Navigating the Challenges and Victories of Being a New Consultant

Stepping into the world of consultancy has been a fascinating journey, especially when health constraints and the inability to maintain a full-time position prompted me to make this transition. Just recently, I achieved a small yet significant milestone—I received my first payment!

Embracing the Consulting World

Yesterday marked the arrival of my payment, a significant step forward for my fledgling consulting business. Previously, I worked with various employers, including the one now downsizing, who fortunately became my first client. Since I invoice monthly, the payment I received was for the consulting work done in January and February.

Navigating Administrative Hurdles

While receiving the check was a relief, it didn’t arrive without its set of hurdles. The paperwork for my ACH payment encountered complications, primarily due to address discrepancies. Living in New York, I chose to use Northwest Registered Agent for my business registration and legal publishing, which inadvertently created some challenges.

I live about five hours from where my business address is registered. Additionally, my bank account, located at a local bank, uses my home address, while my insurance prefers my PO Box address—a remnant from a personal necessity turned business utility. I’ve even had to ask about the public nature of the details on the ACH form. While protecting my personal address is a priority, it’s led to a bit of an administrative labyrinth.

Finding Solutions

If these address-related issues persist, I may continue receiving payments by check and invest in mail forwarding services, a reasonable $20 per month, for this contract’s duration. Finding additional clients isn’t straightforward at this stage, but I’m optimistic.

A Unique Billing Month

In an unexpected turn of events, this month could become my most lucrative yet. Despite the persistent challenges of managing long COVID, which are requiring me to stretch myself quite thin, I’ve accumulated 68 hours of work and plan for more over the weekend and early next week.

The Financial Road Ahead

Receiving payment has been a joyous moment, but it’s paired with the reality of watching these earnings diminish under the weight of accumulated deferred expenses. While I technically owe nothing to Social Services yet, the assistance I’ve received through SNAP and Temporary Assistance was crucial during my lean months.

Conclusion: A Balance Between Hope and Challenge

This journey highlights the duality of entrepreneurship—while there’s the satisfaction of being compensated for one’s efforts, it doesn’t erase the challenges that accompany it. Transitioning money from business to personal