How did you get enough freelance work to quit your job and become self-employed? How much did you charge when you first started? How much do you charge now? Do you still have enough clients? Do you actually work?
These are just some of the questions I have gotten over the last two years. October 2014 was both exciting and terrifying for me. Just a month prior I had officially decided to give my one month notice at my full-time job in order to take my freelance business to the next level (and to move to Grand Cayman). Well, I had decided some months before that but it took some strategy and courage to make it official with my then boss.
Join An Outsourcing Website
I had originally started picking up freelance gigs in 2012 because I was working at a non-profit and needed to make some extra cash. Outsourcing websites are a place for people to hire contract talent for long-term and short-term tasks; there are fixed-price, one time only projects and long-term hourly jobs. Writers, editors, web developers, administrative assistants, data entry specialists, transcriptionists, you name it. There are millions of people readily available to help you with whatever virtual project you may have.
As a freelancer, you can tailor your profile to your specialty and apply for work on a bid-style basis. I started with Elance.com (now Upwork).
Apply For Jobs With A Plan
When I joined Elance, I just applied for any type of writing or editing job that I could find. No strategy whatsoever; just a shot in the dark. The problem with outsourcing websites like Upwork is that you are only allotted a certain number of application points a month under a free membership. I hadn’t taken that into account when I started and quickly ran out of points within the first few days. I realized that I needed to be more strategic by really going through the job postings with a fine-tooth comb.
I gradually began picking up small jobs but realized rather quickly that in order to grow my portfolio and prove my value, I unfortunately needed to low-ball myself in the rate department. This is something none of us want to do; of course we want to get paid our worth. However, oftentimes clients will not hire someone new to an outsourcing website; they are more inclined to choose an applicant with plenty of work history and positive reviews from previous clients. A bit disheartening, I know… but it makes sense and you’ve got to start somewhere, right? You can’t expect to go in and suddenly be making major cash without any proof of your value. Remember, these are mostly virtual jobs and the only thing clients have to gauge your potential is what you have in your profile and how you sell yourself in your cover letter.
Anyway, I didn’t have an impressive Elance portfolio as a newcomer, so I had to take the cheap route in order to get clients that didn’t necessarily care about paying for value. I had to write some really impressive cover letters, take the cut in pay and hope that my hard work paid off in the long run.
Grow With Your Experience & Consider Investing
Over time, my portfolio grew and I was averaging 5 star ratings with loads of accolades on my testimonial board. My cover letters were professional and answered any and all questions and comments presented in the job description, and my rate proposals started to grow. I was pitching 2-4x the rate I was able to when I started. I also decided to invest in myself by purchasing a membership that gave me more application points each month. This definitely helped because you are going up against a lot talented people, and need to apply, apply, apply. However, over time I didn’t really need the extra points because I was getting invited to jobs (which requires no points). As you become more of a stand-out player in the freelance community, you start getting recommended based on work history, reviews, hours put in and rate.
A year later, I was basically working two full-time jobs. I worked a 9 to 5, went to the gym, had dinner, and then hopped right back onto my computer and worked into the wee hours of the morning. It was tiring and difficult, but the extra income was so worth it. When my then boyfriend (now fiance, yay!) found out that his company was relocating to the Cayman Islands, we immediately started brainstorming about how it would be possible for me to join. I applied to a handful of local jobs but that was quite difficult because I am an expat. Then, lightbulb!
Take The Leap
Why not go full-time with the freelance gig, as it wasn’t really a “gig” anymore… but an actual job? I had a good handful of long-term (no better feeling than an old client coming back for more!), regular clients, and got one-off projects on a regular basis. There was PLENTY of work to be had. It made total sense!
So, I took the risk, registered my business, streamlined my existing work, utilized new connections and hit the ground running. Fortunately, the work environment that I entered was a special economic zone that specifically catered to new business in Cayman. There were loads of other small businesses in the flex work space; a wealth of information, connections and future job opportunities. Many would use other businesses as resources, making for a very versatile and unique place to begin my journey of self-employment.
