First things first: freelancing is not for everybody. It requires a lot of self-motivation and determination, especially at the beginning. But if you’re willing to work hard and make it work, freelancing can be a rewarding part-time job with great benefits (and not just financial ones). Here are the reasons why:
| Takeaway |
|---|
| Freelancing can indeed be a rewarding part-time job option. |
| Consider avoiding common freelancing mistakes for financial stability. |
| Effective time management is crucial for balancing part-time freelancing. |
| Generation Z freelancers should be aware of specific challenges. |
| Freelance writing can offer a fulfilling and flexible side job. |
| Balancing freelancing with maternity leave is possible and financially beneficial. |
| Building a strong portfolio can attract more part-time freelance opportunities. |
| Freelancers can enjoy the benefits of a flexible work lifestyle. |
| Maintaining financial stability requires managing taxes and expenses. |
| Marketing services effectively can lead to a successful part-time freelancing career. |
Work From Anywhere In The World
As a freelancer, you can work from anywhere in the world. You may choose to work from home (or if you don’t have one, a coffee shop), from a co-working space, or even at an office. The beauty of this is that you can do so any time of the day.
If you find yourself inspired by the beach while on vacation and want to write your next novel there, go ahead! Or if the mountains are beckoning with inspiration for your next piece of mountaineering equipment, pack up your laptop and head out!
Another option is to travel while working. When I was living in New York City and had no affiliations with any companies or organizations yet, I was able to get my first stint of freelance work by pitching my services online through Upwork.
And what better place could there be than an exotic locale? I ended up landing an account doing graphic design from my hotel room in Barcelona during Christmas break after meeting up with some friends there (a few hours every day).
Building a successful freelancing career requires avoiding common pitfalls. Learn how to steer clear of these mistakes with our guide on 10 Freelancing Mistakes That Are Keeping You Broke to ensure financial stability and growth.
Set Your Office Hours
One of the great things about being a freelancer is that you can set your office hours. No need to wake up early and go to the office, even if it’s just for one day a week.
No need to stay late if you don’t want to, either, in fact, there are plenty of occasions when working late will be detrimental: if you have kids who need picking up from school or find yourself dealing with health issues (like an injury), having flexibility in your schedule is key.
Work On A Variety Of Projects
While it is possible to make a living as a freelancer by working on one project at a time, it’s not the best way to go about it. Instead, you should try to diversify your work as much as possible so that you don’t have to rely on just one client or contract.
This will allow you to increase your skillset and bring in more money from different sources. You can also use this strategy for marketing purposes: if someone finds out about your skillset through one project, they might be interested in hiring you for something else!
Be Your Boss (And Decide Who You Want To Work With)
When you become a freelancer, you can choose who you want to work with. You can decide what projects you want to take on and how much time (and money) each project will take.
You can also decide where you’ll be working. Work from home? On the beach? At a coffee shop? In an office building downtown? Wherever!
And let’s not forget about the freedom of being able to set your hours. Because if there’s one thing nobody likes about their 9-5 job, it’s that someone else dictates when they get up in the morning and go back home at night. As a freelancer, though, this is totally up to them—and so are all their other choices!
Effective time management is crucial for freelancers. Discover essential tips and techniques in our article about Time Management Tips for Freelancers to maximize productivity and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
You’ll Learn New Skills (And Earn More)
There are a lot of skills you can learn while working as a freelancer. You can become good at social media, graphic design, and video editing. You will be able to expand your knowledge and earn more money in the process!
You can make more money by learning new skills because there is an endless supply of opportunities for clients who need help with their websites or advertisements. The demand for quality content is high, so if you have these skills then there might be plenty of clients looking for someone like yourself!
Choose When You Want To Work
If you are one of those people who has a hard time getting yourself to work, this is a great option for you. You decide when and where you want to work, so it doesn’t feel like an obligation or responsibility; it becomes your choice.
You get to set your deadlines and goals for what needs to be done each day, week, or month. If that sounds like something that could motivate you instead of stressing out about being productive at a certain time every day, then freelancing might be for you!
Get Paid What You’re Worth
The best way to get paid more is to charge more. It’s as simple as that. There are a lot of factors that go into your rate, and you can test what works for you by starting at a lower rate and increasing it over time. For example:
- Charge more if you’re an expert in something specific (e.g., “I’m the only person who can do this project”) or if there’s something unique about your background (e.g., “I have 10 years of experience in this industry”).
