Can you afford to work for yourself? The upsides and downsides to stepping out of the corporate structure.
Love what you do but hate having to go to work everyday? Or maybe you sense the axe is about to fall as your employer downsizes? Could you be your own boss? Being self-employed requires discipline, focus and confidence. It also requires having unique knowledge, skill or expertise. Statistics Canada says 1.8 million self-employed people worked at home in 2008 (the last year figures were available), up from 1.4 million in 2000, and the trend is expected to continue. It's not something everyone can do. Trades people, for example, are often self employed or have a side business while knowledge-based workers also develop a freelance business or dream of going out on their own. If you're in the right kind of job there are lots of advantages to becoming self employed: There are distinct tax advantages because almost everything required to make a living is tax deductible such as your mobile phone, Internet connection, car and gas. You may make less annually, but you'll ...