Running a Self-Employed Business: Top Tips from Sarah Keeler Dawson

For Sarah Keeler Dawson, running a self-employed business is rooted in making a positive difference through creativity.

Through Creative Mojo Manchester West, she delivers creative workshops in care homes and across the wider community, working with both adults with learning disabilities and older residents with dementia.

Each session is thoughtfully tailored to the needs and interests of the individuals she supports, helping to create experiences that are meaningful, engaging and enjoyable.

Sarah is passionate about using creativity to support and uplift the people she works with, always ensuring each session feels accessible and rewarding for everyone involved. She offers workshops across Manchester, Salford and the surrounding areas.

As part of National Freelancer Week, we asked Sarah to share her top three tips for running a self-employed business:

1. Be clear about your value

Understand exactly what you offer, who it’s for, and how it helps. When you can clearly communicate this, it becomes easier to attract the right clients, price your work confidently, and feel good about what you do.

2. Stay consistent

Consistency builds momentum. Whether you’re promoting your services or building your skills, showing up regularly matters more than getting everything perfect.

3. Protect your time and energy

As a solo business owner, you are the whole business, but you can't do everything well, all of the time! Set boundaries, avoid overcommitting, and ensure some rest to help you deliver your best.

Sarah’s story shows that self-employment allows passion and purpose to drive meaningful business impact in the community. Through her approach, she demonstrates how running a solo business can connect creativity with making a real difference.

Find out more about Sarah’s work here: https://www.creativemojo.com/blog/franchise/manchester-west/