Photo Credit: Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels
How To Turn Your Side Hustle Into a Full-fledged Freelance Business
guest post by Courtney Rosenfeld – Freelancing Consultant
One of the biggest perks when working as a freelancer is the flexibility to work from anywhere and whenever you want. You have the freedom to work in your pajamas, finish your task at the coffee shop, or complete projects at the beach.
Freelancing is a good opportunity, especially if you’re thinking of becoming a full-time digital nomad.
Read these tips shared to you by WritingConversions.com if you’re planning to convert your side gigs into a full-time freelancing business.
Getting Started
The first step to transitioning to a full-time freelance business owner is to register your business name. It’s better to also see a lawyer to help you decide how to structure your freelancing business. A sole proprietorship is the easiest structure, but it is only available for a single owner and you will be responsible for all liabilities.
A limited liability company, on the other hand, is a privately managed company and a separate legal entity.
There are advantages and disadvantages to these – and other – business structures, so it’s best to get an expert opinion before selecting one for your freelance business.
No matter which business structure you choose, it’s best to open a business account to separate business from personal finances. You might also consider building a team to help manage your business and investing in CRM software to help you work more efficiently.
To help ensure success, consider going back to school and earning an advanced degree. For example, if you’re thinking of working as a full-time graphic designer, think about getting a master of arts in graphic design to up your skills and establish credibility in your field.
By studying remotely, you can still work as a freelancer or help with family obligations while earning your master’s degree. In choosing an online school, make sure it has the right accreditation and offers competitive tuition rates.
Benefits of Becoming a Full-time Freelancer
As a freelancer, you have the freedom to choose the clients you work with. Unless you sign a long-term contract, you have the flexibility to discontinue working with clients who give you headaches.
This level of control is helpful in bad situations, but don’t overuse it. Bowing out of too many client partnerships can cause you to develop a bad reputation, which isn’t good for business.
One of the biggest benefits as a freelancer is that you have full control of your workload. You can work as much or as little as you want. Because it’s mostly flexible, you can choose to work in the early morning or late at night.
But be mindful of differing time zones and timely meetings with clients. It can be tempting to push work aside for other obligations when you no longer have to clock in at specific times, so make sure you can manage your time wisely before launching your freelance business.
Market Your Services as a Freelancer
Knowing your target market is important to the success of your freelancing business. Find out who your competitors are, and learn about the latest trends.
Most importantly, build a strong online presence, and create a professional website with your portfolio to attract more clients. Working with a consultant can help you to create a strong social media ad campaign that will get you recognized in the right circles.
As you start corresponding with potential clients, make sure you have an excellent resume that outlines all of your accomplishments and skills as a freelancer. In fact, you may discover that you rely heavily on your resume to land new gigs and clients.
So, if you haven’t done so already, get your resume in top form. You can even use a resume builder to help you create a resume that’s designed to grab people’s attention.
Then, before reaching out to clients, conduct market research and understand your customer demographics. The more you understand about your customer, their needs, and their competition, the better your pitch for business can be.
Where To Find Work
Sites such as Upwork, Truelancer, and Freelancer let you create a freelancer profile and apply for jobs. The downside is that you have to bid for these jobs, which may limit the amount of work available to you.
Another option is to use LinkedIn and proactively reach out to clients. You’re likely to close a deal with a client as long as you have a professional website, a business email address, and a portfolio of your best work.
Start Running Your Freelancing Business Today
You can easily transition to a full-time freelancer from a part-time independent contractor with the right planning and the resources needed to get started. It’s also important to market your business to generate more revenue.
As you begin to reach out to businesses, keep accurate records of your communications so that you can pick up with any client without pause. Being reliable and providing stellar work will go a long way in getting referrals and repeat business.