How To Get Started As A Freelancer

There are many ways to get started as a freelancer and everybody has a different journey to get there. However, we want you to be as realistic as possible when you embark on this path. There are no get-rich-quick schemes.  Regardless of the stories you may have heard some author or speaker retell of hanging by the beach and making money in their sleep, it takes time and consistent hard work to build your income and your reputation.

While there are definitely character traits that make some people more suited to freelance work, the truth is that anyone can do it if they treat it like a regular job. Dedication and high standards will go a long way towards building a great reputation and opening you up to more opportunities.

So, let’s cover some of the pros and cons of being a freelancer or independent contractor.

Cons of Being a Freelancer

First, let’s talk about some of the cons when it comes to being a freelancer.

• Goodbye Steady Income: At least in the beginning. Building up a steady job of freelance projects and clients takes time and in that time your income will rise and fall. There will be times when you have no income coming in and you have to pull from your cash reserves (you have one of those right?) Other times, the cash seems to be pour in and you’ll think your worries are over only to have the cycle begin again. Now, eventually, you can build up a steady stream of clients that bring you dependable income but know that financial ebbs and flows are normal in this line of work.

• Hello Time Management: When you are a freelancer, there are no bosses to micromanage you. (YES!) However, the bad news is, there are no bosses to micromanage you. Time management is completely up to you. If you’re good at it, you will flourish. If you’re bad at it, you will find yourself consistently behind on deadlines and eventually scrounging for jobs.

• Benefits? What Benefits?: When you are working for yourself as a freelancer or independent contractor, 99% of the time you will have to fend for yourself when it comes to health insurance, 401(k)s, and other benefits that a regular job provides. This can be frightening and a bit costly but there are solutions especially after your freelance business starts to pick up. Click the link to read more about How to Get Health Insurance As A Freelancer.

• Staying in Shape: Although many of you may feel that being a freelancers or independent contractor will allow you more time to workout and get healthy, the reality of it is that it can actually be harder to do. Why? Because when you’re a freelancer, your entire income depends on finishing projects on time and to a high standard. If you’re a master of time management, you should have no problem fitting in a daily workout and staying in shape. If you’re not great at time management, it could prove to be a bit of a challenge. (Read more about staying healthy as a freelancer here.)

• Interruptions: When you work for yourself (and most of us usually work from home) suddenly everyone is vying for your attention. The spouse, the kids, the fur babies, EVERYONE. These interruptions usually don’t happen in the conventional workplace and it can be easy to be thrown off schedule. Boundaries are something that need to be created and strictly adhered to in order to be successful in freelance.

Pros of Being a Freelancer

And now for the pros:

• You Call The Shots: When you are a freelancer or independent contractor, you get to decide when you work or not. You don’t have to take every job that comes along (and there are reasons for not taking a freelance project) or you can take every job that you come across. Deciding how much or how little to work is one of the biggest benefits of working for yourself.

• Travel Has No Limits: Well, almost no limits. Most freelance or independent contractor positions only require a laptop, maybe some peripherals, and an internet connections. Because of this, you can work literally from almost anywhere. You want to visit Europe? No problem. Miss your parents and want to visit for a month or two? No problem! Just feel like working on the beach for a while? Have at it! Just pack up the laptop and head out the door. The world is your oyster.

• Your Income Potential Has No Limits: If you’re willing to work hard to build a client base and reputation, it is indeed possible to make a very good living as a freelancer or independent contractor. Unlike a regular job, freelance work income depends entirely on you and how much you want to work. I know people that work just enough to buy little extras they want and I know others who have turned the freelance life into a rich life financially.

• It Can Be Pandemic-Proof: This isn’t always the case but as we’ve found out over the last year, being a freelancers has tremendous advantages. As the rest of the world sheltered in place and many lost their jobs, many freelancers found their skills and expertise in demand. As the reality of working from home began to settle in, freelancers were already set up and ready to go, making our income more stable in many instances than the general population.

So, How Do You Get Started In Freelance?

There are millions of freelance opportunities in the world and it’s important to be able to suss out the true opportunities from the scams. So, here are a few places to begin when looking for freelance or independent contractor projects.

• Start Where You Are: If you’re currently working a normal 9-5 job, talk with your boss to see if there’s any opportunity to work from home as a freelancer. Many employers, especially now, are welcoming the chance to have a more remote workforce. The are finding that workers are happier and do better work. They are also discovering their overhead expenses are reduced when less people work at a brick-and-mortar office and more except freelance position that either no longer get benefits or get reduced benefits.

• Ask Around: You’d be surprised how many people are looking for writers, transcriptionists, coders, virtual assistants, accountants, and more but don’t want another full-time employee. You will also be surprised how many of those people you know personally – either family members or close friends. Inquire of everyone you know. If they don’t have something for you, they might know someone who does.

• Hit the World Wide Web: There are websites dedicated to finding freelance or independent contractor jobs. Again, do your research to make sure they are a reputable source jobs before giving any information out. Some of the more well-known sites are Fivrr, Upwork, Freelancer, and LinkedIn Profinder and these don’t even begin to cover the sites aimed at specific expertise like transcription, writing, virtual assistants, and more. (Check out the article, Best Websites to Find Freelance Work in 2021)

So, as you can see, this is not even an exhaustive list of freelance or independent contractor work. Just do a quick internet search and you will find more places to find work than you’ve ever imagined. If you’re diligent, disciplined, and ready to do the work, you will find yourself earning a living as a freelancer in no time. Be patient and keep your standards high and eventually you’ll have opportunities finding you rather than the other way around.

More articles on getting started as a freelancer:

Best Websites to Find Freelance Work in 2021

11 Essential Qualities of Successful Freelancers

12 Books Every Freelancer Must Read Now

4 Critical SEO Strategies for Your Freelance Portfolio Website

---