Does Freelancing As A Full-Time Job Really Exist

Today, over 40 percent of the American workforce is freelancing in some capacity. Some do it part-time as a side gig to their main job. Others are full-time freelancers who work on project-based work or have ongoing contracts with clients.

And there’s the small group who freelance full time by choice and need those who may have been laid off from a traditional job and have decided to take control of their career path by becoming entrepreneurs and freelancers. It sounds easy enough, but starting a freelance business is one thing. Sustaining it is another.

Freelancing VS Full Time Job.. What you NEED to know!

Takeaways
1. Freelancing can indeed be a viable full-time career option for individuals who possess the necessary skills, discipline, and determination.
2. While freelancing offers flexibility and independence, it also requires careful financial planning and the ability to consistently secure projects and clients.
3. Health insurance and other benefits may not be readily available for freelancers, making it crucial to explore alternative options to ensure financial stability and security.
4. Networking and building connections within the freelance community can be beneficial for finding new opportunities and expanding one’s client base.
5. Balancing freelancing with personal life and maintaining a healthy work-life balance is essential for long-term success and satisfaction.

Table of Contents

Do The Math, Literally

You’ll need to know exactly how much money you need each month to live

Let’s say that your goal is to make $2,000 a month from freelancing full-time. You have expenses like rent/mortgage ($1,000), utilities ($100), and groceries (another $100). You also want to be able to pay taxes on what you earn, which means saving at least 20 percent of your earnings each month.

This leaves $400 for all other expenses like clothing and entertainment and 10 percent of that goes directly into savings for retirement. That leaves $120 left over every month.

If this seems like an impossible goal based on what we were just discussing above, don’t despair! It’s fairly easy if you follow these simple steps:

Building a successful freelance career requires dedication and perseverance. Check out our article on how freelancing can possibly be your full-time gig to learn valuable tips and insights from experienced freelancers who have turned their passion into a full-time profession.

Build A Strong Safety Net

If you want to freelance full-time, you’ll need to build a solid safety net. This means having several different types of safety nets:

A savings account, so that you can pay the bills while waiting for your first few months of paychecks to come in

An emergency fund (the amount of money in this depends on how much risk you’re willing to take on), will help keep you afloat if something happens and money gets tight because of an unexpected expense or loss of income

A retirement fund (the amount of money in this also depends on how much risk you’re willing to take on), so that when it comes time for retirement, there’s enough saved up

Find A Mentor

A mentor is someone who has already been where you are and can help you navigate your way to your goals. They will support you, encourage you and inspire you to do better.

A mentor can be a friend or family member who has been there before, or it could be someone who is more like a professional colleague providing guidance and advice on how to handle things in business.

In my experience as a freelancer, I’ve found that having mentors helps me with my business as well as my personal life. For example:

Mentors help with entrepreneurship skills – if I’m struggling with something in my business or freelancing career then I use mentors for advice on how to overcome it (and often they have some great ideas!)

Mentors support me emotionally – when things are tough in the world of work (or in life) I know that there are people who care about me out there so being able to talk things through with them has been very helpful!

Make Time For All Of Your Freelance Work

The best way to keep your freelance work in check is to make sure you’re not letting it take over your life.

Freelance work can quickly become a second job, and if you let it control your schedule and priorities, it won’t end well. That’s why it’s so important that you make time for all of your freelance work but also for everything else, too.

Whether you’re freelancing full-time or just occasionally picking up some extra cash on the side, remember that other things are going on in your life besides freelancing especially if this isn’t yet providing 100% of your income.

Make sure to give yourself breaks from working when they’re needed and don’t let yourself become dependent on this source of income alone (or else find another source!). Even financial advisers recommend diversifying one’s portfolio when investing money so why not do the same thing when investing energy?

As a freelancer, it’s crucial to prioritize your health and well-being. Discover the reasons why getting health insurance when freelancing is essential for financial security and peace of mind, and explore different options to find the right coverage for your needs.

