Ask any freelancer why they’ve chosen this path. You’re bound to get responses like: you get to do what you love, and you can set your own schedule. Or a freelancer may tell you that they can work wherever they want. Sometimes it feels like there are many negatives to freelancing, such as finding work, keeping work, getting paid on-time, and paying taxes. In other words, there are a lot of responsibilities that need to be taken into account if you want to thrive as a freelancer. The good news is that getting paid on-time is one less thing you have to worry about. Implementing these seven effective invoicing strategies for freelancers. 1. Set clear payment terms. Your new clients should read your freelancer payment terms before the start of any work or agreements that are signed. Your terms will define your payment processes and what you expect from your clients. Terms can include everything from payment timeframes, payment methods, and late payment fines. These terms can be published on your website and in documents, such as project proposals and deposit invoices that you send to your clients. To get paid faster, keep your terms short and straightforward. For example, clearly state that you expect payments to be made 30 days after the invoice date has been sent. 2. Run a background check. Before beginning work for new clients, perform an essential client screening. This process may sound a bit overboard, but it will protect you from potentially working with a deadbeat client. Running a background check may take up some of your time, but it will prevent a lot of headaches when it’s time to bill your client. Do a little investigative work by checking out the clients’ website and social channels to verify if they’re legit. Ask your fellow freelancers if they’ve had any experiences with the client. Use your communication skills and interpersonal skills, along with your gut, when discussing the project. I always chat with a new client on the phone before agreeing to a project. It gives me a better idea of who they are and if we’re a good fit. It also allows me to ask more detailed questions on the scope of the project and their payment habits. 3. Automate and delegate. Invoicing and accounting software is a godsend for freelancers. It keeps all of your invoices, taxes, and other relevant documents organized. Some tools even come with features like time tracking so that you can accurately invoice billable hours. Most importantly, invoicing software also comes with powerful automation features that will save you a ton of time and money. The software lets you create recurring invoices , send upcoming payment reminders, and automatically follow-up on late payments. Don’t rely solely on automation. It’s still your responsibility to manage your bills. You will need to call a client when the invoice is late personally. If you don’t have the time or desire to keep track of these details, you can also consider […]

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eWEEK DATA POINTS: In order for enterprises to stay at pace with the competition, they need to have a pulse on what the IT workforce looks like today and what their teams will need in 5-10 years to prepare and retain talent. Digital transformation has been a buzzword and a reality among the enterprise community for several years, with many companies investing in cutting-edge technology to become more agile and efficient. With its potential benefits, digital transformation is not tomorrow’s strategy but is a real and critical need now. However, this transition requires specialized IT skills that are challenging to find in light of today’s tight labor market. In order for enterprises to stay abreast of their competitors, they need to have a pulse on what the IT workforce looks like today and what their teams will need in five to 10 years to prepare and retain talent. As an on-demand, online talent platform, Upwork has a birds’ eye-view on how the workforce is evolving. Tech is the largest category on the platform (everything from mobile development to information security and network admin), and executives are seeing a lot of demand driven by digital transformation initiatives In this eWEEK Data Points article, Upwork VP of Engineering and Product Mike Paylor offers five freelancing workforce trends to watch and what they reveal about the larger tech industry. Data 1: Distributed Teams At this critical moment in the talent war, “location” should not be an obstacle for hiring. According to Upwork’s Future Workforce Report , younger-generation managers are 28% more likely than their Baby Boomer counterparts to include remote workers on their teams. Additionally, with the current attempts to contain the spread of COVID-19, we are seeing early signs that this could accelerate businesses adjusting to allow for distributed work. Teams that put the right infrastructure and processes in place to be remote, will not only have a competitive advantage for talent, but will be set-up for success when it comes to longer term talent strategy. By not confining your business to a specific location, it opens the door to a larger and diverse talent pool, as well as unlocks more economic opportunities. Data Point 2: Upskilling with Independent Professionals With an evolving skills gap, enterprise companies are needing to look for unique ways to attract and retain the right talent. One way is to implement internal programs that provide current employees with education and new training to reskill. Another option is to hire external independent professionals who are equipped with the specific skills employers are looking for. Independent workers recognize that they are business owners and as such, they are more inclined to refine and grow their skills to stay competitive. According to Upwork’s “ Freelancing in America ” survey, “independent professionals are twice as likely as employees to have done skills training in the previous 6 months.” Data Point 3: An Increase in Cloud Experts In order to understand what enterprises are prioritizing in terms of technology, just take […]

