Becoming a freelancer has become a goal for many employees who are seeking freedom from the hierarchical work environment that is possessing our world, and start their own independent business. The independence that this status implies generally attracts people. But we must not forget that by becoming a freelancer, we become first and foremost an entrepreneur, with the responsibilities that this status entails.
So if you are planning to start your own business and you want to know how to become a freelancer. This little guide is absolutely for you. On our job board’s blog, you will be able to find a large set of advice that will help you start your freelance activity correctly and maximize your chances of success.
How to become a freelancer?
As easy as this question might seem, as difficult to answer it is. Here are the main elements you need to determine in order to start your freelancing career.
Understand and find your motivations
Before getting into the heart of the matter, you must at first ask yourself about the reasons and motivations that drive you to get involved in the freelance market in the first place.
Don’t hurry while listing your motivations, take all the time you need to think it through. You can start by asking yourself the following 2 questions:
- Why do I want to become a freelancer?
- What am I looking for in creating my business?
PS: Remember that no one will be able to answer these questions at your place.
The freelance adventure will be exciting, that’s for sure, but it will also be filled with a lot of difficulties and even doubts. Your strongest motivations will help you keep going during these moments. Find the motivation and nurture the strength within yourself. That will keep you motivated to work hard, and help you stay the course when in doubt, and lift your head when in difficulty.
Choose an adapted status
Before you start, do some research about the different statutes for freelancing, and try to choose the one that fits best your project, your experience, your needs, and sometimes even your country.
Take the time to make the calculations you need
Before starting your freelance career, you need to get some inspiration from what is done on the market, and make your forecast. Calculate your average hourly income and get an idea of how much you need to bring in per month to live well. Does this seem achievable to you? Good, let’s continue.
Here is an advice: Use a free invoicing tool such as invoicely.com. It will help you a lot.
Define a strategy
The next thing to consider is your strategy. So grab a pencil and start thinking about it.
Here are the most important points you need to define:
- Who would be your ideal customer? What is his type, his sector, etc.?
- Why would they choose you?
- How will you make a difference?
- How will you approach them?
Here is another piece of advice: Start looking for your added value to win a place in the freelancing market.
Make some money savings
To become a freelancer, you need to give yourself time to get started. It’s important to have months of available cash ahead of you to get through the hard times and wait for the arrival of the first contracts.
Start reading about the best practices
Explore the web for useful information, feedback and training about:
- Starting a business
- Finding and working with clients
- Personal development (organization, efficiency, and production).
- Time management
You will be able to find a lot of useful resources like E-books, articles, and webinars. You can also try to find and participate in forums to get help and find specific answers to your questions. Forums are always a good opportunity to learn and exchange with other freelancers.
Last but not least
The last detail we need to mention: Think about starting your career on a small freelancing website. You will be able to get higher chances to find your first freelance mission. Meanwhile, don’t hesitate to create and work on your profile on well-known websites like Upwork and Freelancer. You never know what they can bring you.
More tips are available on our blog for job seekers. Check them out to succeed on your job search and build your dream career.
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