Now is a great time to start freelancing, whether as a side job or a full-time job. There are online platforms such as Upwork that can help you get started straight away...
The recent pandemic has helped push more people into freelancing. For most people, the perks of being your own boss outweigh the perks of having a boss. It’s not a surprise many have gone in this direction. Freelance isn’t just a job, it’s a lifestyle.
Some people believe that freelancing is not a secure career. We think differently.
In some ways, freelancing is more secure as you pick the clients that you want to work with. If you lose a client, usually you have more clients to fall back on.
When you just start out freelancing it may be scary. The best thing to do is to freelance in your spare time and as you make more money, your confidence will grow. This allows you to leave behind your day job and those loud co-workers.
While it may take a lot of time and hard work to get started, becoming a freelancer is achievable and comes with many benefits.
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Does freelancing increase freedom?
One of the advantages of being a freelancer is that you have much more freedom than when you work for someone else. You can do whatever you want without somebody sniffing down your neck. You’re running your own business, and it’s up to you which new clients you take on, how you work with them and what your hourly rate is.
As a business owner you are accountable for clients you take on, and are under no obligation to take on any projects you don’t like the look off.
What are the hours like when freelancing?
You can set your own hours and this is one of the biggest perks of the job. However, you may be working 80 hours a week if you can’t manage your time and client expectations properly.
If you have kids, you might choose to do your work while they’re in school and after they’ve gone to bed. If you want to take off Monday for an extra-long weekend, you can! You may even want to work the weekend (however I don’t suggest this), it’s entirely up to you.
As long as the work for your clients is completed by the agreed-on deadlines, you have complete control over when and how you do it.
Managing your time as a freelancer
You choose your workload, your schedule, your dress code, and every other aspect of how you run things. If you are freelancing in an exotic location such as Mexico, remember freelancing is still a job and not a holiday!
Freelance isn’t just working on a project. It also keeps clients happy, tracking invoices, finding new clients, and negotiating rates. People don’t always realise the hidden work involved with freelancing, they just see the high rates. Keeping on top of everything takes a lot of time.
Can freelancers seriously work remotely?
.There are so many locations where you could work and live free. Why not mix freelancing with a life of travel if Mexico doesn’t sound good, why not work in Portugal? Some freelancing roles may need you in a physical location… However remote working is thriving at the moment, make the most of it!
If you are starting out as a freelancer as your main source of income, it’s a great idea to start in a country with lower overheads. Southeast Asia is generally a cheaper place to live than North America. Have you ever considered working remotely from Thailand?
Your clients can be anywhere in the world. Platforms such as Upwork make this possible.
How much will I make as a freelancer?
You can make as much as you want as a freelancer because you set your own rates! You also choose how much work you take on and where to base yourself.
How much you charge usually depends on the rate of the market and industry you are in. Many freelancers raise their rates over time as they do more work and gain more valuable experience which in term creates a stronger reputation. Some people also increase their rates if they don’t want to work on a particular project.