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Freelancers have more to consider when it comes to accounting than the average employee. Here’s how to keep your business and personal expenses separate as a freelancer. For many people with full-time jobs, filing taxes requires little more than submitting W-2s, since full-time employers deduct taxes from paychecks. Freelancers, on the other hand, have no money withheld from their payments, and this lack of withholding is a huge reason why, when you’re a freelancer, accounting involves so many moving pieces that can be tough to understand and track. For starters, as a freelancer, you’ll need to properly organize personal and business expenses so you don’t confuse one with the other. Additionally, you’ll pay quarterly taxes to make up for the lack of money withheld from your payments. And if you’re new to freelancing, or you experience a large shift in your annual freelance income, you’ll also pay one large lump sum of taxes on or around Tax Day. If this all seems overwhelming, rest assured that many technologies exist to make accounting easie r for you. If you master the basics of freelancer accounting before using these technologies, you should have minimal issues when it comes time to file your taxes. Freelancer accounting basics As a freelancer, chances are that none of your clients are withholding tax money from your paychecks. Therefore, you’ll need to track all money your clients pay you so that, come tax time, you don’t accidentally underpay your self-employment tax. This tax includes federal income tax and your contributions to Social Security and Medicare, all of which full-time employers automatically withhold from their employees. Although your clients won’t withhold money from their payments to you, they’re still legally required to report the amount they pay you to the IRS. To make sure they can properly do so, you’ll need to file your Form W-9 with each of your clients. This form shares your Social Security number or Taxpayer Identification Number with your clients so they can successfully inform the IRS of their payments to you. Unlike a Form W-4 that you’d file with a full-time employer, a Form W-9 signifies that you’re a freelancer working as a separate business, not a full-time employee. Any clients who pay you $600 or more during a calendar year will use your Form W-9 and income information to issue you a Form 1099-MISC or 1099-K. (You’ll only receive the latter if you take payments by credit card.) Your clients will also file these forms with the IRS to show how much they’ve paid you, so it’s crucial that you include all 1099 forms with your tax return. Perhaps more importantly, you’ll still need to report all of your non-1099 income on your tax return. Your income comprises all the money that you earn, not just money that your clients report to the IRS. For example, if one of your clients pays you less than $600 during a calendar year, you still need to include this amount in your yearly […]

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If you’re a freelancer then you know just how hard it can sometimes get. The life of a freelancer is filled with highs and lows and we are very much prone to mood swings and negativity. As a freelancer, you are all on your own. It is your duty to find new work, deal with the clients, regulate your schedule, and take care of all the technical stuff. Despite all that, we also know just how liberating and exciting freelancing can be. It is both the blessing and the curse, and that usually depends on our approach. I’ve personally experienced both sides of it and I’ve learned how to make things easier for me. Here are eight things that will make your freelance life way easier. 1. High-Quality Equipment There is nothing worse than being stuck with a malfunctioning piece of equipment right in the middle of a project. There’s really nothing you can do at that point but postpone the work until you get it fixed. I’m talking about your computer, laptop, mac, phone, or whatever it is that you’re using to get the job done. And even if your equipment works, it can still be slow or glitchy causing you to lose both time and patience when you should be focusing on the task. That’s why it’s essential to invest in high-quality equipment, whether that be your laptop, phone, or your car. It may cost more in the short term but it will surely benefit you in the long run. Carrying high-quality equipment enables you to work more efficiently by minimizing downtime and you don’t have to worry about replacing it for years to come. With the best equipment on your hands, you can focus on delivering your best work. 2. Productivity Tools There is no doubt about it that freelancing gives you freedom and flexibility to choose your client and working hours, but it is also a truth that it takes a lot of self-motivation and dedication to be successful as a freelancer. You must stay productive every day because if you don’t work, you don’t get paid. Fortunately, there are some tools that help you stay focused and organized on the job and they’re all field-tested. Tools like Toggl help you track time, you can use Evernote to take notes, Todoist for management, Trello for project management, Omnifocus for keeping track of personal and professional projects, and there’s a lot more. There are many other options out there, so I suggest you figure out what exactly is draining your time and then start with that. A simple Google search will do the trick. Speaking of tools, some of my favorites are used for invoicing and contracts in general. Some other things you can do to stay productive apart from using tools include: Set a Schedule As a freelancer, you must set a daily schedule to keep yourself organized. Each morning, you can spend about half an hour to plan your day. You can set a […]

