your customers as well as ask for people to share your content and spread the word that you are a bartender looking for gigs.
Ensure You are Insured
When you’re self-employed, it can be a little nerve-wracking at first. Most of the time we’re used to 401ks, life insurance policies, and of course, health coverage.
That’s not going to be the case for you. You’re going to need to make sure that you are insured otherwise there’s the potential that you can face fines.. Plus you never know what’s going to happen on the job. You need to be able to have some sort of health insurance that can help you out when and where you need it.
Websites Help More Than You Know
Earlier I mentioned using social media as a way to help get the word out about your work as a bartender. Another way to do this is by managing or starting your own website that shows off what it is that you do.
There are several website building platforms that are easily navigable, and also have a nice professional look. This is also a way that you can house communication forms and display your terms and fees.
Know Your Tax Obligations
As a freelancer it’s hard to determine where you fall tax wise.
When working for a company, you will generally receive a W-2 or a 1099 whereas if you are self-employed you have to fill out a 1040 tax form.
If you’re filling out a 1040, then you aren’t going to collect taxes from those you are working with and if you receive a W-2 or 1099, then taxes have already been collected.
Conclusion
When you are self-employed it is extremely difficult to manage all the pieces that you need in order to create a self-sufficient business with you at the center. From insurance, to websites, to social media, there is far too much to cover in just a few minutes.
Start with these six tips and you’ll see that your business will start to grow exponentially, and you will slowly but surely get the hang of handling your own work as a self-employed bartender.
