Want to be a freelancer? Here’s are six steps you need to take to get started. Did you know that more than a third of U.S. workers are freelancers? Freelancing is popular in Europe as well, and the number of people who freelance grew by 45% in the last five years. Across the world, small and large companies have significantly increased their use of freelancers. If you’ve decided to become a freelancer, the numbers say you’re on to something good. Whether your goal is to earn some money on the side or make freelancing a full-time career, you’ll need to arm yourself with knowledge, determination to learn and improve, and lots of patience. Here’s how to start freelancing. How do you become a freelancer? The freelance market is growing by the day, and if you want to be competitive, you have to prepare accordingly. Follow these six steps to get started. Step 1: Consider whether freelancing is for you. Freelancing has its pros and cons (more on that later), but in general, you must possess a specific mindset to be a freelancer. Being your own boss is a great thing if you’re disciplined and reliable . Freelancing enables you to set your own schedule, so you can take a day off whenever you want, but you won’t be paid for that time because there is no such thing as paid leave. If you want to be a freelancer, you should maintain a daily work routine, be ready to juggle several projects at the same time and continually look for new projects so you can maintain a steady flow of work. If you’re still working full time, don’t quit your job immediately. Instead, combine freelancing and full-time work until you accumulate enough clients and connections to support yourself as a freelancer. Working from a comfortable place of steady work and safe income is a much better environment for developing your freelance business. Step 2: Find a platform. Most freelancers use freelancing platforms to find work. While recommendations and social media channels like LinkedIn can also be a great source of gigs, platforms are popular because they allow you to effortlessly connect with clients looking for freelancers. There is always a job available there. Also, most of these platforms have policies and offer protection both for buyers and freelance workers. On freelance platforms, every project you take on is a mini contract, and both you and the client are required to adhere to its terms. Choosing the platform with the model that fits your needs and salary expectations is incredibly important for your success. Plenty of freelancing websites encourage the so-called “race to the bottom,” where freelancers provide poor quality work in exchange for poor compensation. Ultimately, it doesn’t help anyone – buyers cannot find good quality of work and freelancers cannot earn enough money. Some freelancing platforms, like Hiremotely , base their business model on admitting only top freelance software developers and connect them with clients based on very specific […]
