Freelance to Business Owner

Imrul Kayes: From my point of view, I would say the transition wasn’t sailing smoothly. At some point in my life, I had to travel a lot on public transport, juggle multiple projects at once, and spend a lot of time learning new skills. However, these challenges were the foundation behind my approach to owning a successful design business. These challenges taught me about resilience, focus, and the importance of continuous learning, which are essential traits for any freelance-to-business journey.

Abdullah Al Noman: How did you manage the initial financial costs when you started Taqwah, moving from freelance to a business model?

Imrul Kayes: Financial management was the most crucial part of my journey From Freelance to Business Owner. We started with remote work to minimize costs. This is one of the strategies that I mastered during my freelance days. As we grew, we established a small office in Mirpur, ensuring we had a creative and productive space while still being financially considerate.

Atiqur Rahaman: What was it like moving from a freelance designer role to managing a business?

Imrul Kayes: The sudden shift from freelance work to managing a business was a significant change in my life. I had to develop new skills like strategic planning and team management every day to provide support to the team. While I do miss the hands-on aspect of freelance designing, leading a business has been a fulfilling new chapter of my life.

Abdullah Al Noman: Managing many tasks at once is one of the challenges that you will face in your journey “From Freelance to Business Owner”. How do you keep everything under control?

Imrul Kayes: It’s about applying the multitasking skills I developed as a freelancer and scaling them up for business management. Assigning different tasks to respective team members and empowering my team were key steps in maintaining control and focusing on strategic growth.

Atiqur Rahaman: How often do you engage in design work now?

Imrul Kayes: My direct involvement in design has reduced since transitioning from freelance to leading a business. My role now focuses more on guiding the team and ensuring our projects align with our high standards and client expectations.

Abdullah Al Noman: Balancing a hectic business schedule with your personal life is crucial. How do you manage this?

Imrul Kayes: Keeping the balance between your work life and personal life is a must. My day starts early in the morning, sometimes with a run, that helps me clear my head. I always make sure that I have time for my family and relaxation. The current situation is similar to my freelance days but with added responsibilities. Finding the harmony between work and personal life played a vital role in sustainable success in my journey “From Freelance to Business Owner”.

Atiqur Rahaman: From your point of view, as a solo freelancer to a successful business owner, what is your perspective on marketing? Does it have a crucial role in any business?

Imrul Kayes: Marketing is the lifeline of a growing business. As a freelancer, I learned a lot about marketing and that is when I understood the importance of reaching the right audience. Effective marketing strategies are crucial for transitioning from a solo freelancer to a successful business owner. It’s about connecting with the right audience and showcasing your unique value proposition.

Abdullah Al Noman: Managing a team and keeping them highly motivated is a challenge for every business owner. How do you keep your team motivated and dynamic?

Imrul Kayes: Keeping the team motivated is about creating a culture of learning and growth, something I emphasized even in my freelance days. To keep the team motivated we have developed a rewarding system for learning achievements, that encourages the continuous professional development of my team members, which plays a crucial role in my journey “From Freelance to Business Owner”.

Atiqur Rahaman: Managing both remote and in-house teams can be challenging. How do you ensure seamless operations?

Imrul Kayes: Effective communication is the key to managing a hybrid team setup. I try to use most of the digital tools found on the internet efficiently, this is something I learned during my freelance career. This helps me maintain smooth operations between my in-house and remote team members. In-house members mostly handle the core responsibilities while remote team members contribute with their flexibility and creativity.

Abdullah Al Noman: Your focus on fitness is inspiring. How did you integrate this into your busy schedule?

Imrul Kayes: Health became a priority when I realized the passive nature of tech work was affecting me physically. Just like in my freelance days, I had to find time for self-care. Regular exercise not only improves physical health but also enhances mental clarity and overall productivity, which played a vital role in my journey “From Freelance to Business Owner”.