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In times of disruption, Scott O. Hirsch believes freelancers are a smart answer to fill temporary gaps in employment needs. DELRAY BEACH, FL / ACCESSWIRE / April 1, 2020 / With the current Coronavirus pandemic, many Americans find themselves stuck at home due to social distancing. While some people are working from home for their regular employers, those who have lost jobs are turning to the gig economy. This could be a big opportunity for businesses to start working with freelancers, and Scott O. Hirsch took to his medium to share some advice for large and small businesses that are now turning to this readily available workforce. Scott is a serial entrepreneur who clearly has what it takes to run a successful business. He’s also an internationally-recognized expert in digital data marketing and has used freelancers in the past to start several companies that have gone on to be acquired by industry leaders. He shares that businesses struggling in the current economy should think about the money they save by working with freelancers. “The math is pretty simple,” says Hirsch . “You don’t pay freelancers benefits, nor do you pay their taxes.” Additionally, freelancers are usually responsible for paying for their own office supplies, including things like computers, internet, and software. It’s clear to see why Scott Hirsch believes that hiring freelancers can be a positive decision for business owners. If you’re nervous about hiring new workers remotely, Hirsch notes that working with freelancers gives you the opportunity to “try before you buy”. In this day and age, companies need workers who are flexible. They need people who are go-getters and able to manage their own time wisely. It’s hard to assess these skills in a job interview. Unlike those who have always worked in traditional office settings, freelancers have been completing projects without heavy-handed oversight for years. They usually have the skills, but you can check out those skills without a big commitment. Hirsch says, “Working with freelancers gives you a chance to see what kind of people you want on your team and what kind of people you don’t.” If you really like the freelancer you’ve hired, you may have the opportunity to hire them full-time. If you don’t think they’re a good fit, you can simply move on to the next person once their project is complete. Scott O. Hirsch also believes that freelancers may also represent a natural source of brand advocates. Once a freelancer has a positive experience with your company, they’ll become loyal supporters. “This means they’ll be proud to include the work they did for you in their portfolios, and they’ll probably be glad to share your social media content via their own channels.” There’s never been a better time to work with freelancers, and by following the advice of Scott O. Hirsch , you’ll see positive impacts on your business. To learn more great business tips you can follow Scott on Twitter or his website http://scotthirsch.com/ . CONTACT: SOURCE: Web Presence, […]

