The right way to start freelancing

I’ve been running my own freelance design business for 17 years, but only recently started sharing my expertise through writing. I usually speak to a more experienced freelancer audience, helping established professional consultants take their indie businesses from good to great.

However, in response to my articles, the most common questions I get asked, by far, are from those with little or no freelance experience: How do I get started freelancing? How do a find my first clients? How do I turn this into a consistent full-time career?

That should come as no surprise. The traditional 9–5 office employment model is collapsing, and flexible business options like freelancing are exploding in popularity. That popularity — combined with the low barrier of entry for most digital professions, and the global reach of remote working — has created a competitive market that makes gaining traction as a new freelancer very challenging.

I’ve come across some terrible freelancing advice, right here on Medium and elsewhere. So today I reflect on the beginning of my freelance career to impart some important knowledge on how to get started off on the right foot. These are all lessons I’ve learned through first-hand experience, trial and error…