So You Want To Be A Freelancer: 3 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started

So, you want to start freelancing.

That's great!

It can be a remarkably rewarding experience, and it can give you the kind of freedom with your time that is practically impossible to find in a regular 9-5 job.

More and more people are starting to enter the freelance space than ever before. Whether it's turning a hobby into a side hustle or jumping into a full-time freelance career, there are millions of people earning cash through the so-called "gig economy".

However, it isn't all sunshine and roses. There're plenty of things to consider before starting a freelance business, and that's why I'm here to give you the 3 things I wish I had known before starting my freelance career.

No. 1: It Can Take Awhile To Get Things Rolling

Newton's First Law of Motion states that objects in motion stay in motion, and objects at rest stay at rest.

A freelancing career is a bit like that.

Here's what I mean by that: When you first start out, your freelancing career is like a big ol' rock just sitting on the side of the road. If you want to get that rock to the proverbial pot of money down the road, you're gonna have to start moving it.

At first, it's going to be really really hard work.

That rock is at rest and doesn't want to move, but as you apply yourself and push harder it'll slowly begin to roll forward. Once it's moving a little bit it's easier to push, and it's easier to get it rolling faster. Once it's moving along at a good clip it's a breeze keeping it going compared to getting it started.

One of the hardest parts of freelancing is getting started. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication, but once you start taking on projects and building a portfolio it'll become easier to continue getting jobs as you continue on down the road.

The first few jobs you do will probably be for free, or at a very low price compared to other freelancers doing the same thing. Building a portfolio is a critical step in getting more jobs in the future. As your portfolio grows and you get a reputation for doing good work it'll get easier and easier to get more jobs.

No. 2: The Work/Life Balancing Act

One of the reasons so many people want to get into freelancing is that it promises a more flexible work schedule where you get to make your own hours.

This is true for the most part, but there's a flip side to being in control of your own schedule. I'm a full-time freelancer and I've found that I'm often doing work-related things during non-working hours. I'll be checking emails in bed, doing one last thing on some project by working over the weekend, responding to inquiries at all times of the day, etc. On top of that some days I find myself working much longer days than any job would ask me to.

This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but if you're not careful and intentional about things you might end up working more hours than you would've at a regular job. This can be especially true if you're working a regular job and trying to get a freelance career started in your spare time.

Hustle culture can be a great motivator and source of inspiration to reach goals, stay productive, and be efficient. However, there is such a thing as too much hustling. If you're constantly pushing yourself to be busy and squeezing productivity out of every waking second you might run into burnout.

Focusing too much on work can lead to higher levels of stress and anxiety, and your relationships might suffer if you're too honed in on what you're doing in your freelance business at all hours of the day.

Just make sure you check in with yourself from time to time.

No. 3: Know Your Worth

In the first point, I mentioned that you'll probably have to do some work for free or cheap when getting started in order to build a portfolio.

That is true and is a key part of being able to secure more jobs. However, there will come a point where you should be charging more for the work you're doing and it can be hard to know when that is.

If you're like me and suffer from a bit of imposter syndrome from time to time it can be easy to sell yourself short when you're building your freelancing career. Bridging the gap between getting your portfolio built, and getting paid for what you're worth can be a tricky endeavor.

When you're getting started make sure you look around at other freelancers in your area of expertise to get an understanding of how much people are charging for what it is you/they are doing. Be honest with yourself in your assessment of your work in comparison to other people in your field and set your pricing accordingly. As you grow and your business grows don't be afraid to bring up your prices to match the quality of work you're doing.

My final piece of advice on this point is to keep track of all of the hours you spend working.

When setting prices it can be easy to just consider the time spent doing the thing. But you're also working when you're submitting proposals to clients, doing research for your business or a job, sending emails back and forth, managing your business's finances, etc.

You may be charging $20/hr or $200 for a project, but if you're not accounting for the time you're spending doing work-related things that aren't the thing you do then you might be making a lot less per hour than you originally thought.

Final Thoughts

If you're looking to get into freelancing I say go for it!

If you keep your head on your shoulders and understand what to expect before starting then you'll do great.

Even though it can take a while to get things going it really is a very rewarding experience and can offer you the flexibility to set your own hours and be your own boss.

There will probably be times that you work too much or get a little burned out. Just remember to take breaks when you need them, and don't neglect your relationships.

Finally, make sure you're giving yourself the credit you deserve and charge accordingly.

The easiest way to fail is to never start in the first place, so get on out there and do that thing you've always wanted to do.