Have Your Accountant’s Number On Speed Dial

This one’s an absolute must. Having your accountant on speed dial and knowing how to ask for help when you need it will save you a lot of time and stress. Learn to do your taxes, but don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it the best accountants can also be your best teachers!

You should also set boundaries with yourself, with others, and especially with clients. Once again: freelancing is not a job without responsibilities or accountability!

Be Prepared To Do Unpaid Work

If you want to go down this freelance route, be prepared to do unpaid work. Like, lots of it. You will have clients that request that you work for free in exchange for the experience or a recommendation. You are going to have clients who expect you to invest your time without being paid (but still bill them).

If this is something that does not bother you then go ahead and give it a shot! Just remember: at least some people will try to take advantage of your good nature and willingness to help out if they see an opportunity for themselves.

Learn To Sell Yourself And Your Skillset

Being a freelancer means that you have to learn how to sell yourself and your skillset. You will have to be prepared for any client who is interested in hiring you. The way clients look at you is different from the way they look at an employee who works in the office next door to them, so you must understand this dynamic and be able to adapt accordingly.

If a potential customer calls or emails asking about your services, be prepared with what you’re going to say. Don’t waste time trying to think of something on the fly just go ahead and tell them about yourself, what services/expertise/knowledge/skillset(s) it is that they want.

Keep Track Of The Hours You Spend Each Day

While this may seem like a no-brainer, it’s important to keep track of the hours you spend each day. The best way to do so is through time tracking software and apps, which will help you see where your time is going and help you keep a budget for yourself.

If you want an even simpler solution that doesn’t require any additional software or apps, then try using a spreadsheet or paper notebook instead. There are many different types of tools out there that can help with keeping track of your hours spent working every day.

Networking is key to expanding your freelance opportunities and building valuable connections. Learn more about why and how freelancers should network with each other to enhance collaboration, discover new projects, and foster a supportive community that can contribute to your professional growth.

Create A Freelancer-Friendly Environment In Your Home

Now that you know what you’re getting yourself into, let’s talk about how to make this freelancing gig a reality. Creating an environment where you can focus on work and avoid distractions is essential for success as a full-time freelancer.

Think about the things that distract you from work or keep you from completing projects in a timely fashion, then decide which of these items are necessary for living in your home (or apartment).

If pets are part of your life, it might be best to find them other accommodations while working and try not to take them out for walks during prime time hours when most people would be socializing with friends.

If noise bothers you or coworkers often drop by unexpectedly, look into soundproofing or putting up some curtains as soon as possible! It may also help if they knew they couldn’t just pop in without warning.

If nothing else this will give them time to prepare themselves mentally before interacting with clients/friends alike so everyone knows what’s going on beforehand instead of having last-minute surprises spring up unannounced all over again whenever someone wants something done urgently without checking first whether they have time available inside their schedule today;

Maybe even write down what needs doing so everyone knows exactly where things stand without having unexpected interruptions occur unexpectedly again?

Set Healthy Boundaries With Yourself And Others

You can do this by setting healthy boundaries with yourself, your clients, and your friends and family.

You need to make time for yourself. This may mean that you have a set number of hours each day where you turn off the phones and computers and go outside even if there are emails to answer or projects that need finishing.

You also need to take care of your health your body is your temple! Make sure you get enough sleep, eat well (but not too much), exercise regularly, and don’t overwork yourself. If something feels off in your body, listen to it!

The best way I have found to stay healthy while working remotely is by taking breaks when needed; sometimes those breaks will be long ones (like going on vacation) but most of the time they’ll just be small chunks of time here or there where I’m not working in front of my computer screen but still an able break from my work enough so as not be stressed out about it all day long.”

Join A Networking Community Or Group

Networking is all about making connections, and it’s important to have a healthy network of contacts to help you grow your freelance business. A networking group can be a great way to meet other freelancers in your area, as well as learn helpful tips on how to improve your business.

If you’re not sure where or how to find a networking group in your local area, check out Meetup or Eventbrite for events happening around town. There are also many online communities where people gather together in chat rooms or forums and discuss topics related to freelancing and self-employment.

