Is there a job that allows you to work according to your schedule? Guarantees that you can have time for yourself and your family? And offers various project types to help you find your true calling?
If you’ve asked yourself these questions, you’ve come to the right place.
By learning how to become a freelancer, you’ll be able to secure a profitable income while doing what you want, when you want.
Luckily, you’ve come across this article because we’ll teach you everything you need to know about the ins and outs of becoming a freelancer.
An Overview of Freelancing: A Primer
A freelancer is a self-employed individual who earns money according to a task or project basis instead of a monthly salary.
When you do freelance work, you can work on multiple projects simultaneously, so you qualify as an independent contractor.
Freelancing is a popular work setup because it allows you to work from home or a non-conventional workspace.
You can set your work schedule, take time off according to your needs, and explore different tasks and projects to find what interests you the most.
Freelancers are independent and can work full-time or part-time to supplement their income.
This work setup is suitable for those who want to enjoy a better work-life balance and can be an excellent option for stay-at-home parents, people who suffer from health issues, students, retirees, and anyone who doesn’t enjoy the corporate culture.
How Much Do Freelancers Make?
Determining how much freelancers make is complicated because the pay varies greatly.
Your salary depends on your profession, the nature of your skills, the company you work for, the project you pick, and your location.
This, however, proves that there’s an excellent chance for advancement if you choose to become a freelance worker.
Some freelancers can make as low as $7.45 per hour, while others make as high as $76.20. Yet the average hourly rate of freelancers is around $33.14.
The average hourly rate of a freelance data scientist is around $$48.35, with more experienced workers making as much as $88.22 per hour. Data scientists in California make more money than the national average.
A freelance writer can make around $30.37 per hour, while freelance journalists make a little less, with an hourly average of $28.36.
If you’re a freelance software engineer, you should expect to receive an hourly rate of $58.07.
What You’ll Need to Become a Freelancer and Associated Costs
By identifying what you can do best, you can become a successful freelancer, work with multiple clients, and enjoy a flexible work schedule.
Once you’ve decided on your specialty, you should set a schedule to manage projects, bill clients, and handle taxes.
The process of succeeding as a freelancer can be customized based on your personal needs.
Here’s what you’ll need to become a freelancer and earn enough money to pay your bills and achieve financial stability.
1. Define Your Motivation
Many people don’t think about the challenges involved with becoming a freelancer.
You don’t have a company or boss to back you up, so all the planning, organizing, and management work will be your responsibility.
Even if you work for a company, you’ll be considered an independent contractor, not an employee.
So, you should define your goal clearly. It can be securing a side income or quitting your main job to work from home and care for your family.
Keeping an eye on this goal will help you set and manage a successful work plan.
2. Find Your Speciality
Based on your previous experience, you can quickly find related jobs by browsing websites for finding freelance work.
Some freelancers can find easy jobs requiring no prior experience, which can be an excellent option for students and those who never worked before.
Start by listing your current skills and think of your ideal client. Think of your clients’ problems and the services you can provide to help them.
3. Gather Your Tools
As a freelancer, you’re on your own. So, you should buy or rent any tools you might need. This includes office space, a laptop, and any software programs you need to provide services.
Freelancers might require a business permit or license to work in some industries, so do your research. You’ll also have to do the calculations for the self-employment tax.
4. Create a Portfolio
Your employment chances will increase if you create a lucrative portfolio showing your expertise.
However, if you’re a student or have just started your business, you can prepare a portfolio of sample work.
Since finding an employment opportunity can be tricky without previous experience, you can offer a discount.
5. Set Goals and Deadlines
Think about your desired monthly income after deducting all expenses. This will help you determine your hourly wage.
But you should also pay attention to the market’s average. Nobody will hire you if you lack experience and charge too high for your services.
Next, you should set milestone goals and deadlines. It’s easy to get lost when you work by yourself.
So, you should set clear deadlines for finding your first job, finishing any paperwork, creating your portfolio, and setting up your workspace.
6. Find a Job
Browse the internet for the types of freelance jobs that suit your skills. Multiple platforms and websites offer freelancing opportunities, and you might find what you’re looking for.
If you wish to work for a particular employer, you can search their company’s website for freelancing opportunities.
You can also search for remote positions offered by international employers.
7. Build Your Network
Contact everyone you know in your industry and tell them about your services. When you finish a project, ask your previous client to recommend you to others.
Most freelancing platforms allow employers to review freelancers. Other employers will refer to these honest reviews before considering hiring you for a job.
You can join online forums that discuss your services or niche and connect with other freelancers. Attend webinars to get to know more people in your industry.
8. Improve Your Brand
Freelancing is highly competitive as more people are willing to achieve a better work-life balance. This is why creating a solid online presence should be a top priority.
Create a website to offer your services and tutorials that teach potential clients about your services. Participate actively in forums to establish your status as an industry service.
