Since I began freelancing just over a year ago, I’ve had the opportunity to work with nearly a dozen high-growth startups and world-class experts. And I’ve never had to negotiate for the premium prices I charge for my content marketing services, which is why I’d like to share some tips with you on how to start freelancing and how to make money doing so, even if you’re a complete beginner.

What is freelancing?

Freelancing means that you’re self-employed and working for companies or individuals on a contract basis. You aren’t considered a full-fledged employee of any one company. Instead, you can take on projects with several different companies or clients.


There’s a lot to love about freelancing. For one, you get to choose your own hours. You can work part-time or full-time and take on as many clients as you have the capacity for.

Why become a freelancer?

Freelancing is ideal for anyone who wants more flexibility with their time. After all, you’re the one choosing which projects to take on, so you have the final say over your schedule and workload.


For me, this was the biggest motivator when I started freelancing. I wanted to work on projects I was interested in while having the freedom to travel, visit my family, and take an extra day off to binge The Great British Bake Off from time to time.


What tools do I need to make money freelancing?


In addition to having a skill or service you can offer (more on that in a minute), make sure you have the following:

Reliable internet connection: Having a dependable, high-speed internet connection is essential to working as a freelancer.


Even if your work isn’t 100% online, you’ll likely use the internet to find and communicate with potential clients, so it’s worth investing in a fast connection.


Laptop or desktop computer: You’ll need a computer or device that can handle the work you’re doing. For lower-tech activities like data entry or freelance writing, any modern device will fit the bill.


Map out your goals for freelancing

Setting goals for your freelance business can keep you on track. Here are some types of goals to consider:

  • Financial goals: Is there a certain amount of money you want to earn per month or year? Do you intend to freelance full-time or as a side hustle?
  • Passion goals: Is there a specific type of project you’d enjoy working on that would fulfill you?

However, for most new freelancers, it’s best not to quit your day job right away. Building up clients can take time, and putting financial pressure on yourself could lead you to take less desirable jobs.

Establishing yourself as a freelancer is a long-term process, and it’s normal to start freelancing as a side gig before going all in.

Choose a Niche


You might already have an idea about what you’ll offer as a freelancer, and if you do, that’s awesome! Some industries naturally lend themselves to freelancing.


Think about what kind of work you like doing, what lights you up inside.


  • Article 
  • Copywriting
  • Website designer
  • Web developer
  • Graphic designer
  • Online teacher or tutor
  • Sales
  • Customer support
  • Language translator
  • Video or photo editor

Next, do some research on what’s already out there.

If your goal is to start freelancing, you might feel ready to take ANY paid work on Fiverr or Upwork you can get your hands on. But as you get deeper into your freelancing career, you’ll need to start being more strategic about the types of work you do and the clients you take on.

When you specialize in a skillset, you become an expert in a specific field, and experts can charge more for their specialized services (there are expert and pro categories on Upwork and Fiverr too).

When you find a listing similar to what you want to offer, look for past client reviews. This shows you that real people have bought this service in the past. Authentic reviews act as proof of concept that someone will pay for this type of work.


 Identify your ideal client

Before you can go out and start looking for clients, you’ll need to develop a clear picture of who you’re going to work best with. Do you want to build websites for small business owners, make a name for yourself blogging as a professional blogger, work as a copywriter, pitch in on new feature development for high growth technology startups, or take on longer-term contracts with enterprise-sized companies? Or maybe you want to work specifically for brands and clients with values that align with yours, etc.

To define exactly who your ideal freelance clients should be (and how to start finding them), ask yourself these questions:

  • What type of business has the problems I’m solving with my services?
  • Can the business I want to work with afford to hire me?
  • What demographic trends can I identify about the decision makers in the types of businesses I’m targeting? Think: age, gender, geographic location, websites they frequent, and their personal interests.

 Create a High Quality Portfolio Site

It goes without saying that one of the best ways to demonstrate your technical skills is by having an amazing portfolio site

(opens in a new tab) of your own. If you want to be taken seriously as a new freelancer, you’re going to need a website that:

  • Showcases your expertise.
  • Highlights relevant past experiences.
  • Shows who you are.
  • Includes your contact information so that potential clients can easily find you.

Start Freelancing Before Your Quit Your Day Job

I’m a huge fan of starting a freelance business while you keep your day job (or work part-time), as opposed to immediately pursuing self-employment.

In addition to the fact that creating a high-quality portfolio website, building your personal brand, and adding to your portfolio naturally takes a good amount of time, it’s a good idea to have a few steady freelance clients on your roster before axing your sole source of income.

Ask your personal network. You never know who in your circle might need a new website or virtual assistant.

Start a blog. Start a blog and write content that interests your ideal audience. Bonus points if you use SEO best practices to show up higher in the search engine results.


Ask for referrals. Some of the most successful freelancers I know are almost entirely referral-based, and I’ve personally met some amazing clients through word-of-mouth referrals.


Finding clients is an exciting time in your business, but as you grow, resist the temptation to bite off more than you can chew. One way to avoid becoming overbooked is to set and uphold working hours for yourself.


Scale your business


Now that your freelance business is chugging along, it’s time to think about scaling. Scaling a business means setting it up so it can grow without limitations.


As an independent freelancer, your time is your biggest limiting factor. There’s only one of you and 24 hours in a day, so to maximize your earnings, you want to avoid trading hours for dollars.


Continue your education: Now that you’re the boss, you’re responsible for your own education and development. Take online courses, attend industry conferences, and learn as much as possible to go deeper into your niche.