- Charge more if the project is complicated or time-consuming; it might take longer than expected for someone else to complete it, so stay flexible with your deadline so that both parties are happy with the results at hand!
- Charge more if there is a chance others will want your services this way they’ll compete against each other instead of against yourself!
Work With Clients Who Appreciate Your Work (Without Dealing With Annoying Managers)
As a freelancer, you get to choose your clients. You can choose the projects you want to work on and the hours when you’d like to do them. You can also decide what kinds of payment methods are best for you and where your office will be located (or not).
You have complete freedom in all these areas because no one else is telling you how to do things other than yourself! You’re not being told what kind of project or client is best for your career progression or what kind of job needs doing right now so let’s just get it done before we go home…
Generation Z freelancers often overlook a significant error that can hinder their success. Find out what it is and how to avoid it in our post on The Biggest Freelancing Mistake That Gen Z Makes to stay ahead in the freelancing world.
Enjoy The Sense Of Independence And Control You’ll Feel
If you’re a freelancer, you can work whenever and wherever you want. You don’t have to be at the office on Monday through Friday from 9-5. You also don’t need to deal with anyone telling you what projects to do or how much money to charge for them.
The only person who will be telling you what to do yourself! This is why many people find freelance jobs so rewarding the sense of independence and control that comes with being self-employed is one of the best parts of working as a freelancer.
Don’t Be Afraid To Say No – You’re In Charge Now
This is the best part of being a freelance; You get to pick and choose your projects. If you’re not interested in a job, don’t take it. And if you have a client who doesn’t treat you well or doesn’t pay on time, don’t work for them anymore.
There are plenty of ways to find clients if you do want to freelance full-time we’ll talk more about that later! But even part-time jobs can be rewarding experiences if you’re working with people who value your skills and appreciate your time.
Ditch The Commute, And Save Money On Transportation / Lunch / Coffee / Dry-Cleaning Expenses
By working from home, you can save time on the commute and get more done. You’ll have more free time to spend with family or friends, or just relax in your own space before starting your workday. You’ll also be able to avoid spending money on transportation, lunch, and coffee breaks while you’re at it.
If you work full-time at an office job with a traditional 9-to-5 schedule, this is bound to add up over time: according to Harvard Business Review (HBR), Americans spend an average of 43 hours per month commuting by car alone which equates to over 6 days per year!
In addition to saving money on transportation costs, working from home can also help improve your health and lower stress levels.
HBR found that people who commute by train experience less stress than those who drive themselves or take public transit but if there are no trains available where you live then taking public transport may not be practical anyway so why not just stick with driving? Either way though…
Don’t Have To Deal With All The Office Drama (But Can Still Go Out For Team Lunches)
One of the best things about freelancing is that you’ll never have to deal with any office drama. No one will try to sabotage your work or make you feel like less of a person because they’re jealous of your success.
You can avoid all the gossip and backstabbing that comes with working in an office, as well as its consequences: You’ll have nothing to hide from your coworkers if people ask how your weekend was or if you’re single.
You don’t even have to worry about being the big fish in a small pond you can still be part of a tight-knit group! Many companies want their employees to get along for their team to function properly, so your friendships will likely continue into this new phase of life (and might even become stronger).
Plus, there are plenty of social events where everyone gets together outside work hours from happy hours at local bars on Friday nights to company retreats so it won’t just be limited to lunch breaks anymore!
Freelance writing can be an excellent side job with numerous advantages. Explore our article outlining 18 Reasons Why Freelance Writing May Be the Perfect Side Job for those seeking extra income and creative fulfillment.
Build Something Meaningful, And Watch It Grow
As a freelancer, you can build something meaningful for yourself. You are the boss, and your work will be what you want it to be. You can see the results of your hard work and feel proud of what you have built.
The most rewarding part about freelancing is watching something grow. It can be a blog or YouTube channel that starts small and grows into something much bigger than expected. Or it could be an app or website that continues to get more traffic over time because people love using it so much.
Either way, being able to watch something grow gives a great sense of accomplishment as well as pride in yourself for doing such a good job at building something worthwhile!
Make More Time For Family And Friends
You can work from home, or you can find a quiet coffee shop to work at. You can work at your own pace, and when you want to. You can work on your schedule, with no one breathing down your neck. You could even be making money while traveling the world.
The possibilities are endless for a freelancer (and for their friends and family). Working remotely allows people to have more flexibility in their schedule and location it’s not just about saving money by not commuting every day.
