Being a freelancer is an attractive way of life as it generates independence, autonomy, flexibility, and financial potential. So, you should know how to do freelance work in 2021 properly.
That often becomes incredibly attractive, especially for employees who are tired of their daily work environment. But there is still a lot to learn about career choice.
As a freelancer, how do you earn money? Where do you find work or jobs? How do you know what to do? What about insurance and benefits? These are just a few of the questions and generally prevent people from pursuing a full-time freelance career.
I am going to give you an answer to these questions in this guide on how to do freelance work.
What is freelance work?
Being Freelance is being the job most hired by multiple clients and companies. Where the field of expertise of a freelancer can range from content creation to application development or tutoring. Almost 50% of millennials, more than any other generation, are dedicating themselves to this way of working.
Is being Freelance work 2021 for you?
Before we go any further, let's think a bit and do a little self-analysis. Is being a Freelance right for you? If so, what job would you do as a freelancer? What would be your place? Why do you want to work independently? Looking for a more flexible schedule?
Do you want to broaden your career horizon or are you just bored at work? If you want to build a career freelance you should know how to do freelance work in 2021.
Pursuing freelance work for the wrong reasons will make it difficult to keep going when the going gets tough. I want to emphasize here that there are no right or wrong answers, simply what is best for you, your family, and your career goals.
There are freelancers who start with some side projects in addition to a full-time job, mainly to pay for vacations, pay debts, buy a new car ... invest in your education, where in the end, secondary projects can grow to a point that you decide make the leap to full-time freelance work.
For other people, working independently means freedom. It is the synonym of stopping doing the same thing in the same place for many years and starting something new, more dynamic.
Can you afford to be self-employed? A freelance career holds the promise of a higher salary, as a freelancer, you are the one who decides what you do and when you do it.
But you probably won't see that income right away. The first few months (or years) of freelancing typically involve sacrificing income as you set up your business, establish yourself, and find clients.
Are you comfortable with being uncomfortable? Freelance work can be very uncomfortable. You will not always know where your next payment will come from. You will probably be rejected more times than you can count.
It will be a process of submitting proposals, working, and not getting paid in exchange for any hiring. You will definitely experience some days in which you can think: " Why the hell did I do this?
But I tell you all these thoughts and feelings are normal; this is part of growth. After all, if it doesn't cost you but takes you out of your comfort zone, you are not challenging yourself, it is not changing you.
What are you good at? What are you an expert in? What are you willing to do or how do you plan to prepare to become an expert? You have to offer a service that allows you to be better or different from the rest that helps you achieve what you are looking for as a freelancer personally and professionally.
What brings you joy? It may happen that there are days and hours when you just don't feel like working or you could be tired of what you chose. Select a profession or tasks that motivate you or that you love to do.
The pros and cons of being a freelancer
There are definite benefits and drawbacks to a career as a freelancer. Let's review a few.
Advantage
You are the boss. You choose your schedule, prices, and what clients or jobs you want to do. If you feel like working in your bed, you can. If you want to take a three-week vacation, you can: It's completely up to you.
You can pay less in taxes. For Nicaragua, the tax for independent professional service is 10% of the contracted price.
You can earn a little more money. Freelance work is high risk but can still be a high reward. Your salary is whatever you want it to be. It all comes down to how much you charge and how often you want to work.
You achieve a better work-life balance. Instead of commuting every day, you can simply go to a coffee shop or an office center like La Fabrica Coworking in Managua where you can even pay by the day.
When you're freelancing, you can work where it's most comfortable for you… it doesn't have to resemble a typical 8 am-6 pm schedule.
Disadvantages
You are the boss. You have to make all the decisions and do all the work, from accounting to managing cash flow to selling your services. You are not simply an employee of a company; you are the business.
You have to organize your own benefits, taxes, and accounting. Freelancers do not have employers to manage and provide benefits, taxes, and the like. You have to do it with the help of tools or guides.
If you don't work, you don't earn money. Sure, you can take a three-week vacation, but you won't make money while you're gone. As a freelancer, your time is literally money.
Instability can disrupt your work-life balance. There are many unknowns with freelance work, the biggest being the source of your next payment. This instability can cancel out any work-life balance achieved through self-employment.
According to an UpWork study, the biggest drivers of self-employment are flexibility, freedom, and earning potential, and the biggest barriers are income predictability, job search, and benefits. If these things motivate or demotivate you, you are not alone.
Starting as a Freelancer
Build a brand
A personal brand is valuable when you establish yourself as a freelancer and come to create a lasting impression with your clients. Personal branding should be one of the first things on your to-do list. Another element of your personal brand is your online identity.
This usually includes a dedicated website and social media accounts where you can display your logo and business name, clients, testimonials, and services. Today every freelancer should have a website, especially if they work with clients remotely.
Create a portfolio
If you are a communicator, writer, photographer, architect, designer, or freelance web developer. A portfolio of your work says it all to your potential clients and helps them make an initial call for a future project. But should you include all of your work in your portfolio? No. The work must be the best possible and show diversity in your skills and clientele.
Common ways to display your portfolio are on Dropbox, Google Drive, or links on your website. Here are some third-party portfolio sites that you can also take advantage of to showcase your work:
Contently: for writers, journalists, and content creators
PortfolioBox: for designers, photographers, artists, and more
CarbonMade: for illustrators, animators, architects, and more
Behance - for graphic designers, illustrators, UI / UX, and more
Journo Portfolio: for journalists and writers
Register your business
Freelancers have some flexibility around the legal and financial structure of the business. Some open a personal bank account and choose to receive their payments in this way with the professional withholding of 10% just by giving their identification number.
While others register their business and report their income month by month or annually according to the type of taxpayer. they have chosen, receiving payments by providing an RUC number.
Prepare your workspace
Where are you going to work? Your physical workspace can have a massive impact on your productivity, focus, and motivation. So keep this principle in mind when considering the jump to freelance work.
Many choose to work from home, either for convenience, cost, or to be closer to family. A home office is ideal for work-life balance. Before I mentioned a space that gives a perfect atmosphere and I recommend it, dare to try and visit La Fabrica Coworking.
Whichever space you choose, make sure it is free from distractions and offers favorable working conditions.
Set your rates
The process of setting and determining rates is perhaps the most difficult part of freelancing. Not only can it be awkward to talk about money, but setting fees for your services basically consists of putting a money sign on your forehead. How much are you worth?
What if your clients disagree? Setting and negotiating rates may seem very personal, but the key to comfortably discussing money is to take away your feelings and opinions. Instead, it uses an economical approach to determining fees, similar to the way a business owner can price their products.
Job management
Being a Freelancer means you are in charge, you have to create your schedule, set your deadlines, and check when things go wrong. The best way to avoid problems (and impress your clients while you do it) is to have a strong project management process.
This will not only help you approach each project with confidence and organization. But it will also communicate professionalism to your clients.
Freelance work is a fairly simple process, you just owe any questions and concerns about how to do freelance work and establish your personal brand. Where to work, where to find work, and how to do freelance work in 2021 always be connected, the only unknown that remains must be: Are you willing to take the leap?
4 comments
Click here for commentsThanks for this info Gourav Bahl
ReplyI read your post and agree with all of your comments because everything in the post is highly useful and relevant. Continue to post in this manner.
ReplyHire Expert Freelancers
Defining the terms and conditions between a freelancer and a client is called a freelance contract or freelance agreement.
ReplyA freelancer agreement is made between two parties. Simply put, a "freelance contract" is a commitment with conditions. Despite the fact that the freelancer has access to the original proposal, they have not yet reached the stage where they are issuing invoices.
Replyfreelancer agreement india
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