It was nearly seven years ago when I was wondering how difficult it was going to be to go freelance. My first freelance job was in September 2003 and I remember how worried I was. Questions and doubts ran through my head, would I get enough work and how would I manage clients and my accounts.
It is because of this I have been wondering whether to create a free guide called something like – How to Freelance for Beginners. If this is something you would be interested in please let me know by signing up below to be alerted when the guide is ready.
Sign up for notification of the Freelance Guide
Please put in the comments anything you would specifically like covered in the guide.
Meanwhile I have previously written several posts on how to freelance that you might enjoy:
How to Freelance Posts From Graphic Design Blog UK
Advice for New Freelance Designers by 30+ Freelance Designers
The answer from 30+ freelance designers to the question – What is the biggest piece of advice you would give to someone starting out freelancing?
Working Freelance From Home or Inhouse, Pros and Cons
Working in house can prove a more sociable way to work but freelancing from home has its perks too.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Freelance Design Through a Third Party (Middleman)
As well as working directly for companies as a freelancer you may also get offered work via a third party, this could be a PR company or a design company that subcontracts their design work to you. This cuts out some of the client management process which has both pros and cons.
Back up Your Freelance Design Work
I can’t emphasise the importance of keeping back ups of your freelance design work. Losing a days work is frustrating, but several weeks or months work could be a major disaster for your business.
How Much Can You Charge for Freelance Graphic Design
A look at how to calculate what you should charge for your freelance design services
So What’s Stopping You Becoming a Freelance Designer
My personal journey to becoming a freelance graphic designer
Does a Freelancer Need an Accountant?
How an accountant can save you more than you pay them
Freelancing – Breaking Free from Fulltime Employment
Questions you should ask yourself before going freelance and tips to help you.
8 Reasons Why Designers Should Blog
My recent post with examples of how blogs have helped freelance designers
How to Freelance Advice from Other Design Bloggers
7 Tips for Freelancers Arranging a Holiday
A post by Ken Reynolds which deals with the tricky problem of how to take holidays as a freelancer
Why Freelancers Should Not Announce Their Availability
An interesting post by Brian Yerkes who thinks freelance designers may be missing out on work by publicly announcing their availability.
Urgent! How to Handle those Last-Minute Design Requests
Every freelancer at some point will receive a call with a last minute design request Tracey Grady discusses the best way to deal with them.
Self-employment advice for designers
Davis Airey offers his advice for designers considering self employment.
Design Agency VS Freelance Life
Jacob Cass – Just Creative Design compares freelancing with working for a design agency in New York City.
How to get freelance graphic design jobs
Rob Cubbon offers his advice on How to get Freelance Graphic Design Jobs.
Websites Dedicated to Freelancing
Freelance Switch
Freelance Switch offers extensive advice on how to freelance along with a forum and jobs board.
Freelance Folder
Freelance folder also offers a blog about freelancing a job board and a forum.
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9 Comments
Well, count me in for starters! Writing about freelancing is something I think I’ll do more of. But it’s deceptively difficult. I’m thinking now that maybe I was lucky to get some really good clients before the recession that have been keeping me busy. And I never know if what worked for me will work for someone else. But it’s a great, great subject. Because it’s a great thing to do. And, more people are doing it everyday!
Oh, thanks for the link!
No problem Rob. I think everyone’s got their different ways of doing things so I am looking forward to reading your freelance posts to get some more tips.
A freelancing tip I would like to see is how to best prevent the “flake factor”. I find that there’s a high degree of fall-off with clients (especially web, but to some extent in all areas). They get all enthusiastic, but then just don’t follow through. I’ve had a few cases this year where I have done half the project, and gotten paid for what I have done, but the client then loses their focus and doesn’t get me the materials I need to finish the work! Crazy, but true. I think a lot of small businesses, which is most of the work that I am doing, have been struggling financially and so they are making cuts in their budget.
Hi Lex, Thats a difficult one I am not really sure of the answer to apart from to apart from to show them the benefits they could get from it,
When I started freelancing, it was because i could not find a full-time job but it quickly served as a way to prove myself to my employer. As time went by, I freelanced on a regular basis with the same few ad agencies and graphic design studios. Along the way I slowly aquired clients and had a mix of inhouse clients, at home clients and moonlighting for other busy design studios. Hustling and working like a dog eventually allowed me to open my own studio. It has it’s perks but freelancing has them too. The grass is greener on the other side but really like the reward for hard work.
Hi Lou, I am glad to hear freelancing worked out well for you and let you progress to opening a studio.
Some great articles there! Thank you.
I’ve hired many freelancers over the years via Elance and most have been flaky. I would not recommend any of them. Nowadays I look for designers directly via search and just recently found two in Canada with good portfolios. Anyway when you do enter the world of Elance, my tip from an employer’s point of view is to over-deliver. That’s how you get good feedback and can really kickstart your Elance career. If you are a fantastic designer you can contact me on info@ and the domain name above. I always have web design work. Cheers.
Hi Tara,
Thanks for your post! It’s hard but not impossible. As long as you enjoy what you do and make some money on the side everything is going to work perfectly.
Actually everything I know is from http://freelanceswitch.com/ and their weekly podcasts. Too bad they don’t have that anymore.
Thanks,
Dan