By working remotely, people will also have more time for family and friends because they don’t need to commute every day. This is especially important if you live far away from where you grew up or have college friends who now live across the country/world!
Balancing freelancing and maternity leave can be challenging, but it is possible to achieve financial success. Read how one freelancer earned $10,000 during maternity leave in our story on How I Made $10,000 with Part-Time Work During Maternity Leave for inspiration and valuable insights.
Final Thoughts
I hope I’ve given you enough reasons to think about leaving your full-time job and giving freelancing a try. It’s not for everyone, but if you’re interested in more free time, more money, and control over how much work you do each day then give it some serious thought.
Further Reading
Can Freelancing Be a Part-Time Job?: Explore the possibilities of freelancing as a part-time career option and how it can fit your lifestyle.
Choose Your Fighter: Full-Time vs. Part-Time vs. Freelance: Understand the key differences and considerations when deciding between full-time, part-time, or freelance work.
Benefits of Freelancing: Discover the advantages and perks of embracing the freelancing lifestyle and how it can impact your professional journey.
FAQs
People Also Ask
What Is Freelancing?
Freelancing is a rewarding part-time job. It involves working on different projects with different clients. You set your schedule, and you get to work from home or anywhere with an internet connection.
Is Freelancing Right For Me?
If you have the skills and experience to freelance, then freelancing may be a good fit for your career. You need to make sure that you are prepared mentally and financially before leaping to this type of work.
How Can I Make Money As A Freelancer?
You can make money by doing freelance writing, designing websites, creating logos, creating graphics for social media posts, creating infographics and other visuals for marketing materials, making videos for YouTube or for clients who want them on their website or other platforms like Facebook Live, etc.
How Do I Know If Freelancing Is Right For Me?
This is a question that can only be answered by you. You have to take into account your current situation, what you want to do in the future and whether or not freelancing will fit into your schedule. As a freelancer, you must be highly organized and have a keen eye for detail. You also need to be able to work collaboratively with others and accept feedback gracefully.
Should I Consider Taking Courses Or Training Before Starting My Own Business?
Yes! There are many courses available that will teach you how to become a better freelancer and how to market yourself effectively. Even if you don’t plan on taking any courses right now, it’s always good to keep an open mind about what’s out there so that when the time comes, you’ll know exactly what course would suit your needs best!
What Kinds Of Skills Do I Need?
You should have excellent communication skills (both written and verbal) as well as attention to detail when working on projects for clients. As mentioned above, being able to work collaboratively with others is also key when starting as a freelancer as well as having
How Do I Become A Freelancer?
To become a freelancer, you will need to first create an account on Upwork. Then you can start posting jobs that you are interested in working on or browse through the jobs other users have posted.
Once you find something that interests you, send a message to the user who posted the job and they will get back to you with more information about what they are looking for. You can also be proactive and reach out directly to companies in your area who might be looking for help!
Is It Hard Work?
It depends on what kind of work you want to do! If you want full-time employment with benefits and regular hours, then yes, it will take some effort on your part. But if all you want is some extra cash from time to time, then freelancing can be easy peasy!
What Are Some Examples Of Freelancing?
There are many different types of freelance jobs:
Copywriting: Writing content for websites, blogs, emails, etc., including blog posts, sales copy, and press releases.
Graphic design: Creating logos and graphics for companies’ branding campaigns; designing websites; creating advertisements for social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram ads; creating visual content for other marketing strategies like infographics or animated videos for YouTube channels (like tutorials).
Transcription: Turning audio recordings into written documents such as transcripts or reports about an interview with an expert in their field (for example), which can then be used by companies as research material for their articles/books/etc
How Much Can I Make?
The amount you make depends on what you do and how much time you put into your business. Some freelancers make more than $100,000 per year and some make less than $10,000. It all depends on what kind of work you do and how much time you’re willing to put into it.
What Kind Of Work Should I Expect To Find As A Freelancer?
The type of work you’ll find as a freelancer varies greatly depending on your experience and the types of jobs you are applying for. Many employers are looking for employees who can perform multiple tasks at once, so it’s important to make sure you’re applying for jobs that match your skills and interests.
How Do I Get Clients?
There are many ways to get clients as a freelancer. If you have any connections in your field, reach out to them and ask them if they know anyone who needs help with their business or project.
Also, check out sites like Upwork or Freelancer(dot)com where there are thousands of people looking for jobs every day. You can also attend networking events or conferences related to your industry and make connections with potential clients there!
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.