Do you dream of earning money from home, setting your own hours, and working with clients you actually like? That’s exactly what I’ve done as a freelancer – and today, I’ll show you how you can start too. I’ve been working as a freelancer for several years now and love it because of the flexibility….
Do you dream of earning money from home, setting your own hours, and working with clients you actually like? That’s exactly what I’ve done as a freelancer – and today, I’ll show you how you can start too.
I’ve been working as a freelancer for several years now and love it because of the flexibility. Plus, it has allowed me to try out different jobs to find what kind of work I enjoy. For example, I now know I really don’t like graphic design or social media management (plenty of people like it, and you may even like it, but I personally prefer other freelance jobs) and much prefer project management and assistant work.
In this article, I’m going over:
- How to get your first freelance job
- The types of services I sell
- What I wish I knew when I first started freelancing
- How you can get started freelancing ASAP
Whether you want to make extra money or if you’re looking to earn a full-time income, this article will show you how to start freelancing and find real work-from-home opportunities.
Recommended reading: 20 Best Freelance Sites To Find Jobs And Make Money
How I Became a Freelancer and Work From Home
Here’s how I became a freelancer and how you can do it, too.
Why I like freelancing from home
There are so many reasons to like freelancing from home, but my main reasons are:
- Freedom to set my own schedule (this is amazing!)
- No commute or travel time
- More time for family and dogs
Other reasons I like freelancing are the flexibility I get to have to take breaks when needed (I decide on my own schedule), cost savings on gas and car maintenance, and the ability to balance work with fitness, self-care, and hobbies.
How I got my first freelance job
My first freelance job was over a decade ago, and it came from networking; now, I find freelance jobs on sites like Upwork.
If I were starting fresh today, here’s what I’d do:
- Pick a skill like writing, design, assistance, coding, etc.
- Create 2-3 sample projects (even if they’re unpaid or “pretend” projects) to showcase your work to potential clients.
- Aim for easy jobs to build experience and reviews.
- Apply often and don’t expect to hear back from every job.
- Have great communication and reply quickly.
Recommended reading: 16 Best Freelance Jobs & How To Get Started
How I find clients these days
The #1 way I find clients and jobs these days is on freelancing sites like Upwork. Upwork is a freelancing platform that connects freelancers with clients around the world. You can find jobs on here in writing, design, admin, programming, marketing, customer service, and so much more. Jobs are either short-term or long-term, and freelancers apply for these positions by submitting proposals.
To get started on Upwork, you need to create a strong profile that includes a professional headshot, relevant skills, and a concise bio. You can and should add portfolio samples of your work, even if it’s work you created for yourself.
Reviews are important on Upwork, as they demonstrate that others recommend you. If you’ve done freelance work before, you can actually have people submit reviews on your profile. However, the best way to stand out on Upwork is to get reviews directly from completed Upwork jobs, so keep that in mind.
Here are my best tips for leveraging Upwork:
- Apply to jobs that fit your skills (but also don’t be afraid to shoot for the stars sometimes; you don’t always need every qualification they list).
- Begin with smaller, short-term projects to establish reviews and credibility.
- Deliver great work and communicate well with your clients, as this will improve your chances that they will leave a positive review on your profile.
- Once you’re on Upwork for a while and have a few reviews, raise your rates and focus on higher-paying clients.
Recommended reading: How To Make Money On Upwork For Beginners
What services I sell
There are a few services I sell or have sold in the past, including
- Project management
- Marketing assistance
- Writing blog posts
- Graphic design
- Customer support
I really had no idea what I was doing in the beginning, so I threw myself into everything to see what I liked and what I wanted to keep doing.
In the end, I decided I wanted to dive into project management because I love organizing chaos into clear steps, checking things off a list, and helping a team move from ideas to results.
You can sell freelancing services like:
- Bookkeeping – Here’s a link to free training that will teach you what you need to know to become a virtual bookkeeper and make money from home.
- Writing blog posts
- Copywriting
- Editing and proofreading – This free 76-minute workshop answers all of the most common questions about how to become a proofreader, and it even talks about the 5 signs that proofreading could be a perfect fit for you.