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If there’s one thing that the current coronavirus pandemic is showing, it’s that remote work can be done on a massive scale. Remote working might be new for a lot of people but it’s the norm for about 11 million people in the EU currently working in the gig economy – the fastest growing segment in the EU labour market . It’s no longer seen as an alternative work option to supplement full-time jobs, but rather appreciated as a viable choice to earn a living, as well as provide a strategic source of global talent for startups and companies alike. According to the European Commission’s report on trends shaping the future of work in Europe, jobs are increasingly broken down into projects , meaning that more and more startups will be contracting freelancers for project-based support. During development phases and countless product iterations, freelancers can test out new ideas or change existing ones at minimal risk. For communication or marketing projects, companies can bring on copywriters, bloggers, digital marketers and graphic designers. Startups can take advantage of the gig economy. And they should, especially during the early stages. Freelancers level the playing field for startups, allowing them access to world-class talents and specialists at a fraction of the cost of hiring full-time employees. In the study released by Malt on European freelancers , over 52% have Masters or PhD degrees and on average have over 4 years’ experience before freelancing. Given the current climate, your team may not have full-time hiring on their mind. However, working with a freelancer could give your team the opportunity to continue to grow with external expertise, as well as support the freelancers out there whose projects may have temporarily dried up. However you look at it, the gig economy is here to stay, so here is our take on how you, the founders, can best use it to boost your growth right now. See working with freelancers as a stepping stone Due to the current pandemic, full-time hiring might not be on the cards right now. That said, finding a short-term freelancer in a certain market to help boost one aspect of your business, can bring a fresh-eye, some much needed creativity, and act as an extra pair of hands during a difficult period, for as many hours as you need. On the other side of the coin, supporting freelancers whose projects may have temporarily dried up will allow them to stay afloat and could potentially act as a new stamp of approval on their CV. And who knows, if the collaboration is successful, it could help you think about an old problem in a new way, or lead to something bigger, like the expansion of your business or product in an unexpected but welcome direction. 2. Breakdown the project into manageable tasks Break down the big picture into easily digestible chunks. This way it is much easier to match the task to the freelancer you will need. It is also easier to […]

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Waiting for Your Small Business Grant or Small Business Loan During the Corvid-19 Pandemic?

These are dark days indeed, especially if you are a small business owner. No doubt, you have heard of the Coronavirus Stimulus Package that has recently passed designed to assist families and businesses during the COVID-19 crisis, but the cogs of government take a long time to turn. What do you do in the meantime?

As you can see from our website, each member of the staff of Freelancing Buzz has dedicated themselves to the work-from-home community for years. In fact, each person on the team sees himself as a freelance teacher. We know that our job is more important now than ever before since the coronavirus has disrupted many people’s ability to earn a living.

While most of the time, we support the freelancer, today we would like to discuss how small business owners can hire freelancers to help expand the scope of their businesses. Maybe you have wanted to retool your business to expand into online commerce for years. Perhaps this virus and the stay-at-home ordinance is giving you a chance to focus on this business strategy. Let us help.

The first thing you need to do is to find a freelancing website. Upwork is one of the top freelancing sites, but others are highly rated as well. Even if technology makes you uncomfortable, you do not need any special Upwork skills to use this website. In fact, many highly-skilled professionals work through this website who will be able to help you decide what you need.

GET PAID TO WORK FROM HOME 

Here are some freelance professionals you may consider hiring to help you as you expand your business.

Web design

Web page designer – There’s a lot that goes into creating a webpage for a business. Since we don’t know how long this virus will affect brick and mortar businesses, perhaps you should start expanding your e-commerce capabilities now.

Hire highly-rated designers with experience in your industry. Make sure the designer is able to create a mobile-friendly and secure website. Being a web page designer is one of the best freelance jobs, so you shouldn’t have a problem finding highly-skilled people who are happy to give you a bid on this task.

Search Engine Optimization

SEO Specialist – Perhaps you already have an e-commerce website, but it doesn’t seem to get much attention. Maybe you have been ignoring your Google ranking because till now, the bulk of your sales came from your brick and mortar location.

You can’t ignore your Google ranking anymore. In fact, you need to mobilize so customers can find your website quickly.

While you may be able to find a few freelancers willing to help you increase your Google ranking, many small businesses will help you with this endeavor. We highly recommend Virtual Surge – Search Engine Optimization for your SEO needs. They have helped us with our site! Ask for Shannon, and mention this post and you will receive a special discount.

Virtual Surge will be able to look at your business’ big picture. They will teach you how to increase your business’s visibility through a variety of methods.

