Freelancing 101: Steps to Begin Your Freelance Career

By 2027, there will be approximately 86.5 million freelancers in the US. This number makes up 51% of the total US workforce! 

But why is freelancing so popular?

Imagine working from a home office on projects you’re passionate about, with the freedom to work on your terms. You don’t have to worry about rush hour traffic or rigid schedules. 

This is what freelancing offers, along with the opportunity to transform your unique skills into a profitable business. However, navigating the freelance world can be overwhelming without suitable guidance. 

This article will take you through everything you need to know about how to become a freelancer. From the most popular freelancing jobs to how to start freelancing, this article is your ultimate guide to working independently. 

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Understanding Freelancing 

Freelancing is a work arrangement where you offer your skills and services to various clients on a project or contract basis. Rather than being employed by a single company, you are self-employed. As a freelancer, you operate as an independent contractor and manage your business operations. 

Freelancers typically earn on a per-job or per-task basis. There are usually no specific work hours or a fixed amount of work you have to do. Many people today are either full-time freelancers or freelance as a side hustle for extra money. 

With freelancing, you can:

• Choose the projects you want to work on
• Set your own schedule
• Get a broader range of experiences and opportunities with a diverse clientele
• Negotiate terms and pay with each client
• Create a better work-life balance

In short, you have full control over your schedule and work. 

One of the best things about being a freelancer is getting the opportunity to become a digital nomad. You can travel all around the world while keeping up with your clients and work. And bonus: You are your own boss. In fact, 80% of freelancers chose this line of work to have more independence and be their boss. 

Sounds like a dream, right? What’s more, you can offer as many services as you want.

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How to Start Working as a Freelancer

Ready to launch your career as a freelancer? Here is our detailed guide on how to become a freelancer in 11 simple steps:

1. Identify your skills and passion

For many, freelancing is a way of exploring their passions and skills. Whether they have a separate full-time job or intend to make a career in freelancing, it helps them explore the unknown with less risk. 

Therefore, start by exploring your passions and interests. Do you have a way with words? Or with people? Or do you love creating experiences or software? Whatever your skills and interests are, check whether there’s a market for them out there.

Upwork, one of the world’s top freelance platforms, came up with a list of in-demand skills for 2024. Take a look:

2. Choose a niche

Once you’ve decided the industry you want to freelance in, it is time to figure out the specifics. For example, if you are a writer, figure out whether you want to do blog writing, technical writing, copywriting, or pick another niche. Also, consider the fields you’d like to write exclusively about, for example, skincare, data analytics, or digital marketing. 

Similarly, if you are a graphic designer, do you want to specialize in logo design, branding, or web design? 

The options are endless. Selecting a niche helps narrow your focus and enables you to provide more value to your clients. 

Here’s how you can select one:

• Consider what you’re good at. For example, if you are good at photography and Photoshop, you may want to give it a go
• Analyze industry trends and check freelance job platforms to see what services are in demand. Ask yourself these questions:
  • Do you have any previous experience in this area?
  • Do you have any connections in the field?
  • Are you passionate about it? 

Remember, you can still start freelancing if you don’t want to select a particular niche just yet. You can take your time and explore various options to find the one that suits you the best. 

3. Identify the target audience and clients

As a new freelancer, you have the opportunity to choose your clients and audience freely. Therefore, consider who your ideal client is. This will help you effectively target your marketing efforts and attract the right clients. Here’s how to do it:

• Identify the specific industries or sectors that require your services
• Consider the size of the client, whether you want to work with small businesses, startups, mid-sized companies, or large enterprises
• Decide the location. Do you want to target local clients or clients within a specific region, or are you open to working with clients globally?

While looking for your target clients, take time to research their needs. Check the pain points of your target industry. Engage in forums and online communities where potential clients are active to identify their needs. You can also reach out to potential clients through social media, email, or networking events.

4. Set your rates

Setting your rates can be intimidating and time-consuming. After all, there’s no rule book on how you can do it. Your experience, industry demands, skillset, project type, niche—all these and more significantly influence pricing. 

However, setting the right rates is crucial to ensure your freelance business is sustainable and profitable. Freelancers typically charge on a per-project, per-task, or per-hour basis. To determine your rates as a beginner, do some research to understand what a successful freelancer is charging. 

