You’ve picked your path, built a foundation, and started reaching out. Now it’s time to make sure you’re carrying the right tools to sustain your career long-term.
This post isn’t a substitute for legal or financial advice, but it is a place to start thinking critically about what to prepare for, what to prioritize, and what to make peace with learning on the go.
Legal Stuff (That Doesn’t Have to Be Scary)
Let’s start with the practical: setting yourself up legally.
- Register your business. Whether it’s an LLC, sole proprietorship, or something else, register in your state. It adds legitimacy, protects you (to a degree), and opens the door to things like business banking and contracts.
- Get a contract in place. Even if you’re working with the nicest people. Especially if you’re working with the nicest people. A contract outlines expectations and protects both parties. You can find templates online, or hire someone to help you draft a basic one that fits your needs.
- Separate your finances. Open a business checking account. Use it for all your project income and expenses. This keeps your bookkeeping clean and makes taxes (slightly) less painful. I like using Novo! An online bank built for small businesses, can invoice, and now has ai tools for bookkeeping.
- Understand your rights and boundaries. Intellectual property, usage rights, payment terms. These are things you want to understand before something goes wrong. It’s okay to ask for help here!
Financial Foundations (Even If You’re Not a Numbers Person)
Let’s be real: a lot of creatives and freelancers avoid the money stuff. But your work is work, and you deserve to be paid well and clearly.
- Track your income and expenses. Spreadsheets work. So does software. The important thing is to know what’s coming in and going out. I have used Excel, then Freshbooks, then Quickbooks, and now I’m back to Excel. Find what works for you!
- Plan for taxes. Set aside a percentage (aim for 25–30%) of everything you earn. Don’t wait until April to find out what you owe. Another reason I like Novo, you can set it up so every incoming payment puts a percentage to “reserves”.
- Pay yourself. It doesn’t have to be a set salary, but don’t let every dime sit untouched in a business account. Paying yourself (even irregularly) helps reinforce that this is a real job.
- Price with purpose. Your rates should reflect your experience, your value, and your costs of doing business. Yes, even if you’re just starting out.
- Invest wisely. You don’t need to buy all the software or gadgets right away. Start lean. Upgrade as your workload and income grow.
Emotional Tools (The Ones We Don’t Talk About Enough)
No spreadsheet prepares you for the emotional reality of building your own path. It’s rewarding and freeing, but also vulnerable.
- Imposter syndrome is normal. It’s not a sign you don’t belong. It’s a sign you’re stretching.
- Rejection will happen. Projects won’t land. Clients will ghost. You’ll get feedback that stings. That doesn’t mean you’re not good enough.
- You need support. Whether it’s a therapist, a mentor, a partner, or a peer group — don’t try to do this all alone.
- It’s okay to not know everything. You’re allowed to be a work in progress. No one has it all figured out.
- Rest is part of the work. You’re not a machine. You’ll do better creative and strategic work when you’re rested and grounded.
Tools I Carry (And Still Use)
When I first stepped out on my own, I was figuring out everything on the fly. I made mistakes, asked a lot of questions, Googled anything and everything, and leaned on generous people who had done it before me.
Here are a few tools that helped me — and might help you too:
- A basic contract template I could adapt for different types of work
- A spreadsheet for tracking income/expenses by month
- A recurring reminder to send invoices, like a recurring calendar event on the first of the month.
- A short list of people I could text when I was stuck or spiraling
- An inspirational note on my desk to keep me going.
Final Thoughts
Carrying the right tools doesn’t mean having everything perfectly figured out. It means preparing the best you can, asking for help when you need it, and recognizing that growth is part of the journey.
If you’re building a creative, outdoor-focused career that doesn’t look like anyone else’s path, that’s a strength. These tools are here to help you keep going with more clarity, more confidence, and less chaos.
You don’t have to know everything. You just have to be willing to learn.
See you at the next trail marker.