These places are great resources for asking questions about how others manage their businesses, as well as learning from their experiences (and mistakes).

The more time that you spend with other freelancers like yourself, the more ideas will come into play for ways that you can work smarter rather than harder when starting on this path!

Hiring a freelance videographer for your event or project requires careful consideration. Our guide on how to choose a freelance videographer provides useful tips and criteria to ensure you find the right professional who aligns with your vision, style, and budget, resulting in high-quality video production.

Advocate For Yourself When You’re Unhappy With Your Payment

If you’re unhappy with the amount you’ve been paid, there are ways you can advocate for yourself. First of all, don’t let anyone make you feel bad about asking to be compensated fairly. If they try to convince you that this is your “good fortune,” or if they suggest that you should be happy just to have a client at all let them know that’s not how things work in the real world!

Be Ready With These Responses:

“It doesn’t seem like enough for me.”

“I’m sorry; I don’t think this is enough for my time.” (Remember: If they ask why it isn’t enough, take note of what their response was and use that as something to negotiate with later.)

“I’m not comfortable accepting this payment.” You may need more time before feeling confident saying this one out loud!

Understand That ‘busy’ Doesn’t Mean ‘successful.’

It might seem counterintuitive, but many freelancers take on too much work and end up feeling like they’re constantly running behind. To avoid this pitfall, make sure that you’re doing work that is meaningful to you.

You should feel confident and competent in your abilities as a professional so that you can be selective about which projects you choose to pursue.

Also, make sure not to overwork yourself if something takes longer than anticipated or if an opportunity arises unexpectedly, don’t feel obligated (or guilt-tripped) into taking it on at the expense of your health or happiness! And remember: if something doesn’t fit into your life’s agenda right now, don’t force it!

Finally… keep a healthy work-life balance by setting some time aside each day where there’s no work involved (via vegging out on Netflix with friends/family/pets, etc.)

Determine What ‘full-Time’ Means To You. Maybe It’s Just 20 Hours A Week

As you plan to make freelancing a full-time job, it’s important to first define what ‘full-time’ means for you. Maybe it’s just 20 hours per week. Maybe it’s 40 hours per week. Maybe your current workload already feels like a full-time job, and so you’re wondering how much more time you can take on without going insane.

Whatever your definition of “full-time” maybe, one thing is certain: if you don’t set goals before starting your new freelance career (or any other business venture), then chances are good that the project will fail or lose steam after only a few months or weeks.

You won’t see what works and what doesn’t work until you’ve been at it long enough and by that point, there may not be anything left to salvage from this endeavor except lessons learned!

But how do we set goals? How do we know whether or not they’re achievable? Here’s where things get interesting: there are no universal answers when it comes time for setting goals in any given field because everyone has different needs and abilities based on their experiences thus far.”

Know When To Say No

You’re not going to be able to work on all the projects that come your way. You can’t take on a client who is going to take up more than 80% of your time because they need every single design element created for their business and don’t have a lot of money, especially when you’re already working with another client who has similar needs for their company.

That’s why it’s important to know when it’s best for you and your clients (and sometimes even friends) if you say no. If the project isn’t something that would benefit both parties, that’s fine! It doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with either party it just means it wasn’t meant to be at this time or place.

And that doesn’t mean things won’t change in the future; if enough time passes, maybe then those two people will find themselves working together again or maybe even starting a new relationship altogether!

You never know what might happen down the road; what matters most right now is respecting each other while being honest about how much time both parties have available at present moment in life.”

If you have a passion for writing and an interest in the agricultural industry, freelancing as a writer in this field can be a rewarding career path. Discover practical steps and valuable insights on how to become a freelance writer in the agricultural industry to pursue your passion, connect with relevant clients, and create compelling content that resonates with the agricultural community.

Ask For Help When You Need It, Both Professionally And Personally

When you’re freelancing full-time, it’s easy to feel like you’re all alone. But there are many resources available that can help you as you work through the challenges of working for yourself.

