The Beginner's Guide To Freelancing

A. The Dictionary.com definition is "a self-employed person, who is not employed continuously but hired to do specific assignments," though this is only part of what a freelancer can be. A freelancer can take on regular gigs with the same employer to the point that they may as well be working full-time, or they can take gigs from a dozen different sources. The main thing that defines a freelancer is that they are their own boss and have complete control over where and when they work, what they do, and which gigs they're willing to take on. 

A. Quite simply, it's an industry term that refers to any kind of temporary assignment or job.

A. The tools required to become a freelancer are quite flexible, and depend entirely on your personal needs and what you're going to be doing. As a general rule, you need:

​- A computer or laptop of adequate specs to perform the task you're offering. For example, if  you're doing graphic design, you'll need a more robust computer than if you're proof-reading. You may be able to use a tablet if your tasks permit it, but that really depends on your workflow.

- An email address.

- A PayPal account.

- A reasonable understanding of how to operate your computer in an efficient manner.

- A space where you can work uninterrupted, such as a spare bedroom or home office. This is especially important if you're a parent with young children, since kids have no concept of "Mummy/Daddy is working right now!"

- A skill. Any skill, really. If you don't have a skill yet, you can always learn one. Many freelancers are self-taught as well as self-employed, and many offer multiple skill-sets. 

A. The easiest way to determine if a prospective client or website is a scam is to go to Google and type in "is <company> legit?" or "is <company> a scam?" If other people have had issues with them, it'll pop right up.

The other simple way is if they ask YOU to pay THEM. You should never have to give anyone money to start a job, not ever. If they ask you for money, go elsewhere. 

A. Your rates will vary depending on your skill level, industry, and experience. When you first start out, you may need to offer lower rates to offset the fact that you only have a small portfolio or a limited number of reviews, but you can always put your prices up later on.

The easiest way to work out how much you should charge is to think of how much you want to make per hour, versus how long it takes you to do your task. For example, if a client offers you you $100.00 USD to paint a mural and it's going to take you approximately 20 hours to complete the mural, then you're only getting $5.00 USD per hour for the work - less if you have to provide your own materials.

Keep track of how long it takes you to complete tasks, and use that to calculate what you consider to be a fair rate for your work.

It also helps to check what other freelancers are offering in the same industry from time to time. Remember, don't undercharge for your work! Your time has value, and if you don't charge enough then potential clients will assume that you're unskilled or desperate. But, you also want to stay aware of the going average that other freelancers are charging, because if someone else is offering the same services at the same skill level for half the rate then you're going to have trouble getting work. It's all about finding the right balance.

Lastly, don't be afraid to say "no" if someone tries to take advantage of you! You can start to feel desperate if you're fighting for jobs and not getting anywhere, but your time is valuable and you should never let anyone make you feel otherwise. Sometimes, an industry can get inundated with freelancers and it can negatively impact the availability of work and quality of jobs available. In that situation, you need to change tack and learn a new skill. You can always come back later.

A. There are lots and lots of different places you can find prospective employers, including your own network of friends and family.

We've also started putting together a database of different places you can find work, available here:

The Great Big Freelancing & Work-From-Home Employers Database