- Website setup and design
- Virtual assistance
- Project management
- Transcription – In this free training, you will learn what transcription is, why it’s a highly in-demand skill, who hires transcriptionists, how to become a transcriptionist, and more.
- Social media content creation
- Graphic design
- SEO
What I wish I knew when I first started freelancing
After ten years of freelancing on and off, I’ve learned plenty of lessons that can save you time and frustration. This includes lessons like:
- Finding quality clients that you enjoy working with takes time; patience is key.
- Set clear boundaries around work hours. This is hard to do at first since you’re at home and work is on a laptop, but it is important so that you do not get burnout.
- Not every client is a good fit; it’s okay to say no.
How others can get started freelancing
If you want to get started freelancing, I recommend identifying a skill you can sell to clients. What do you think you’d enjoy doing for work and/or something you think you’d be good at? Keep in mind that you can dip your toes into many freelancing jobs, so you don’t need to settle on one type of job right away.
After you’ve thought about what kind of freelance jobs you’d like, you can then start by applying for jobs on freelancing board sites like Upwork. Or, you can also reach out to small businesses and clients directly via email or social media. For example, a website designer might pitch a local business to update their website, making it easier to draw in new clients.
As I mentioned earlier, communication is very important. Keep learning and improving your skills so you can take on higher, potentially long-term projects (if that’s what you want). For me, I found long-term projects were more up my alley because I was getting sick of hustling for a gig.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to frequently asked questions about freelancing and working from home.
How do I know what freelance service to offer?
My top tip for figuring out which freelance service to sell is picking something that excites you. For me, that was project management, and that really helped me when jobs got difficult. I also felt a pull to project management because I love checking things off a list, helping improve processes and systems, and making a business more efficient.
If you’re not sure what excites you, write down a list of things you’re good at or enjoy doing both personally and professionally. Then, look at market demand and see which services are in demand right now. You can then sell a service on a small scale (either for free or for a low rate, just to get experience, reviews, and see if you even like it).
What if I don’t have any experience?
If you don’t have any experience, then you can create “mock projects” where you have a pretend client looking for a skill you offer and complete a job for them. You can also reach out to small businesses, either locally or online, and offer to complete a project for them in exchange for a review and being able to use that work in your portfolio.
Let’s say you want to work in graphic design. You can build a portfolio of graphics that you make for pretend companies so that you have something to show to future potential clients. Another example would be if you want to become a freelance writer – you could write articles on topics that are in the niche you want to be in.
Do I need a website to start?
You don’t necessarily need a website, as you can start freelancing on sites like Upwork, Fiverr, or even LinkedIn to find work. However, a portfolio is important, even if it’s just a PDF or Google Drive folder, so clients can see past examples of your work. Social profiles like Instagram and LinkedIn can also act as your “mini-website” to showcase your skills.
Once you have a few clients, a simple website can make you look professional and attract higher-paying jobs. As you grow and get more jobs, you can expand your website with testimonials, case studies, and a blog to dive deeper into projects you’ve completed.
How do I determine the rate for freelance work?
The easiest way to determine your rate for freelance work is by looking at what other freelancers charge in your field and experience level. You can actually do this on Upwork by looking at freelancers for hire on the website. You can also decide on how you want to charge clients, either hourly or by project rates. Hourly is great for ongoing tasks, whereas one-time flat rates are great for defined deliverables, like building a website.
Like I mentioned before, a good way to start is with a rate that attracts your first clients so you can gain reviews and experience.
How do freelancers get paid?
Freelancers get paid in a few different ways, including:
- Direct payment from clients via PayPal, Venmo, or other payment apps
- Upwork and Fiverr release funds into your bank account or PayPal
- Invoices to request payments from clients via sites like QuickBooks
How I Became a Freelancer and Work From Home – Summary
I hope you enjoyed my article on how to freelance and work from home.
I’ve been freelancing for so many years now, and I highly recommend it if you’re not sure what you want to do next or if you want to work from home.
Freelancing gives you the flexibility to learn new skills, see what you like and dislike, and allows you to network and meet new people.
Do you want to become a freelancer and work from home?
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