And in these times of economic woes, it’s often more financially savvy for companies to shop work out—leading to greater opportunities for moms, particularly in the creative fields. So if you are not ready, willing, or able to work within an office environment, freelancing can offer you family-friendly flexibility and independence. But such a life is not without its own challenges. In fact, plenty of effort goes into just landing a freelance gig…and that’s before all the work starts. It takes a certain discipline to get it done. With that in mind we spoke to successful freelancers to get the scoop on how to make it work.

Organization is key. “It’s all too easy to have a messy home office, but it’s the worse offense at-home freelancers can make,” Stephanie, an artist, tells us. “Stay organized, have a work-only file cabinet, stock up on office supplies, and keep all personal items separate. It’s also imperative to start the day like you were going to work. Shower, drink your coffee, get the kids ready, and maybe even step outside to get breakfast—it’s important to begin the day with a fresh mind. Always make time to step outside of your home office, too. Not leaving the house will stifle your creativity.”

Time management is vital. Karen, who has been a Creative Services Consultant for eight years shares how time management can be a concern if you’re not typically self-motivated or easily prone to distraction. “Consider taking on some 'perma-lance' projects that involve you being in someone's office two-three days a week for months at a time,” she shares. “I am less anxious about my self-employed status when not completely left to my own devices. The other upside is that it facilitates sharing of information that people don't always make time for when you are not there in front of them. Plus, the face time will develop a rapport and establish trust—more conducive to securing future assignments.”

Karen suggests “putting yourself on a schedule—for at least a block of time. Get to know your own peak productivity hours. Are you a morning person or an evening person? For me, if I am not at it within that first waking hour, I am in big trouble. Turn on the Food Network—it's over. You might want to stave off checking the personal email, too. I like to be at my desk by 9:30am and just plough through. Even if I have had it by 2pm, I still have a sense of accomplishment and have staved off anxiety,” she shares. “Also, be wary of ‘having the weekend to work as well.’ If your family and friends are off on weekends, be realistic about how much time you’ll want to work. On the other hand, if you can assign yourself a timeslot of a few weekend hours, it could help balance out your week to allow for time needed to take care of other things.”

Look to former employers with whom you have good relationships. “My former boss was employed at a new company, so when I was looking for work, I contacted her to see if there were any opportunities available,” Lynn, a designer, says. “I was a new mom, and flexible hours were important to me. While I did report to the office daily, my hours weren’t as long as I was used to, which was a huge help in juggling mine and my husband’s work schedules around our child.”

Realize where opportunity lies. “I've gone in for job interviews and walked out with freelance assignments instead. At one potential job, the salary they could afford to offer full-time staffers just wasn't workable for me, but freelancing looked like a win-win,” says Josh, who is a writer. “At another, they felt I wasn't right for the position for whatever reason, but liked the cut of my jib enough to give me some work.”

Don’t be afraid to negotiate your rate. “When I first started freelancing, I gave a very low rate, but then after a year, I re-negotiated,” Terri, a writer, says. “It’s OK to start low to build a freelance portfolio, especially if you are a writer, but never sell yourself short. Remember: taxes aren’t being taken out now, but you will have to pay eventually. It’s best to take that into account when talking money.”

Downfalls For Working Moms …and how to make the system work best for you.

No health insurance. “Keep a journal of all of your expenses, every expense, when you’re self-employed—gas, mileage, office supplies, phone bill, everything,” Hans, a web developer, shares. “Always pay with a credit card and get a receipt. Your tax professional can help you figure out what you can and can't write off.”

Tax time issues. “The Freelancers Union is a very helpful organization trying to get cheaper benefits for self-employed people,” Hans also shares. “But it is pretty expensive. Although, as a self employed person, you can write off a portion of health insurance payments, so it is a win-win.”

Editor’s Note: If this union isn’t offered in your state, check with your local official offices on what is available.

Paychecks often aren’t on schedule. We’ve noticed many freelancers share this same sentiment: You often need to pressure clients to get paid in a timely manner.

Deadlines won’t wait. “The really tricky thing about working as a freelancer is that you always have to be ready to work at somebody else's convenience,” Josh, who often juggles many projects at once, says. “The other side of that coin is that while there will be times that I’m really busy and stressed, maybe on another day, I'll just lounge around and go for ice cream if the weather's nice.”

That’s a great trade-off…and won’t the kids be happy with that ice cream!