Finally, work on improving your social media presence and advertising your services.
How Much Does it Cost to Become a Freelancer?
The cost of starting your freelance business varies by industry and setup.
For example, you if already have a laptop and an internet connection and want to work in a simple sector like data entry, you can start immediately.
As a beginner, you can sign up for most freelancing platforms for free. However, most will require a premium subscription to search and apply for jobs. Some platforms, like UpWork, also deduct a percentage of your pay.
Things are different if you want to expand your business. The initial costs of starting a professional freelance business can be between $3,000 and $7,000.
For example, you can trademark your business name, which can cost between $250 and $750.
Freelancers who work according to a sole proprietorship usually don’t need licenses or permits. You can check the Small Business Administration website to see if you should apply for any.
As you grow your business, you might register as a Limited Liability Company or Doing Business As. In this case, some legal permits and licenses might be required.
It’s best to consult your local chamber of commerce to determine the permits you’ll need. Other costs include filing for taxes and health insurance for freelancers.
Is it Hard to Become a Freelancer?
Becoming a successful freelancer can be tough. Statistics show that freelancing will make up most of the workforce by 2027.
About 59% of non-freelancers are considering freelancing in the future.
With this increasing competition, finding recurring jobs that pay the bills can be challenging, especially if you don’t have unique skills. Beginner freelancers struggle more to find their first projects.
Yet, this is a rewarding career because you can secure your income while having more time for yourself and your family.
So it’s a good career choice for self-motivated and self-disciplined individuals.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Freelancer?
You can start doing freelance work immediately if you have a laptop and an internet connection.
Yet, most freelancers say that it takes some time before you can land your first gig.
You can expect to spend three to twelve months before you can rely on your freelancing income to pay the bills. By this time, you will have a network of clients, and your business will grow.
How to Become a Freelancer in Seven Simple Steps
Becoming a freelancer allows you to have total control over your career. Statistics show that 68% of freelancers agree that career ownership drives them to work independently.
Following these steps, you can enjoy the fantastic perks of being independently employed.
1. Determine Your Services
Start by determining what you can offer according to your talents and skills. You can do this by identifying your ideal client, thinking about their problems, and seeing how to turn your skills into services.
2. Set Your Price
You should study the market to see how much freelancers in your niche price their services.
You should also consider all costs and expenses. Your price depends on your niche, experience, skills, project deadlines, and complexity.
3. Find Your Clients
You can search for clients on freelancing platforms or offer your services online. After you complete a few successful jobs, you can ask clients to act as your references.
4. Build Your Portfolio
List all the successful jobs you’ve completed to attract more clients. Testimonials from previous clients will also help improve your portfolio’s status.
5. Plan Your Work
It’s easy to get lost if you don’t have an organized work plan. You should set your working hours according to your lifestyle and obligations. You should also set a time for rest.
Don’t overestimate your potential because you might accept more projects than what you can complete on time.
As a result, you’ll end up with many angry clients who might not pay you or leave angry feedback that damages your online reputation in the industry.
6. Expand Your Network
Work on expanding your network by connecting with other freelancers and clients in your industry. Attend online and offline seminars to know people who work in the same market.
7. Improve Your Skills
As you establish your status as a successful freelancer, you should monitor the new trends. See which skills appeal to your clients and study to be able to provide them.
Reasons to Consider Becoming a Freelancer
Becoming a freelance worker is becoming more appealing to people with corporate jobs and those who haven’t worked before.
Here are some reasons why you should consider becoming one.
- You can choose when and where to work to have a better work-life balance.
- You pick the projects and tasks you can work on.
- You can avoid commuting stress and a bad local market.
- You can avoid bad work dynamics and enjoy more time with your family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Freelancing Good for Beginners?
A lot of freelancing jobs are suitable for beginners. Some don’t require any or simple skills that even students and people with no professional experience have.
Freelancing platforms represent a good starting point for beginners.
What Skill is Best for Freelancing?
Several skills represent the best freelancing opportunities nowadays.
These include SEO marketing, social media marketing, content writing, copywriting, business consultancy, web development, coding, and graphic design.
Similar Gigs to Check Out
Finding the proper freelancing gig can be challenging. So, you can try one of these ideas.
- How to Become a Freelance Writer: If you like writing, you can learn how to become a freelance writer and work independently.
- How to Become a Freelance Graphic Designer: Learn how to become a freelance graphic designer and design logos and visually-appealing ads.
- How to Become a Freelance Writer With No Experience: Several work opportunities can work for you if you want to know how to become a freelance writer with no experience.
Wrap Up
You can learn how to become a freelancer if you know how to create and stick to a work-life plan.
This can be the perfect job opportunity for someone who is fed up with corporate life or wants to work independently.
Tell us your thoughts in the comments, and share this article with an aspiring freelancer.