Seeking out a mentor, professional development opportunities, support groups or communities, and even therapy can help you get past some of the unique struggles freelancers face.

If this sounds overwhelming, don’t worry we’ve got your back! We’ve put together a list of helpful resources below:

A therapist or counselor This person should be someone who understands both mental health issues and independent work. They’ll be able to guide you through personal problems (like lack of sleep) that arise from freelance life so that they don’t interfere with your productivity (or ability to make rent).

A life coach is basically like having a therapist who only focuses on helping clients achieve their goals rather than treating them for underlying issues like depression or anxiety.

They’re trained in goal setting and motivation techniques specifically designed for entrepreneurs.

Life coaches can help freelancers develop strategies so they can more effectively manage their time while still getting everything they need to get done each day.

Put Together A Collection Of Recommendations And Testimonials From Past Clients

The best way to build up a portfolio of work is by putting together a collection of recommendations and testimonials from past clients. Use these to help you land new clients, promote your services, ask for a raise or promotion at your current job, and much more!

As long as they’re relevant and well-written (and they better be!), you can use them in any way that suits your needs.

Freelance Is Hard But Rewarding If You Are Willing To Take Care Of Yourself

Freelancing is not an easy job. It takes a lot of self-discipline, self-care, and self-confidence to be successful at freelancing long term. You have to believe in yourself and love yourself before you can expect others will do so too. If you don’t care about yourself, then how can anyone else?

Conclusion

This topic is very broad, and there’s a lot more to discuss. We hope to continue posting on this subject in the future. Thanks again for reading our post and taking the time to comment!

Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve answered some of the most common questions freelancers have about becoming full-time freelancers. If you have a burning question or comment but don’t see it here, let us know in the comments below!

How Do I Get Clients?

You can find clients on freelance sites like Upwork and Fiverr, or by reaching out to people directly (e.g., through LinkedIn). Some companies also offer referral bonuses for referring others who complete projects for them make sure to ask what those terms are if you decide to go this route!

How Do I Keep Track Of My Time?

If your clients pay by the hour or day, you must keep track of how long each task takes so that when they pay you invoices at the end of each month/quarter/etc., there are no surprises about how much money they owe.

If possible, work with someone else who knows how long things should take; this will allow them to help manage expectations while still allowing flexibility in case unexpected circumstances arise unexpectedly!

If no one else is available then try using apps like Toggl (iOS) which allows its users to begin tracking time right away without having too many extra features just yet

How Do You Find The Best Clients?

As a freelancer, your time is important and we want to make sure that you are not spending it on people who will waste it. We have a system in place where our team selects the best candidates for each project based on their experience and credentials.

You don’t need to worry about finding the right clients or communicating with them because all of that is taken care of by us!

How Do I Get Paid As A Freelancer?

When working with us there are two ways we can pay our freelancers: hourly or project-based payments. Hourly wages are paid every week via PayPal, while project fees are paid out after each job has been completed successfully (and approved).

If we both agree upon an hourly rate and how many hours per month then we will provide this information to you at the beginning of every month.

So that no surprises come up later down the road when looking back at budgets/expenses spent during those particular months where everything seemed fine but now suddenly there seems like there isn’t enough money left over after paying everyone off their salaries…

What Is Freelancing?

Freelancing is a flexible way of working. As a freelancer, you can work where and when you want. You don’t have to sit at an office or wait for someone else to give you assignments. You can choose the type of work that interests you and spend more time on it rather than doing a lot of different types of projects to make money.

How Do I Become A Successful Freelancer?

Many factors go into being considered successful as a freelancer but there are some essentials: Work hard on your passion. Be extremely good at what you do. Build up your reputation by being helpful, reliable, and easy to deal with.

Get known as an expert in your field by providing value through writing articles, giving advice, or holding seminars. Make sure that people know who they will be getting if they hire someone like yourself for their project or job which will make them want to work with them again!

Costantine Edward

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.