Freelance Advice for Beginners: Top Tips From Experienced Creatives
It can be an exciting step to decide to be self-employed – with the prospect of greater freedom, flexibility and control over your career.
However, building a successful freelance business also comes with challenges, from finding your first clients and setting your rates to managing your time, finances and confidence.
Sometimes, the most useful guidance comes from people who have already taken the leap.
Through our Freelancer Spotlight series, we have spoken to talented freelancers and creative professionals from a wide range of disciplines about their careers, experiences and lessons learned along the way. As part of each interview, we asked them what advice they would give to someone considering becoming self-employed.
In this round-up, we have brought together some of their best insights. Whether you are preparing to start freelancing, have recently become self-employed or are still deciding whether it is right for you, their practical and honest advice can help you approach the journey with greater confidence.
What advice would you give to others who wanted to become self-employed?
"Be clear on why you want to run your own business, what you want to achieve from it and what problem do you want to solve for your client."
"My first thought is don’t wait until you are ready, as you’ll never be ready.
"Be prepared to jump out of your comfort zone and don’t be afraid to ask for help. It is a steep learning curve but by taking inspired small consistent steps you will learn and grow.
"Try and join as many online communities as you feel comfortable with, so that they don't overwhelm you or make you feel despondent, but that you can learn from them how people make a living doing what you do.
"Also of course go to networking events, in and out of your field (remember the people hiring are often not in your field).
"I'd also suggest creating a creative mantra (maybe hang it somewhere in your space) that reminds you why you started in your field, what it is that you love about it.
"And finally, try and make something just for the fun of it as often as possible. There's a real danger when you make your passion your profession that you'll grow to hate it."
I would advise anyone thinking about becoming self-employed to carefully consider their financial situation first.
It’s essential to understand that the freelancing business operates differently than a full-time job, where you have a consistent income. Many people don’t fully understand how unpredictable it can be.
"If self-employment is your goal, make sure to plan ahead. Create a financial strategy that ensures you’ll remain stable for the next few months. Having a solid plan will give you the confidence to take the leap and pursue your passion."
"Remember why you’re doing it. Especially for filmmakers, it’s probably not for the money. Unless you have a rich daddy who works as a film producer, you won’t see a lot of money for a while. Never forget the dream and keep fighting for it."
"I'm by no means an expert, very few are. Which I guess is advice. Never be afraid to ask for advice, lean into people's knowledge, and be a sponge. Being open to learning, asking for help when it is needed and putting yourself "out there"."
"And then something boring like document and systemise. Starting this way is much easier than retrospectively. If everything goes well your growth may be quicker than you think."
Luke Harmer – Cinematographer / Video Production
"Try not to do anything in haste and leave a contracted job on good terms, if possible to maintain future positive relationships.
"I would suggest that you do as much groundwork and due diligence in advance for your business and once you are set up, then talk with anyone and everyone about your business skills.
"I have found that new business leads can sometimes come out of the most random of conversations or meetings. Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask for help."
"Freelancing gives you time to sharpen your skills in ways you wouldn’t working a normal 9-5.
"There’s nothing more rewarding than honing your craft to eventually earn a living. Keep pushing and stay inspired. Connect with others going through the same thing. Freelancing offers flexibility and independence."
Georgina Grivas – Photographer
"Be brave and go for it. It’s scary at first but there are plenty of business clubs, organisations, societies, and mentors out there who can give you the knowledge, advice, support, and motivation you need to get and keep you going.
"You don’t have to be on your own if you don’t want to be. People generally love being asked for advice as it gives them self-worth too. Ask and you shall receive. Just don’t become a pest about it."
"Think of yourself as a business with one employee. It’s rewarding, but freelancing requires hard work and dedication to juggle multiple roles from marketing to sales and beyond."
Sean Dudley – Freelance Copywriter
"One thing I found helpful is having a ready-made network which is a privilege which comes with being a magazine editor – I used to edit Insurance Age.
"Before taking the plunge I would advise anyone to build and nurture their contact base as it’s the best way to get work."
Sian Barton – Freelance Content Creator and PR Expert
"First and foremost is that you must enjoy the work, you must enjoy the juggle of multiple clients, agencies, projects, the demands of meeting and greeting as many people as you can so that you develop a wide client base, with as many types of people and companies you want to work for."
"You have a unique opportunity to chase your dream project and work towards it, project by project or in some cases you land the dream job just by asking.
"The other thing is to be super organised, not only with your administration but with your finances. Being organised means that you make more time and be more flexible to take on work at short notice, juggle the multiple projects you have or be available at a drop of a hat when your client needs you.
"Think of yourself as a business in your own right, create job numbers for every project, organise your receipts that work through to your account’s software, save files and folders in a safe space and certainly safe from external access."
Ajay Parekh – Freelance Project Director and Executive Producer
"Make the leap, it’s always going to feel terrifying!
"Despite always wanting to go back to freelancing – it’s where I started my career – I’d have waited a few more years had life not unfolded the way it did.
"My employer suddenly went under and I realised that I was holding on to a sense of security that didn’t necessarily exist.
"Yes, freelancing is a rollercoaster, but it does help you diversify risk when the economy is unstable. Once you have a portfolio and an idea of your differentiation, lean into your network and contacts. Opportunities can come from anywhere, and one or two brilliant people recommending you can make all the difference."
"Someone I deeply admire recommended also giving yourself an ‘x’ amount of financial runway and setting aside enough resources to last for a specific period. Every time you make money with your business, extend the runway. And then if you run out, you can always go back to a salaried job.
"But if you don’t? You never know, you might be in it for the long haul. There’s also nothing like a deadline for motivation. Needing to build a business from the ground up and make a profit was a great way to focus on progress over perfection and work the moonlight hours to find clients, hit deadlines, and quickly refine the product offering. There was no plan B or safety net."
"I would say if you’re looking to be a freelancer or self-employed, definitely prepare for a rainy day. Make sure you have some savings because it can be very up and down. There may be times when there is loads of work and other times where there is none. At the end of the day, I would give it a shot. There’s nothing wrong with going back into full-time work."
"Keep a sense of structure and routine! It’s crucial for maintaining balance and ensuring productivity."
"Freelancing is definitely an adventure! It gives you a lot of freedom, but you also end up being your own boss, accountant and marketing department all rolled into one. Be ready for both the good days and the tough ones. But, if you love what you do and have the drive to make it work, the rewards are definitely worth it."
"My two top tips are firstly, you don't need a grand plan, just a gap in the market.
"I noticed something missing, and did something about it. Pay attention to the problems you keep seeing that nobody else is solving. That's usually where the opportunity is.
"Secondly, tell people you already know how they can work with you. My earliest work came from former colleagues who'd seen what I could do. You don't need a big following or a slick launch to get started. You need a handful of people who trust you and are willing to give you a chance."
Written by
Luke Glassford
Head of Marketing
Any views or opinions expressed above are for guidance only and are expressed in generic terms. They are not intended as a substitute for readers taking appropriate professional advice relevant to individual circumstances.
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