Freelance Content Writers

Maybe you have enjoyed relative success in the past with your online orders, but now to keep from having to furlough your employees, you need to increase those online sales. You may consider hiring niche writers who are experts in your field. They can create blogs about your business or industry that will increase your online visibility.

You can find freelance content writers on Upwork or other freelance job sites.

Social media

Social Media Marketing Expert – Maybe your website isn’t your problem. Perhaps you know that to compete in your industry, you need to have attractive Pinterest pages that will bring people to your website. Maybe you have seen the success of Facebook marketing campaigns, and you want to know how you can make that happen for your small business.

If so, you may consider seeking the help of a social media expert. He or she could give you suggestions on content and design, and you could have your current employees work from home to assist you with the content.

We know you are scared about how COVID-19 will affect your business. We know you aren’t sleeping well at night because you are concerned about being able to pay your employees. While the stimulus package, including the small business disaster loans, may help, it may not be enough to help you over the hump. You are not alone and we are here to help. Continue to check back for more updates.

Reach out to the freelancing community for help. They have the knowledge and experience to help you retool your business to offer your goods or services online.

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Freelance Virtual assistant

Are you interested in becoming a freelancer, but you aren’t sure how to earn your money? You may consider whether or not you have the skills needed to become a virtual assistant.

Before we discuss the necessary skills, let’s first talk generally about working as a freelancer. There are many perks to working on your own, but there are drawbacks as well that you need to consider.

You probably have already thought about all the benefits of working as a freelancer. Once you have made a name for yourself you can choose your clients and rates. You can work from anywhere, including your kitchen table. You don’t waste time commuting, picking up dry cleaning, or attending staff meetings.

On the other hand, there are some drawbacks to working as a freelancer. You have to pay for your own benefits. You have no sick leave or vacation days. You have to pay self-employment tax, which includes the employee and the employer tax.

Besides fiscal considerations, there are emotional ones as well. You may love the idea of being able to avoid office drama and politics, but working as a freelancer can be a bit lonely at times. Even though you no longer have to attend staff meetings, you also don’t get invited to a Friday night “happy hour” either.

Of course, we don’t want to discourage you from becoming a freelancer. But we think it is important to know what you are getting into before you quit your day job.

Are you still interested? Great! Here’s what you need to know about becoming a freelance virtual assistant.

Necessary Skills to Become a Freelance Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants need to have an extremely wide array of skills to perform the duties of the job. You have to be an excellent communicator, technologically savvy, and have the ability to multitask.

More than anything else, you have to be trustworthy. As a virtual assistant, you may have access to an individual’s email account and website.

Here are some of the most common tasks that someone would expect to have completed by a virtual assistant:

Responding to emails
Processing orders
Offering customer support
Maintaining WordPress websites
Managing a schedule
Researching
Managing social media accounts
Making travel arrangements

You also have to be able to focus on tasks and work whatever hours are necessary. Working as a freelancer is not easy. If you aren’t working, you aren’t making money. It is definitely not the life for someone with a less-than-impressive work ethic.

How to Become a Freelance Virtual Assistant

Here are some general tips on how to become a freelance virtual assistant.

1. Find a mentor.

It is not necessary that you speak with a mentor before you start work as a virtual assistant, but it makes it a whole lot easier. Someone who has worked in the field will be able to give you practical pieces of advice on how to spot shady clients, how to handle taxes, and how to improve your skills that clients want you to have.

2. Obtain clients.

Of course, the most important step in becoming a freelance virtual assistant is to find clients. If you have worked as an executive assistant in the past, or if you have a lot of business contacts, you may be able to reach out to the people on your LinkedIn network to find your first clients.

If you don’t know a lot of people, you may find it necessary to become a member of a freelancing website, such as Fiverr or Upwork. There are benefits of working through a freelance website. You can apply for jobs that interest you, and the company acts as an intermediary if there are problems with a client.

The disadvantages of working through a freelance website is that there is a lot of competition. Until you build your profile, you may have to work at a low rate. Also, you have to pay to be a member of the website. You also have to pay a percentage of your earnings to the company as well.

