Freelance work is an increasingly popular choice for many people looking to get away from the 9-5 grind. This post will explore what’s freelance work, what it means, and if it’s right for you.

What Does Freelance Mean?

Well according to Wikipedia:

Freelance is a term commonly used for a person who is self-employed and not necessarily committed to a particular employer long-term.

wikipedia

For me, freelance means. Well, this image says it all right?

via GIPHY

What’s freelance work? Not having a regular schedule to follow and being my own boss. That being said, I’m totally responsible for finding my own clients and bringing in the money.

• So What is freelance work like exactly?

• So What is considered freelance work?

• So Does freelance work count as self-employment?

Ok, now, hold on, hold on!! I’m gonna cover all of your questions. ✋!

First of all, working as a freelancer is going to be different for everyone.

For some people, it’s their full-time career, and they have never been employed by anyone else. Others freelance on the side to supplement income from another job. Or because they enjoy working independently more than in an office environment.

So, It really depends on what your needs are.

If you are actually struck a place in your life where you are unbelievably discontented with your work and you are hoping that there is something much better around for you. You are fortunate: freelance work might have your name written all over it. 

What Is Online Freelancing?

Freelancing has been around forever.

Freelance work really started to take off when the internet came along. You can basically work from anywhere if you have an internet connection. 

The first two decades of my life were before the internet was a thing so, I can’t say much about how people found freelance work back then. However, in the last 20 years or so there has been a huge rise of people who are now freelancing online, myself included.

It’s not uncommon for many freelancers to have an online presence or website which they use as their own personal virtual office.

Is it Good To Work As A Freelancer?

Good question, ask yourself this:

• Will YOU be willing to learn every little thing there is to learn about making it in the freelance world?

• Are YOU prepared for any situation the business world may throw at you?

• Are YOU ready to learn, make mistakes, apologise and manage deals on the fly?

• Can YOU get along with other people?

• Can YOU admit when you slip up and also make amends?

• Are YOU ready to find out about techie stuff?

• Are YOU willing to dispose of the standard ways of working?

If you’ve observed, the concerns are all YOU for one reason. 

The decision is your own to make. No one else can decide whether freelance work is right for you, since I am not you and I am not in your position or scenario. However, I can share with you my experiences. What freelance work is like and give you some pointers so that you can make an informed decision.

What Does Freelance Work Mean?

Freedom 

• Initially, and also foremost, do you want freedom?

This is what got me started with freelancing, and what keeps me going. I love the freedom. I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to do or not interested in doing. 

The freedom of being your own boss is what attracts many people who work for someone else. They want that level of flexibility.

When you are a freelancer, you can work when you want, where you desire and for nevertheless as long a time as you want.

Passion

• Are you passionate about what you do?

Being a freelancer calls for love and great passion that originates from deep within you for what you do. 

To be an effective freelancer, I would say you are certainly required to be driven, and, most likely stubborn. 

Freelance work takes effort, and you will need to be persistent to succeed. You will certainly be responsible for your own success and risks. 

Support

• Will you have the support of your loved ones? 

I say this because, believe it or not, your friends or family can squash your dreams within a day!. Well, that was my experience, but it did not hold me back. I believed in myself and soon proved them wrong. Are you ready to walk that extra mile to turn your goals right into a reality?

Support is essential to anyone who is about to take on freelance work. Sure, you can do it all by yourself, but it helps a lot when the people close to you cheer for your success or even help in any way they can.

Finances

• it’s important to realise you might not be making much money during the early stages. 

Before you start your freelance work, you may want to think about how best to sustain yourself financially while establishing your business. 

You’ll also need to consider the legal aspects of freelancing and stay on top of your bookkeeping.

As a self-employed freelancer, I do all of my own books, but I also have an accountant who submits my taxes and everything to HMRC. Each year I have to send HMRC a self-assessment tax return so that they can take their cut. This is part of the business which I don’t enjoy, but you must get it done – otherwise, you could end up with penalties and more problems than they are worth. 

Working for yourself is not for everyone. But, If you are motivated to be a success, enthusiastic about your business and also not terrified of a little danger. A freelance lifestyle may just be for you.

Managing Work-life

• So what do I mean by this?

Primarily, when you have a freelance business, you are in control of your work-life balance. It means you have the opportunity to spend more time with your family, or to put in more hours at work. 

You will have to manage your time in regards to meeting the deadline for clients, but the choice is left to you.

You basically, regulate the number of projects you take on and also select how many hours daily you work, which is why you need to consider time management. 

Time Management

• Time management is extremely essential when doing freelance work. 

You will need to be really organised and also concentrate on delivering work projects to your clients on time. If you organise your time right, there will be plenty of time for chilling with your family. I recommend you put in place a time management strategy to manage your personal life, work, and maintain your sanity.

How To Start Freelancing Work

It takes a whole lot to make that first jump. I know exactly how you’re feeling. It can feel like you’re standing at the edge of a cliff right!. But, I say pay attention to your heart and believe in yourself and make it happen. 

Here are some tips on what to do if you want to jump in.

Find Your Niche In Life

You first need to choose a freelance service you will provide.

Select a niche that compliments your experience, knowledge and expertise. Work on figuring out what kind of work you’re going after, so that your business has the opportunity to succeed. 

Having a niche will make it easier for people to find your work. This means more clients will hire you, which is good!

Get Skilled Up

You probably already have the skillset for your desired niche. If not, you will need to invest in some self-education and work on your skills that will help build your confidence so clients can confidently hire you. But, even if you already have the skills, you should always be trying to strengthen your skills set.

Freelance Business Plan 

Before starting any freelance work, you need to determine what your business will need. 

• Will you be functioning from home or at an office?
• What resources and devices will you need?
• How will you store information?
• Set targets to attain the monthly revenue you desire
• What systems will you put in place towards obtaining goals?

Yes, Yes, there will be a lot more to consider. So. The best place to start would be to put together a freelance business plan or strategy; a plan of action to use as your guide along the way. 

Your Freelance Portfolio

To make yourself more visible to potential clients, you’ll want to create a freelance portfolio that showcases your expertise. One of the best ways to do this is by creating a website that features the work that you’ve done for past clients.

What Freelance Work Can I Do?

Many freelance opportunities exist for professionals in nearly all fields. These include web designers, writers and virtual assistants, to name a few.

Once you’ve figured out what you want to do – it will help you target those clients who would be interested in what you have to offer.

The good news is that in today’s world, there are so many opportunities to earn money.

Sites like Fiverr offer freelancers the chance to sell their skills. You could do this at the start until you can build up your reputation or land higher-paying gigs.

Conclusion 

Beginning a freelance business is among the scariest yet most satisfying profession you can make.

I won’t lie, It’s difficult working as your own boss, but I would not have it any other way.

With a lot of determination and patience, anything is possible. Just remember to learn from your mistakes because there will be mistakes and blunders, but you’ll do just fine.

We’ve covered a lot of ground in this article and hopefully have answered most questions about freelancing, If not, please feel free to post any comments below.