• Research industry standards using freelance platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or Freelancer
• Look for industry reports and surveys. Refer to websites like Glassdoor and PayScale
• Review job listings and freelance job advertisements to see what clients are willing to pay

Once you understand the industry standards, decide your rate. Consider the following:

• Your experience
• Your niche
• Demand for your skills
• The value you provide to the client
• Your skill level
• Your education level 
• Your location

While you probably shouldn’t charge a premium as a newcomer, don’t undervalue yourself, either. Try to find the right balance. And remember, you can always revise your rates as you gain more experience, develop new skills, and do more freelance projects. 

5. Create a website and portfolio

The next step in starting freelancing is to create a portfolio and website. This is the best way to showcase your skills and attract potential clients. It will help you get organic leads, present your work, and market yourself. 

Ensure your website has:

• An engaging homepage with a brief introduction to you and your services
• An ‘about’ page that shows your professional background, skills, experiences, and vision
• A services page that outlines the services you offer with detailed descriptions
• Your portfolio that shows your best work and samples with high-quality images and descriptions

If you’re wondering how to start freelancing with no experience, then creating a solid portfolio is crucial. Add some samples that show your strengths and skills to potential clients. You can also do mock pieces. For instance, you can write a blog on a topic of your niche or design a graphic of your choice. 

As you grow your business, you can also add client testimonials and their names. 

Don’t forget to optimize the website for search engines by using relevant keywords, meta tags, and alt texts for images. Ensure it is mobile-friendly and loads quickly. 

Creating a website is not a mandatory step. You can create a website once you’ve gained some experience. However, we still recommend building a portfolio, as it allows you to show your skills and talent. 

6. Find your first client

Armed with your portfolio and website, you are all set to find your first client now. Your first client may find you through your website. But if they don’t, no worries, here’s how you can look for new clients:

• Join your industry’s communities and forums to look for potential clients
• Send cold emails to potential clients by pitching your expertise and skills 
• Create a thoughtful and personalized proposal (more on this later!)
• Register on popular freelancing platforms and freelance marketplaces like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer to access a broad audience
• Create a compelling profile. Write an engaging bio that highlights your expertise, USP, and portfolio
• Search for projects that match your skills and expertise
• Utilize your personal and professional network 

7. Create a proposal

Once you find a prospective client, it is time to build a proposal. A well-crafted portfolio can be the key to winning freelance jobs. Develop a standardized freelancer template to save time and ensure consistency. This can include the following: 

• Add a brief introduction of your business, highlighting your experience and expertise
• Summarize the client’s needs and goals for the project
• Provide a clear outline of the proposed solution 
• Detail the specific tasks and deliverables you will provide
• Provide a realistic timeline
• State your pricing structure
• Include a call to action 

Use ClickUp Docs to create and store your proposal templates. Refine and easily update the template when needed or create different templates for different projects. 

While a standardized template is extremely useful, it is crucial to personalize each proposal to show your sincerity and enthusiasm about the project. Therefore, take some time to research the client and tailor the proposal to meet their specific needs. 

8. Build your reputation

Building a solid reputation is essential for long-term success as a freelancer. Each client, each project, and each task will contribute to your image in the industry. Therefore, try to do your best. 

Here’s how you can develop a positive reputation: 

• Deliver high-quality work by understanding client needs and providing effective solutions
• Invest in a good freelance project management solution to manage different projects and offer quality services to all 
• Pay close attention to each aspect of your work, from communication to the final deliverables
• Use freelance time-tracking software to manage your payouts and deadlines
• Strive to meet or exceed deadlines consistently
• Actively seek feedback throughout the project to make adjustments
• Find ways to provide more value

Also, focus on expanding your network. Cultivate good relationships with your existing and prospective clients, as they play a major role in expanding your business.

Attend industry webinars and events. Connect with experienced people in your field to learn from them. You can also network with other freelancers to stay updated with the new happenings in the industry. 

9. Digitize your freelancing activities

A significant part of your reputation depends on the quality of the services you offer. Consider digitizing your freelancing activities to enhance your client’s experience and make freelancing easier than ever.

Leverage project management software for freelancers, like ClickUp, to scale your business. ClickUp for Freelancers offers tools and templates to help you organize, manage, track, and grow all aspects of your business on a single platform. 

