As of 2019, there were nearly 57 million freelancers in the United States, with a whopping 50% of Gen-Z participating in freelancing. If this trend continues, it is likely that more than half of Americans will be freelancing in the near future at least in some capacity.
Many of the workers mentioned above are full-time freelancers, while others keep their regular 9-5 or service jobs while taking on side projects during their free time. The rise in part-time and freelance work has brought about a new term for this type of labor market, “The Gig Economy.”
But there is a lot you need to know about generating income outside of a “regular” salaried or hourly position. There are advantages and disadvantages to consider; taxes will look different than your old colleagues’; you’ll be running your own small business operation; your life and schedule will be completely different compared to what it once was.
All of this to say that the way we work is changing, and we’re EXCITED for it. As passionate and experienced freelancers ourselves, we’ve created this handbook to include everything we wish we knew when embarking on our individual freelance journeys.
Here are some questions you can expect to answer from this guide:
- Chapter 1: Why should I freelance?
- Chapter 2: Am I qualified to freelance?
- Chapter 3: How do I start freelancing?
- Chapter 4: How do I find freelance clients?
- Chapter 5: What are the common mistakes freelancers make? (And how to avoid them)
- Chapter 6: What are the downsides of freelancing?
- Bonus Materials: The Freelancer’s Guide to Money
So, let’s start with the most important one.