3. Develop relationships.

Once you have found a few great clients who are willing to give you stellar reviews, you can increase the amount you earn for each job. Be careful to give your clients good, quality work as you increase in productivity.

After you have a little more experience, you may want to reach out to higher-paying clients. They will be more likely to hire someone with a proven track record.

Good luck with a career as a freelance virtual assistant.

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Find the Best Freelance Jobs to Help Get You Through the COVID-19 Pandemic

Our world is in crisis. Whether or not you have become ill from the virus, you certainly have been affected by it.

Some of you may be relatively untouched, as far as your professional life goes. You may be working from home, still collecting your regular paycheck.

Others may not be so lucky. You may have had a people-facing job, and working from home may not be an option.

This is where we want to help. Are you looking for a freelance teacher? We want to help unemployed Americans enter the freelance marketplace. We will discuss how to find freelance work from home jobs and we will discuss some of the best freelance jobs, and the best freelancing sites that will help you get started.

Question: I lost my job due to COVID-19. What can I do as a freelancer to earn money during my time at home?

All the world is now turning to the internet. If you have highly-technical skills, you will be highly sought after in the freelancing world. This list shows some of the fastest-growing freelance jobs through Upwork, one of the most popular freelancing websites. The top five skills include the following:
ServiceNow
DaVinci Resolve
Social video marketing
Highcharts
PyTorch
If you happen to have some of these skills, you may be able to transition into the freelancing world relatively quickly. If not, you may ask yourself what you can do to retool and learn the techniques you will need to become a competitor above other applicants.

An example of a freelance job with highly-specialized skills is that of a freelance web developer. If you know how to program, or you are a pro at WordPress, you may be able to market those skills to help thousands of small business owners enter the world of online sales.

Even if you don’t have highly-specific skills, there are other jobs available on the top freelancing sites. Let’s discuss some of these jobs in a bit more detail.

Freelancing Content Writer

The whole world is turning to online commerce. Owners of small businesses have to adjust to this new economy, and they are quickly learning how important it is to appear at the top of a Google search.

One way business owners can increase their website ranking is by adding high-value, original content to their websites. That’s the job of a content writer.

This may be a freelance job for you if you have excellent writing skills, can finish writing tasks rather quickly, and can meet deadlines. Of course, all of these skills can be developed, just like the highly-technical skills on the previous list.

You may discover that your workplace expertise may be helpful in landing a job. For example, if you are an out-of-work mechanic, you may be able to find a job as a niche writer — you can write highly-valuable knowledge-based content about cars.

Perhaps you are a real estate agent. Although you may not be able to help your clients buy houses right now, some business owners may want you to write about the industry.

Sometimes your niche may have more to do with your interests instead of your profession. Your love and knowledge of video games may help you land a freelance writing job — as long as you have the writing skills to go along with it.

Freelance Graphic Design

Perhaps you are more gifted in art instead of writing. If you are a talented graphic designer, you may be able to get some freelance work during this difficult time.

Being able to present statistics and information in an easy-to-read format is highly sought after right now. People want to be able to learn essential details at a glance, especially if it concerns the coronavirus.

To work as a freelance graphic designer, you need to be well versed in popular design software. Even though having knowledge in a specific industry may be helpful, the ability to read and interpret data is just as necessary. Your written communication skills will be somewhat relevant as well since you will have to use your writing skills to bid on jobs.

Freelance photographer

Webpage developers rely on stock images to break up text on their websites. If you are a skilled photographer with technical knowledge, you may be able to earn a few extra bucks as a freelance photographer.

You may or may not find such jobs on freelance websites, but you can do a quick Google search to look for other sites such as Pixabay.

How do you enter the freelancing world? We have MANY resources through our blogs and our page dedicated to a list of freelancing job sites for all types of different types of freelancing jobs. We will also be updating this website twice a week during the COVID-19 pandemic to help those of you who have recently lost their jobs.

