There are several benefits to freelancing. having the freedom to choose your own hours, the freedom to change your prices whenever you like, and being your own employer gives you the most freedom. Let’s find out together how to start a freelancing career in the Philippines.
You could be tempted to quit your full-time work right away if it were almost enough to convince you to do so.
However, obtaining freelance work won’t necessarily be simple. You are aware that working as a freelancer will present problems as well as possibilities. And you want to be sure your choice is the proper one.
We’ll assist you in determining whether freelancing is the best career choice for you. Let’s begin by making clear what we’re discussing. How does freelancing operate and what is it?
How does freelancing work?
When someone works for themselves, they are freelancing. You’ll probably accept freelancing jobs from various customers, perhaps working a few hours each week for each. Either a project rate or an hourly rate is what you’ll bill.
Benefits and drawbacks of freelancing
What merits freelancing, then? What else may cause you to hesitate?
Let’s examine the peaks and troughs:
Benefits of working as a freelancer
1. Earn money by doing what you love.
Spending a significant portion of your workday doing something you enjoy is one of the main benefits of working as a freelancer.
Like to write? Perhaps you’ll start working as a copywriter or blogger for hire.
Adore art? You may launch a freelance graphic design company.
Did you learn how to program? The freelance job market is thriving in the software industry.
There are many kinds of freelance work available, however, some of the most popular ones will fall under one of these general categories:
Copywriting, editing, SEO writing, technical writing, proofreading, and other writing services are available. For logos, websites, printed materials, infographics, book covers, and more, graphic design services are available. Services for developing software include for desktop programs, internet, mobile applications, and plugins. Data input, email management, social media management, trip arrangements, and other administrative chores are included.
Do any of those catch your attention? Would you undertake anything on that list only for amusement?
2. Own your business
You’ve undoubtedly daydreamed about having your own business at some point.
As a successful freelancer, you have complete control. Although it might be intimidating, most independent contractors couldn’t fathom giving it up.
Which initiatives to do are entirely up to you. You have the option to reject customers you don’t wish to deal with. Nobody is directing your actions.
You can even boost your own salary. Once you’ve built up a solid clientele that appreciates your work, you may easily raise your prices.
3.Decide on your own schedule based on your needs and situation.
They won’t likely care what hours you work unless the sort of remote job you conduct includes providing your clients with help that is particularly time sensitive. You may put in a full day’s worth of work from 5 a.m. to noon. While your children are at school, you may work. You might work full- or part-time, depending on what fits you best.
This is a significant benefit of freelancing, particularly if you have children or care obligations. You may work from home when your children are in school or daycare, or during naps.
Additionally, working freelance allows you to plan your tasks for when you’re at your most attentive and productive.
You might be amazed by how much you can do in a short period of time.
4. Home-based work (or pretty much anywhere)
All throughout the world, individuals began working remotely in 2020. Many people adored it, while others couldn’t wait to go back to the workplace.
You’ll like working from home if you enjoy having your own space and your home comforts. You may arrange your workstation any way you like, listen to any music you prefer, and even take a sleep in the middle of the day.
Naturally, you can become weary of your own four walls by the year 2020. Numerous alternative possibilities are available, including neighborhood cafés, public libraries, and co-working spaces.
Some freelancers pursue a “digital nomad” lifestyle, which allows them to work almost anywhere in the globe as long as they have a laptop and an internet connection. Even while it might not be a feasible idea until COVID is completely under control, it is undoubtedly a benefit to anticipate in the future.
5. Choose the company of people you want to work with
Have you ever worked with a coworker with whom you just got along poorly? In a typical company, you are forced to work with anyone your management or employer hires. You can only hope that they are simple to deal with.
The people you work with may transform a perfectly fine job into a nightmare, whether it’s an office buddy who chatters nonstop, a coworker who is obnoxious, or a line manager who is constantly micromanaging you.
In contrast, you have complete control over whom you work with when you are a freelancer. You have the right to terminate a customer if they turn out to be a real hassle. Even better, you may actively look for customers and companies whom you wish to collaborate with.
Drawbacks of working as a freelancer
Freelancing has a ton of benefits, as we’ve just shown. However, there might also be some downsides.
1. You will be the one to set up your own health insurance.
For many aspiring small company owners and freelancers in the US and other nations without socialized healthcare systems, this is a significant disadvantage. Starting your own business might have a significant impact on your household budget if your health insurance is provided by your employer.
You’ll still have alternatives for health insurance, of course. You could be eligible to enroll in their plan, for instance, if your partner has a job. In the worst situation, you could just get private health insurance.
Whatever your specific circumstance, be careful to research your options and establish a plan for your health insurance before you leave your employment.
2. Possibly more administrative work than you anticipate will be involved.
There is a lot of effort involved in running your own small business that doesn’t immediately affect your revenue. As an independent contractor, you invest a lot of time in managing projects, accounts, taxes, emails, marketing, and social media.
You won’t be able to bill for your whole 40-hour work week. As an alternative, you’ll probably be billed for 20 to 25 hours. Therefore, avoid the grave error of comparing your hourly freelance pay to your hourly wage at your regular employment.
3. If you don’t have any coworkers to work with, you could feel a little lonely.
Although working alone can be a benefit of freelancing, even seasoned introverts may become weary of being alone all the time.
If you’re used to interacting with coworkers during the workday, freelancing could seem awkward and lonely. Without the usual social connection, you could struggle to concentrate.
4. Your costs can increase.
Even though you won’t pay to commute, you could discover that your costs increase. You must use your earnings to pay for any new equipment you require for your freelancing, such as a new laptop, chair, program, or tool.
Depending on what you currently own and the kind of freelancing you intend to do, your costs may end up eating up a sizable portion of your income, at least in the beginning.
5. Your revenue fluctuates, frequently in an unpredictable way.
It’s doubtful that you’ll make a steady monthly income as a freelancer. Your revenue won’t be consistent until each and every one of your clients requests the exact same volume of work from you each month.
Some contract workers refer to this cycle as “feast or famine.” They could struggle to manage all of their freelance work in one month if they have a lot of it. That work was finished the next month. They have little to do and not enough money because they haven’t been seeking for something new.
Unfortunately, you could discover that the revenue you had anticipated didn’t come through. You may lose a project that you were banking on or have a customer pay you late.
Start your Freelance Work
Are you prepared to start your freelance career? Your day’s rapid activity plan is as follows:
- Assemble examples of your prior work. Create scans or locate links to the websites where they are posted.
- Send an email to at least one person asking for a recommendation in your field of freelancing (e.g. writing). This can be a former coworker or someone you gave free assistance to.
- Create a professional-looking email account, either through Gmail or, if you have a website, your domain.
- Maintain your forward motion, and you’ll soon have the freelance career of your dreams.
