For getting the hairs on the back of your neck standing up, there are very few vocalists in history who came close to the powerful and charismatic Freddie Mercury.

‍If you’re in a bit of a rut, despising your dead-end job but afraid of the implications of leaving to start your own venture, you could do a lot worse than to whack a few Queen tunes in your ears for some inspiration.

In fact, any excuse to listen to some classic Queen is a good one, so this also applies to all the stages of becoming your own boss. And while you’re busy realising your potential, we’ve compiled all the best advice and hacks to help you along the way...

I Want to Break Free

We’ve all had this one stuck in our heads at work, watching the clock tick - but breaking free doesn’t have to be a pipe dream. Whatever your goal, you can get the ball rolling before jumping the gun and packing your day job in. Check out our article on setting up a business while working on the side.

One Vision

You’ve got your big idea in place, and damn it, you’re going to make it work. But have you thought about the pitfalls you might face? It’s incredibly important to bulletproof your idea, so be sure to seek advice from someone who’s been there and done that to find out what could go wrong - and download our contingency plans template to prepare for when it does.

Don’t Stop Me Now

Now your business plan is set and business is underway, you shouldn’t let the boring admin stuff stand in your way. Wasting precious time creating a professional-looking invoice? No need, check out our shiny free invoice templates. Need to chase a client for payment? There’s a range of free chase letter templates for that too.

I Want it All

You’re now riding the wave of some moderate success, but making ends meet is still a bit of a turbulent affair. Fear not, we have plenty of advice on landing high-profile freelancing clients and how to negotiate the best freelance rate to really propel your business to the next level.

You’re My Best Friend

Hopefully, at this stage, you’re up to your eyeballs in work. That’s a good thing, but doing it all by yourself can be tough, and detrimental to the quality of your service. If you’re struggling to keep up, now’s the time to start thinking about hiring your first employee.‍

Or, if it’s mostly your accounts that are causing you distress, check out what Crunch can do for you!

I'm Going Slightly Mad

Feeling Under Pressure? Nobody said this would be easy. It’s now got to the point where, while you love your new work, you haven’t taken a real day off for an eternity. Burning yourself out is terrible for the wellbeing of your business, your co-workers and most importantly, your own health. Learn about busting stress before stress busts you.

We Are the Champions

It may not have been a bed of roses, but you’ve come through! If only your former self could see you now.Have you displayed all the characteristics of an awesome freelancer? If you’ve made it this far, it’s highly likely.Keep going, you’re doing great! You’re now officially a Freddie…. and definitely not a Kanye.

Break Free with Crunch Free

Talented people shouldn’t be restricted. That’s why we created Crunch Free, our free online bookkeeping software, now available to both sole traders and limited companies.

Organise your expenses, send invoices on the go, set up automated payment reminders, record your business mileage, all within a secure cloud storage system. We've also provided free commercial invoice templates, VAT registered limited company invoice templates, and VAT registered sole trader invoice templates for you to keep on file.. If you need some guidance on how to be more tax-efficient, for a one-off fee, you can even schedule a meeting with one of our Chartered Certified Accountants for expert business advice.It’s time to break free, and Crunch Free is where it all begins. Sign up today and discover how Crunch can help simplify the world of self-employment!