Setting up a freelance practice

This branch covers establishing a freelance medical-writing practice, divided by the setup decision: whether to freelance, preparation before leaving employment, business form, insurance, naming, workspace, advice and location. It leaves continuing operations, clients, pricing and agreements, specialisation, employee homeworking, pandemic effects and later career moves to neighbouring branches.

• Deciding whether to freelance — personal fit, employment tradeoffs, security, readiness and alternative entry routes
• What to settle before you leave employment — services, boundaries, finances, demand and contracting routes
• Choosing the business form — legal structure, administration, jurisdiction, client requirements and employment status
• Insuring a freelance practice — health, income, life, liability, equipment and professional cover
• What the practice is called and how it presents itself — professional descriptions, recognition and the company name
• Working from a home office — space, household boundaries, client contact, equipment and coworking
• Where a new freelance takes the questions — peers, advisers, association resources, groups, forums and workshops
• Setting up a practice in another country — registration, cross-border arrangements, work permission, startup support and local credibility