Are you ready to start a full-time freelance career? Freelancing can be scary, especially if you’re used to a regular income and schedule. But freelancing is also one of the most fulfilling and lucrative jobs today. Consider these factors if you’re still on the fence about starting a freelance career.
1. You Know the Role You Want to Pursue
Freelancing is a broad field. For instance, you might want to become a writer. But will you focus on SEO content, copywriting, ebooks, email, white papers, grant writing, or blogs? Let’s say you decide to become a blogger. You’ll still have to consider the best blogging niches for beginners.
Knowing the role you want will help ensure a consistent flow of income as a freelancer. You can market yourself better and dedicate your time to professional growth in a specific industry. It will also be easier for clients to find you, since people usually search for particular services online.
Don’t worry, as your chosen role is not set in stone. As you gain experience, it’s natural to go through career transitions. A news release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that changing careers is natural, with individuals holding an average of 12.4 jobs from ages 18 to 54.
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If you’re unsure of the niche or role to focus on, you won’t have to look far. What’s your job experience? Which tasks do you enjoy the most? Focus on the things you can do well, and you’re interested in doing.
If you want to explore other roles, dip your toes into the ones you find most interesting. Browse the best places to find freelance work, like Upwork and Fiverr; join freelancing groups on Facebook; and go through a free online course.
2. You Have Both Hard Skills and Soft Skills
Freelancing is very similar to running a business. You’ll have to do the heavy lifting yourself. Who will answer the client inquiries, do the bookkeeping, market on social media, and look for leads? You can outsource some of these. But if you’re starting, the most obvious answer is you.
That said, you’d have to arm yourself with hard and soft skills. Excellent verbal and written communication, time management, customer service, creative thinking, project management, and digital marketing skills are must-haves if you want to succeed as a freelancer.
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Note the underrated soft skills you can practice online. Soft skills like active listening and presentation don’t get much attention since most focus on gaining hard skills. However, if you want to land and retain clients, you need both.
3. You Have a Dedicated Workspace and Equipment
One of the best perks of being a freelancer is working from anywhere. However, make sure that your workplace helps you get your work done. An article on Forbes shows that office space significantly affects employee well-being. A well-lit, well-ventilated, and comfortable workspace does wonders for productivity.
Being a freelancer means that you’ll have to invest in equipment. Ergonomic equipment, while more expensive, is also the healthier choice. If you plan to work outside your home, consider these factors when choosing a coworking space.
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You don’t have to buy all the best equipment at once. Instead, invest in the most important and non-negotiable first. Usually, freelancers only need a laptop, chair, and table. Depending on the role, you might also want to prioritize buying software and a good set of headphones.
4. Your Freelance Gigs Are Financially Viable
Can freelancing pay your bills, fund your emergency stash, and equal or surpass the benefits you get from your corporate job? Or maybe you’ve saved enough to last six months or more?
One good gauge that you’re ready to go freelance is that people recognize your skill and are willing to pay for it. Start getting testimonials from your clients. If they’re happy with your work, they can become a source of future referrals.
Freelancing can be a side gig, a way to earn extra money on top of your corporate salary. However, if the opportunities are presenting themselves, and you’re making more from your freelance side hustle, then maybe it’s time to consider going full-time.
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Tracking your finances helps you understand if freelancing is a sustainable option. Use an expense and invoice app like Bookipi to manage your finances better. The online tool lets you easily track your income, request payment, and organize your financial documents.
If you can’t sustain yourself with freelancing, hold off resigning from your corporate job. While you shouldn’t let your freelancing dream die, idealism won’t be able to pay your bills or emergency needs.
5. You Want to Be Your Own Boss
One of the benefits of a freelance career is that you get to be your own boss. You decide the time and days you work, how many clients you work for, and the tools you will use to run your freelance career. Eventually, you might even learn how to go from freelancer to entrepreneur.
However, being your own boss means you’re solely responsible for your financial and professional growth. For some, the prospect is appealing. Others may only feel a sense of foreboding. It’s normal to feel stressed by the added responsibility. But if the benefits of running your own show seem worthwhile, you may be ready to go freelance.
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Use a project management tool like Hectic, which is specifically tailored for freelancers. The software helps you manage all your projects, timesheets, accounting, and agreements. Organizing all your tasks with one easy-to-use tool will help you feel less overwhelmed.
6. Your Family Is on Board
Skip this point if you’re living alone and are responsible only for yourself. But if you’re supporting a family, they’re one of your biggest considerations. Freelancing means that you won’t have the same income every month. Your schedule may change, and you’ll need to set up a productive work from home office.
You’ll be more productive working from home if you can communicate these changes and lessen the conflicts. Family members unfamiliar with freelancing might be skeptical, so it’s important to involve them in decision-making.
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Comments on Quora show that some family members react negatively to freelancing. One of their main concerns is that freelancing doesn’t seem like a real job that can pay the bills. If all signs point to going freelance, the best way to alleviate their concerns is to practice empathy and succeed as a freelancer.
Continuous learning, seeking mentoring, and marketing yourself on the best freelance platforms are ways to boost your freelancing career. It’s one thing to be ready to become a full-time freelancer. But another thing to excel in the online space.
Work Hard to Start a Full-Time Freelance Career
If you’re just enamored with freelancing because of the hyped-up stories of digital nomads earning six-figure incomes while working four hours a day, hold your horses. Yes, it’s possible to have all of those. But they come from hard work, skills, and creativity, not just pipe dreams.
However, if you’ve decided that freelancing is the best career option, it’s time to land those gigs. Learn more about what clients are looking for when they hire freelancers.
