Freelancing is an area of entrepreneurship that typically involves very little overhead yet offers an opportunity for near unlimited growth. The freelancer will offer a service to a targeted audience and will work on a free-agent basis, which means that there is no agency or company backing the person. All marketing, effort and other aspects that go into running a successful freelancing business fall on that one person’s shoulders, until of course the person decides to branch out and hire some help. Most freelancers start out on their own, however, and they usually do so when they decide that the corporate 9-to-5 is no longer for them.
How Freelancing Works
Companies will typically hire a freelancer when they don’t have the resources to complete a particular project, or if their current team is too busy. Individuals can hire freelancers, as well, such as in the case of writers hiring freelance graphic artists to design their book covers. Some freelancers work from home and some rent office space, but the general outcome is the same. The person works on an as-needed basis providing their specialty service or services for the agreed-upon price. The rate at which a freelancer gets paid will depend on the person’s skill level, education and experience. Freelancing professionals who have been in business for years can get away with charging top dollar, but they certainly didn’t start out that way. So how do freelancers get started?
How To Become A Freelancer
As previously stated, many freelancers started out working for the man, and this is typically where they honed their skills. As anyone knows, you will generally make more money working for yourself than you ever will working for someone else, so these people ended up quitting their day jobs to go freelance. Of course, some moonlight as freelancers and end up keeping their day jobs, but every freelancer dreams of the day they can stay home and work, even while wearing their PJs. Most experts will recommend that you keep your day job until such time as you have at least six months of living expenses saved up; just in case your business doesn’t take off right away or ends up failing outright. Freelancing is just like the regular business world in that most businesses fail within five years and some take at least that to become solvent. Still, if you have high hopes, a special skill and the desire to succeed, freelancing might be for you.
Who Can Freelance?
Any service provider can become a freelancer, as long as there is a market for the service in question. The most popular freelancer occupations include writers, graphic & web designer and coders. These are skills that can be provided remotely, such as over an Internet connection. Freelancers like these can literally work from anywhere as long as they have a computer or mobile device and an online connection.
How To Use Freelancing Services
If you are considering hiring a freelancer, you can find entire pools of fresh and emerging talent on popular sites like eLance and Odesk. Freelancers can charge by the hour, per project or by way of another price scale, but you will be able to negotiate all terms before you hire. By hiring a freelancer, you don’t have to worry about the usual costs associated with hiring a new associate and yet you can call on this person whenever you need them. Consider them you’re private worker who you only pay when the work is completed to your exact specifications.
Becoming A Freelancer
If you happen to be a service provider who is sick and tired of working for someone else for a living, create a website highlighting your skills and experience and start sending emails to marketing companies and other firms that might be able to use your skills. You can also find job boards where you can respond to ads looking for freelancers of your caliber. With gas becoming more expensive and with the job market so grim, many people are now turning to freelancing to make ends meet. There is no need to travel to an office, unless you want to, and you can work from anywhere and at any time as long as you provide a great service and keep your clients happy. For companies and individuals in need of freelancing work, you will be pleased to know that there are many freelancing professionals who are dying to bid for your project. You will be able to keep human resources costs low and yet your projects will be completed on time and as specified, as long as you get a good freelancer. The trick is to read reviews and make sure the person is 100% trustworthy before you hire. Those individuals are out there and they are hungry for your business. You just have to reach out and find them.
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