How to Freelance: 4 Tips Direct from Freelancers

Before we dive into how to freelance, let’s clarify exactly what freelancing is.

Freelancing is a form of entrepreneurship where one generates income by working for themselves, typically by offering services to clients. As a freelancer, you can offer services such as writing, design, marketing or technology consulting and bill clients for that service.

While statistics show that more and more people join the freelance workforce every year, knowing exactly how to set yourself up for freelancing success can be a challenge.

That’s why we reached out to eight freelancers to ask them one powerful question: “If you were to start over again as a freelancer, what would you do differently?” Here’s what our freelancers had to say about starting your own small business:

When you feel the adrenaline rush of starting your own freelancing business, it’s easy to get caught up in a flurry of ideas and tasks. But if you’re not focusing on client acquisition early, you might be doing yourself a disservice.

Preston Lee is a freelancing veteran who has been featured by brands like Entrepreneur and Inc, as well as universities and colleges.

“If I were starting all over again,” Lee says, “I would focus more on revenue and client acquisition. So many freelancers (my early self included) worry so much about their portfolio, their logo, their business cards, etc. In reality, this doesn’t matter nearly as much as you think. What matters is getting clients in the door quickly. Without it, you’re not in business.”

“If I could start over,” freelance writer Jorden Makelle told us, “I would charge more and raise my rates sooner. It can be scary to charge more as a beginner, but knowing your worth and charging accordingly is key.”

This first step can be intimidating for many people starting out as freelancers but doing so could mean the difference between working for yourself full-time and needing to find a second job to supplement your income.

You should also consider the expenses that come with running your own business, such as freelance taxes, overhead costs and non-billable hours. After freelancing for years, Ryan Robinson now teaches 500,000 monthly readers how to build their own successful business.

“I wouldn't be as afraid to raise my rates much more quickly,” Robinson explains. “So many freelancers get stuck in a trap of charging the same rates for their services, year after year. To combat this kind of stagnant fee scenario, I recommend increasing your rates—even if just by a few percentage points—with each new prospective client you pitch. If you're consistently hearing yes from every client you're working with, then that's a clear signal there's probably room to charge more for your work."

If you feel you need to, start with small projects to get your feet wet and begin building your portfolio, but don’t be afraid to raise your rates as you learn more about how to freelance, as this can benefit you down the road. It can also help you find clients or work that is a better fit for you and help you build a strong network of clients that are willing to pay you for your talents. You can learn more by taking online business degree programs and courses to improve your business knowledge and skills.

When you’re just getting started as a freelancer, it feels like the natural way to pitch your services is to talk about what you do, like “I’m a web designer” or “I’m a trainer.”

Podcaster Nick Loper suggests a different approach. “It's natural to sell your skills,” he explains, “but I wish I'd been better at selling the result for the client. That way, they're not necessarily married to YOU being the one to do the work, freeing you up to scale by bringing on qualified contractors.”

Although you may be working independently as a freelancer, you are not an island. Without support from a network of friends, coaches, clients and others, it can be difficult to build the foundation that’s important to a long-term freelancing career.

“If I were to start all over again as a freelancer, I would just start sooner,” Freelancing School founder Jay Clouse says. "Freelancing is all about relationships – and the earlier you start building connections and letting them know that you're freelancing, the better!”

Chelsea Baldwin, who built her freelance copywriting into a full-fledged business adds: “I would start on LinkedIn and focus solely on that platform; I wouldn't worry about having my own website or profiles on a million different freelancing sites. I'd build my network, show up in my direct messages daily and use my LinkedIn profile as my website. That way, I'd be able to use the visible connections and recommendations there as third-party credibility for my business."

And it’s not just client networks that matter. Getting support from industry professionals in and out of your field can be helpful. If you’re serious about freelancing as a career, consider leveraging a business coach or working with a mentor.

Freelancer-turned-agency-builder, Clay Mosley supports the idea of finding a coach early on in your freelancing career. "If I were to do it all over again, I would hire a business coach right off the bat,” Clay admits. “I could've accelerated my growth exponentially if I had invested in a coach that could've guided me.”

Now that you have a basic understanding of what to expect when getting started as a freelancer, here are a few helpful resources that may provide more information and support:

Whether you want to build a full-time business or just take on a few freelance jobs, we hope the principles outlined in this article can help you get started on the right foot.

If you’re interested in learning more, check out our Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship Bachelor's Degree Specialization where you'll learn what it takes to start, run and grow your own business.