4 Things You Need to Start Freelancing in the Philippines
Everything you need to have to start freelancing in the country
If you're one of the lucky ones during this pandemic, you might have experienced working from home. I did too.
However, the longer I stayed online, the more I learned that I could earn much more doing the same work if I started freelancing. In fact, my previous company is severely underpaying me.
I wanted to earn more so, I started freelancing.
So, realizing the borderline exploitation happening in the country, I decided to write this tutorial to help everyone break free from this system through freelancing.
What is freelancing?
Simply put, freelancing is like establishing and operating your own company. You'll manage your own time, decide your rates, and choose your clients.
Most importantly, freelancing is earning OFW wages without leaving your home.
Since you make your own decisions for your freelancing career, you can earn much, much more than the measly (no offense) 15k to 25k peso salary that most companies in the Philippines offer.
It's like earning like being an OFW from the comfort of your own home, without leaving any of your loved ones behind.
Disadvantages of Freelancing
I would do you a disservice to say that freelancing is all glamorous and that it would be an easy way to make money.
Since freelancing is like running your own business, you will also be responsible for looking for your clients, which is one of the most complex parts of freelancing.
No, freelancing isn’t all glamour. There will be times that you’ll struggle looking for clients, and thus have no income at all.
Not to mention that you'll have to take care of your insurance, SSS savings, taxes, etc., on top of running your own business.
However, don't let these things discourage you because once you get started and familiarize yourself with freelancing, it will all become second nature. Trust the process.
What do you need to start freelancing?
If you want to start freelancing, here are some things you need to know to help you start.
If only, I knew about these, it would make my freelance career much easier to start.
These tips are based on my personal experiences, so they might differ from your situation. Nevertheless, I'll do my best to make it easier for your to start your freelancing career.
- Reliable internet connection
A reliable internet connection is one of the most important tools to have to start freelancing.
Though you can do freelance work with a slow internet connection (3 Mbps below), having a fast and reliable connection will greatly improve your workflow since you'll be downloading and uploading many files when dealing with your clients.
So, if you can, I suggest you get a fiber internet connection with a minimum speed of 10 Mbps.
2. Passport, Driver's Licence, or Philsys National ID
Believe it or not, having none of these documents was the only reason I did not start freelancing earlier.
You need at least one of these documents to sign up for different freelancing platforms and open a Paypal account to receive international payments.
No, having a birth certificate, barangay clearance, NBI clearance, etc., cannot substitute these documents. So, apply for at least one of these as soon as possible so you can start freelancing immediately.
3. Verified GCash and Paypal accounts
As an extension of the previous section, you need to have a verified GCash and Paypal account to receive payment from your clients.
Without these accounts, receiving international payments would be harder for you and your clients.
4. Reliable computer
This item might be a bit obvious, but a reliable computer is a must-have for freelance work.
Save yourself the frustration of finding out that your computer can't run a certain program you need to do your job.
Coming Soon: Best laptops for freelancers you can buy online
What are the top freelancing platforms?
Not all freelancing platforms are the same; some are more competitive than others and usually pay lower than others.
Real talk, not all platforms are created equal, look for international clients. They pay better.
So, to help you start and focus your efforts on finding your first client, here are the top freelancing platforms you can check out:
- Upwork
If you have a lot of experience and are confident in your skills, Upwork is the way to go.
It is a freelancing platform where a lot of foreign companies go to hire freelancers.
Compared to the other freelancing platforms, Upwork has the most high-paying clients.
- Online Jobs PH
Though I really don't recommend this platform as most companies there tend to pay local wages.
However, if you just want to gain freelance experience, this platform is good for you.
- Fiverr
Suppose you have niche skills such as drawing, voice acting, video editing, etc. Fiverr can be a good platform for you.
However, be aware that the competition in this platform can be quite tough, driving down prices.
Coming Soon: Freelancing tips from freelancers
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