Best Freelancing Jobs

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Freelance Graphic Designer

Today in freelancer news, we are going to talk about how to become a freelance graphic designer.

There are many perks of working as a freelance graphic artist. First, you can work from anywhere and at any time. While many freelancers envision blissfully completing projects while hanging out on a pristine beach, the reality is that you will probably sit at your crumb-covered kitchen table wearing a pair of sweats, a baggy t-shirt, and no bra.

Most graphic artists envision being able to expand their creativity and work on projects close to their hearts. The reality is that you will probably be forced to do a lot of less-than-desirable projects to pay the bills until you become known in your niche.

Many graphic artists love the idea of designing all day and not wasting time at staff meetings or commuting. The reality is that your 9-5 job may have had an intermediary between the creative department and the clients. As a freelancer, you will have to work with clients directly, and some of those relationships may be difficult.

Finally, graphic artists may envision the life of a freelancer as being easier. The reality is that you will probably work harder than you ever have before. You will learn that any break you take — even if it’s to go to the bathroom, means that you aren’t making money. You aren’t earning if you aren’t doing. This may not be very easy for someone, especially if they don’t have the greatest of work ethics.

While we don’t want to do is be too discouraging, we feel that as a freelancer teacher, we must give you the realities of freelancing. Of course, we haven’t even broken the surface of other freelancing difficulties, which also include having to take care of your own taxes, obtaining your own health insurance, and saving enough for retirement.

Before you go back to your boss, begging for your old job back, let’s discuss the perks.

First, it is extremely satisfying to be able to make money using nothing but your talents and a laptop.

Second, maybe you were underutilized at your last job, and you weren’t given a chance to show your creativity. Being a freelancer will allow you to push the limits, as long as you have clients who agree with your design philosophies.

Finally, because there is no one else to turn to for help, you quickly learn to fine-tune your artistry. You learn to create faster and learn to problem solve through issues since you don’t have any coworkers to turn to for help.

But we may be preaching to the choir. Maybe you already know why you want to become a freelance graphic designer, but you want to know how to get started.

How to Become a Freelance Graphic Designer

As a freelancer teacher, we know that there is not one specific way to begin working on your own. It depends upon your vision. Do you want to work quietly at your kitchen table, producing designs that amaze your clients? Or do you have dreams of turning your freelancing business into your own design firm?

Here are some pieces of advice to consider.

1. Find a mentor.

Talk with someone who has left the corporate world to branch out on his or her own. Buy them coffee while you pick their brain about obtaining clients, purchasing equipment, setting prices, and putting aside enough money for taxes.

Most freelancers would be happy to help you get started, but they may not be super pumped about sharing too much about their clients.

2. Obtain clients.

If you don’t have a non-compete or freelance clause in your contract at work, you may begin your life as a freelancer by working evenings and weekends. This will enable you to collect your salary and retain your benefits while you are sorting through how to be a freelancer.

How do you obtain clients? First, you can join a freelancing website. The most common one in the industry is Upwork, but there are many others out there — some that focus just on design projects.

There are many benefits to working through one of these companies. It makes it easier to find clients. Upwork will work as an intermediary if you have a problem collecting payment from the work you completed. Also, you can apply for jobs that interest you.

The disadvantages of working through one of these companies are that you may have to take low-paying jobs for a while to build up your reviews. Also, there are a lot of graphic designers working through Upwork, and some may be willing to do the work for a lot cheaper than you are willing to do it. Finally, at first, Upwork will take 20% of your earnings. The percentage decreases if you do a lot of work for one client.

3. Develop relationships.

Just like any other career, relationships are essential in the freelancing industry. It may take a while, but eventually, your goal is to find a few great clients who provide you with good pay and consistent work. Work hard for these clients — they are your bread and butter.

Good luck with a career as a freelance graphic designer. Although there are many things to consider before taking that first step, it is incredibly satisfying to work on your own.

from Freelancing Buzz https://freelancingbuzz.com/how-to-become-a-freelancer-graphic-designer/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-to-become-a-freelancer-graphic-designer
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