You want to start your freelancing journey but do not know where to start. Freelancing is great way to earn money be it online or offline. This caters to the issue of limitation of resources and also money. Freelancing is great way to bootstart a business idea targeted on certain audience and location which when gains momentum can be scaled up. Freelancing is also a great way to explore your passions where you are your own boss. In this age of Industrial revolution 4.0, internet is your best friend which can be leveraged to generate income for you. In this article, I will help you in launching your freelancing journey with a step by step guide.

1. Freelancing is a Good way to boost your Side Hustle in 2025

Freelancing is a $1.3 trillion industry in the U.S. according to Upwork Report 2024. Demand for freelancing is increasing day by day. As with dawn of new era of hyperconnectivity fuelled by internet, there is a greater scope of freelancing than ever before. You donot need to have a degree for starting your this journey. As a student or as an employed person it offers opportunity for a side hustle. There is a myth that it is too competitive. In fact it has created new opportunities that never existed. There is a scope for everyone to grow here. It lets you explores the minute nuances left over by big players. Freelancers are in direct contact with there customer and hence can cater to their specific needs. They can also tailor their business regularly based on the feedback offered by them.

2. Why should you consider freelancing?

1. The demand has been increasing of the workers for freelancing skill.
2. This offers flexibility of work and work life balance.
3. The earning potential is unlimited in the freelancing work compared to a traditional job.
4. The industry has grown by 22% from the 2020. This is also reflected in the trend that 53% of Gen Z focus on freelancing jobs due to low start up cost.

Here is a step by step guide to start your own journey in this niche.

Step 1: Choosing a Profitable Freelancing Skill

If you are a beginner start something using the ikigai technique used by Japanese. A skill at which you are good, matching your interest, needed by the world and which can paid by the consumers. The freelancing is more than just a gig, it is trillion dollar industry. For stats, this is a $1.3 trillion industry representing significant portion of the total $18 trillion economic output. 

Here are some of the beginner friendly options :-

1. Video editing :- Editing YouTube videos, short videos like Instagram reels or shorts etc. Shooting them and publishing them on social media for increasing the reach of the customer’s business.
2. Beauty/Makeup Industry :- Applying makeup, nail extensions for the bridal functions and personal appearances for any fashion show.
3. Graphic designing :- Business logos, marketing banners, branding, publication design and gaming designs.
4. Web development :- creating websites using wordpress and improving it’s visibility by making it SEO optimized.
5. Writing and blogging :- Creating blog posts and charging for individual posts.

Note :- YouTube is good way to start learning about your niche by watching various videos related to your topic. Udemy and Skillshare are platforms which offer various courses to kickstart your learning journey ultimately leading making you a well established skilled freelancer. 

Step 2: Create a Portfolio

Portfolio lands you credibility which enhances the trust between you and the client. So a portfolio describing about your work is a recommended way to start even without a client.

• Writers :- start scribing blogs on Medium, LikedIn and Quora. This will increase your experience and also you can tweak your strategy according to likes/dislikes of the followers.
• Graphic Designers :- Design logos using free tools on canva using your creative thinking. You can publish such logos on Instagram also to attract clients.
• Video Editors :- Edit a sample videos from reels, shorts, Tiktok or anything of your own.
• Beauty/Makeup Industry :- Start with various before and after photos and client feedback if you have had any experience earlier.

Step 3 : Join the Best Freelance Platforms & Finding Work

After the creation of the portfolio, it’s time to find the clients. The clients can be found on various freelance marketplaces, where the clients come out searching for various skilled freelancers. Your portfolio and work should be reflected on these websites that will increase your reliability, reach and rate.

Some of the Websites for freelancers:

Fiverr :- for short term quick gigs & offers large categories of services but charges 20% commission for orders upto $500.
Upwork :- Ideal for long-term, high-paying projects (easily $40 to $60/hour) but challenging for new freelancers who are yet to find their feet. Offers payment protection. UMA i.e. Mindful AI is available to all the freelancers and clients to find best match for their work.
Toptal :- Offers premium services to freelancers in tech & design from top businesses. Only top tier professionals get through as it has a screening process.
PeoplePerHour :- Great for hourly freelance work.

LinkedIn :- Helps in networking with varied businesses and is a well established site but due to the presence of many professionals, standing out can be difficult.

Note : Initially keep the prices on lower end and as you gain clients and experience, the prices can be increased.

Step 4 : Sending Proposals to get Clients quick

Getting clients requires proposals that are strong and attention grabbing. Avoid giving same generic proposal to each and every client.

·      Avoid giving same generic proposal to each and every client.

·      Every client must be given proper attention to understand the nuances of the work being asked for.

·      Unrealistic quotations may be avoided. For starters, check the quotation range offered by professionals of your niche and accordingly tailor your pricing range.

·      Focus on client’s needs.

Remember – ‘Client is always right’. Hence a patient understanding of the needs will be appreciated and you will command good reviews in the niche in the long run.

Step 5 :- Setting the Price range

Now comes the pertinent question :- How much should be charged to the clients? Initially start low and gradually keep on increasing the price according to the demand and your time availability. The Blogging industry offers $20-75/hour on an average which can go upwards to $50-500/article for project based works. The web designing industry offers $30-150/hour on an average which can go upwards to $500-5000+ for full website based project. The makeup industry offers $50-100/hour and can go upto $40-500 depending on the type of project and class of client being dealt.

Best Payment Platforms for Freelancers :-

·      Paypal :- very easy to register but high commission fees. Widely accepted.

·      Wise :- Low transaction fees.

If primarily dealing in international transactions and quick gigs, go for wise as it is cheaper. Otherwise Paypal is for everyday transactions and online purchases.

FAQs: Answering Common Beginner Questions

Q: What is earning potential of an individual in freelancing?
Beginners can earn from $100-$1000/month which can be increased upwards to $5000+/month as shown in the table above.

Q: How to start my freelancing journey without money?
There are various tools available on the internet which are freelike Canva, Google Docs, and free website builders using the coding in various open AI tools. Using social media sites for expanding reach and work can be an effective way.

Q: How can the scams be avoided in the freelancing?
Avoid anyone asking for free service as there is no such thing as a free lunch. Use contracts and vet clients rigorously.

Q: How to command credibility as a beginner?

Giving the proof of work and branding it accordingly on social media sites is a good way to establish credibility.

Q: How long does it take to build a sustainable freelance income?

Typically 3–6 months based up on consistency and class of work.

Q: What freelance jobs can I do without experience?

Jobs like blogging, social media manager, makeup artist and website building.

Ready to land your first freelance job? Sign up on Fiverr today and start your freelancing journey!