Here’s how you can use ClickUp to transform your freelancing experience:

• Manage all your clients and projects in one place using ClickUp’s 15+ customizable Views 
• Use over 100 ready-made ClickUp Automations sequences to streamline your workflow and automate repetitive tasks
• Define custom statuses for your tasks beyond the basic “To Do,” “In Progress,” and “Done” with ClickUp Custom Task Statuses

• Plan your days and weeks efficiently on ClickUp Calendar View
• Use ClickUp as a productivity app to focus on your work. Leverage ClickUp Docs’ Focus Mode to focus on a single task with no distractions

• Track time, set estimates, add notes, and label your time entries for effective time tracking using ClickUp’s Time-Tracking abilities
• Create checklists to keep track of everything that needs to be done on ClickUp Notepad
• Collaborate with clients and contractors by inviting them as guests to your workspace. Manage each client’s specific controls and access
• Collect feedback and project requirements with customizable ClickUp Forms

Download This Template

10. Go for active marketing

In the initial stages of your business, it is best to go for active marketing. In contrast to passive marketing, which relies on attracting clients who are already searching for experienced freelancers, active marketing involves directly reaching out and promoting yourself to potential clients.

Consider these strategies to actively market your services:

• Start a blog sharing industry insights, case studies, and tips related to your services
• Create tutorials and client testimonials in video or written format to display your skills
• Use social media to network—showcase your work and connect with your audience. Be consistent about posting and engaging with your followers
• Respond to call-outs. Many businesses advertise freelance positions on social media platforms like LinkedIn 

11. Continue upskilling

Continuously improve your skills and knowledge to stay competitive and adaptable. Stay informed about industry trends, tools, and best practices. Consider following industry leaders and reading blogs and newsletters to keep up with the changes. 

Expand your skill set to offer new services and hone your previous ones. You can do this by:

• Assessing which skills are in demand or complementary to your current offerings
• Enrolling in online courses or workshops to deepen your expertise in specific areas
• Earning certifications relevant to your niche to enhance your credibility 

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Balancing Freelancing With a Full-Time Job

Many successful freelancers start their journey while still holding down a full-time job. Balancing these two commitments, however, requires careful planning, time management, and efficient organization. Here’s how to become a freelancer while successfully managing a 9-to-5 job:

Define clear boundaries 

Allocate specific hours outside of your full-time job for freelancing. This may include evenings, weekends, or designated blocks of time during lunch breaks.

Set priorities

Determine which freelancing tasks are most urgent or revenue-generating. Focus on completing these first. Create Tasks in ClickUp for each freelancing project and prioritize them based on deadlines and importance. You can also share tasks and deadlines with clients for transparency and streamlined communication.

Block time

Block dedicated time in your calendar for freelancing activities. It is best to set reminders and allocate realistic time frames for each task. Use ClickUp Reminders to create tasks for focused work sessions and set reminders for when to begin them. This prompts you to set aside time in your schedule for these sessions.

Centralize communication

Centralize communication to ensure there are no overlaps between your freelancing activities and a full-time job. With ClickUp, you can discuss projects, share updates, and securely exchange files—all within a single platform.

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Dealing With the Challenges of Freelancing

Freelancing has its fair share of benefits; from working on your terms from anywhere in the world to working with clients that you genuinely like, the possibilities are endless. However, it’d be wrong to say that it doesn’t have its challenges. 

The most significant challenges of freelancing are the ones you often face in remote work: feelings of isolation, lack of communication, misunderstandings, time zone differences, maintaining work-life balance, and more. You may also face challenges in managing remote work expenses. 

But worry not, for you can tackle most of these challenges using freelance hacks like these:

• Regularly schedule calls or video meetings with clients to ensure clarity on projects
• Develop a structured daily routine to separate work from personal time 
• Define boundaries between work and personal life to prevent burnout
• Invest time in nurturing client relationships and building rapport with other freelancers
• Seek feedback proactively to identify your strengths and areas for improvement
• Use productivity tools to get your work done faster and more effectively

You can also leverage ClickUp to manage your small business for free. With ClickUp’s innovative features, remote work has become simpler than ever. 

For tackling remote work expenses, here are the things you should remember:

• Develop a comprehensive budget that includes recurring expenses such as internet fees, software subscriptions, etc.
• Maintain careful records of all business-related expenses using software or spreadsheets
• Invest in tools and technologies designed to make remote work easier and more efficient

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Supercharge Your Freelancing Journey With ClickUp

We hope we’ve answered all your questions about how to become a freelancer.

Freelance work offers unparalleled opportunities for autonomy, flexibility, and professional growth. Whether you plan to be a full-time freelancer or run a freelance business alongside your current job, the transition can be both rewarding and challenging. Becoming a successful freelancer requires dedication, strategic planning, and a commitment to continuous learning. 

Therefore, focus on self-improvement, enhance your skills, form meaningful and long-lasting relationships with clients and peers, and expand your client base. 

By leveraging platforms like ClickUp, you can streamline workflows, enhance collaboration and productivity, and offer memorable experiences to your clients. Sign up for free today!