“The only joy in the world is to begin.” – Cesare Pavese
I am still working for myself full-time and have experienced the ups and downs that is being your own boss. Clients come and clients go, and sometimes it seems that everything good and bad happens all at once. However, I am fortunate enough in that I have been able to maintain enough work to make more than I ever did or would have at my previous job. I am also gaining opportunities that I never would have had I not made the leap. Not to mention, I am a whole lot happier. I honestly have a hard time picturing being an employee ever again.
It hasn’t been all rainbows and butterflies, but I still stand by the fact that it was the best life decision I have ever made, and I constantly remind myself that if I hadn’t made the bold move, I wouldn’t be as happy or successful as I am today.
Congrats! These are also really helpful tips! Too often people don’t have a plan for their career and then wonder why they feel lost
Rachel | The Confused Millennial
Thanks, Rachel! Agreed… a plan helps pave the way to success!
Congratulations! Being your own boss is certainly quite a trip and I wouldn’t have it any other way, either! It’s amazing to get up in the morning and work for yourself. Thanks for sharing these tips!
Totally agree; something totally satisfying and motivating about creating your own success! Thanks Taslim!
I love stories like this – so inspiring, empowering and great for beginner bloggers to see that it is possible to hit that spot of really being able to use blogging for efficient income 🙂 Yay, you!!
Thank you Paige! Glad you liked it
This sounds amazing! Well done! I think I would like to become a freelencer one day tbh
Thanks Jelena! I would highly recommend it; you can’t really beat the flexibility and quality of life 🙂
These are great tips! I will be looking into this a little more.
I’ve always heard conflicting stories with UpWork. I started there too, but I didn’t have the best luck with clients. I’m glad it worked for you though.
Yes, it can definitely be a hit or miss! Good for getting started if needed but I wouldn’t necessarily hang onto it throughout the freelance career if you don’t need to. Thanks!
These are great tips! I will be looking into this a little more.
Thank you!
Congrats on your success! These are some helpful tips for any of us looking to get into freelance!
Great post, thank you so much! I truly enjoyed reading this. It’s full of great tips!
so inspiring. I’m so glad it worked out for you.
Thank you for this, I am transitioning into freelance work too and it can be very scary. This is a great resource
I’m always fascinated by how people do this. Thank you for the tips!
Congrats on your success! I’m glad that you are your own boss, I think a lot of people want that, but are afraid!
Super proud of you! I did something very similar and can COMPLETELY agree with the not always rainbows and butterflies but definitely better than what it was before! Good for you for pushing through!!
I have a part time job, and I write for Odyssey. I consider being a content creator/contributing editor as a side job/hobby, only I don’t make anything (which I do not mind at all). While I do have plans ahead to become a social worker, I do want to continue writing until I am unable to write anymore
It’s so important to have a plan when becoming self employed. I see it so often where people take the leap without a plan..great tips!
Thank you for the awesome read! I needed it today and really appreciate it.
Congrats! I would looooove to blog full-time! Definitely want to start working towards this! Thanks for all the tips!
xo, Chloe // http://funinthecloset.com/ms-dress-zip/
This is so inspiring. I’m wondering if it would be as easy (relatively speaking) to transition to this full time if you had stayed home in the US mainland. I like the writing.
Thank you for these tips! You have inspired me to try some new things, in addition to blogging, to help me move away from being an employee 🙂
Congrats! These are some really helpful tips! It’s so important to have a plan. Those days is too easy to get lost without one.
Agreed, and I definitely wish that I had a better plan when I first started. You live and you learn! Thank you!
Congratulations! This is something I think a lot of people (myself included) would find very helpful in transitioning to that freelance life. I’m not quite ready for it myself, but I think it’s important to get started and build up a good reputation now. It’s never to early to get a foot in the door. 🙂
Exactly – never too early! I never imagined that I would go full-time with it when I first started. It was just a way to get some extra work on the side! You may be able to sooner than you think 🙂 Best of luck!
<3 this! Taking the leap was an absolute life changer for me (although it came with a few hard to learn lessons!).
I'd love to feature your story into freelance work if you're interested!
Hi Kristen! I hear ya – but it’s the hard to learn lessons that make us better, right? 🙂
I would definitely be interested in a feature – thank you! You can contact me at lifeshelives11@gmail.com if you’d like!