Freelancing

[annadote]

I am in the process of becoming self-employed as a freelancer. Are there any other freelancers on this site? If so what advice do you have to offer me as I get started? I hope to be able to transition to more freelancing and less of my hourly job I have right now to pay the bills.

[countrygirl12]

Depends on what you mean by Freelancing. 

If you are wanting to do surveys and call that a job and call yourself a "freelancer" plan on starving.  As for advice it would depend 100% on what kind of freelance work you are doing.

Do you have work already lined up?  I am learning more and more from talking to people on the internet seems the majority of people who do survey sites call it a job or refer to themselves as a freelancer. But yet they pay no taxes on the money earned. lol

The more crazy this world gets the more the numbers increase on people who want to work from home. Or work for themselves in some way. 

[hawkeye3210]

What are you freelancing in?

[tantricia44]

Wow! Good like, I hope you succeed!

[JaniceSW]

I have to agree with the others who have responded so far and say that a lot depends on what you are freelancing at!  Are you a generalist, in certain areas, or specialized?  I guess I would say that you need to research marketing and get a marketing plan.  Part of that would be developing a target audience for your skills and where do you go to access this customer base. Can I ask what you intend to do for freelancing?

[mrsmere]

Hope things work out for you.

[ancmetro]

   Freelancing:  Welcome to the Club!

[ancmetro]

   Explore your creative talents...there is so much you can do on your own.

[makeblessed]

It depends what your skill set is; when I first retired some years back I did tutoring through a non profit organization; but not sure if I would consider that freelancing, it was more like a part time job to supplement retirement and because I enjoy working with children, missed the daily interaction I had with them when I worked full time as an educator. I thought about grant writing for some non profits; that would have been more like freelancing for me; so I would say market your skills and see where they lead you. Good Luck!

[1imaginarygirl]

I've never freelanced, but I've known a few people that do. From a few "horror" stories I've heard, just make sure you set aside plenty of money for tax time.

[countrygirl12]

It depends what your skill set is; when I first retired some years back I did tutoring through a non profit organization; but not sure if I would consider that freelancing, it was more like a part time job to supplement retirement and because I enjoy working with children, missed the daily interaction I had with them when I worked full time as an educator. I thought about grant writing for some non profits; that would have been more like freelancing for me; so I would say market your skills and see where they lead you. Good Luck!

A guy my parents know has tried to push me in to Grant Writing and working for his non-profit organization.  I have told him many times I am not interested.  I think he finally understands. lol  I have thought about that but people are not going to pay you unless you can get them grants.

[oldbuddy]

I freelanced as a web designer and did hosting for auto dealers when I first retired, but it is a lot of work and not scheduled. When they need you they don't have much patience and it seemed to come in bunches.

[BEENICE]

Freelancing through companies that hires freelancers totally sucks! They are just jerks looking to dump people and not properly provide for people. They are trying to undercut in their business field.

[countrygirl12]

I freelanced as a web designer and did hosting for auto dealers when I first retired, but it is a lot of work and not scheduled. When they need you they don't have much patience and it seemed to come in bunches.

My thing is bad planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine.  I talked about a guy I helped with his computer.  He is CEO of a non-profit organization and waited til it was push come to shove and this has to be done by this weekend.  It has to be done TODAY!  Well sorry big boy the things you want done cannot happen that quickly.  I got paid for the 2 days I worked for him and told him after that I would not be available.

People need to realize they are not the only person in the world.

[countrygirl12]

Freelancing through companies that hires freelancers totally sucks! They are just jerks looking to dump people and not properly provide for people. They are trying to undercut in their business field.

This doesn't even make sense.  First, I would not go thru a company although there is a website online that is for freelancers and it seems to have high reviews.  Not sure what "properly provide for people" means.  This is not a full time job.  Same as surveys.  It is something to make some extra money.  I don't call myself a freelancer but when people have computer problems they call me.  I can make a little extra cash doing that. But it is by no means a job.