Can Anybody Be A Freelancer?

Free Updates via Email, Facebook, or Twitter!

Can Anybody Be A Freelancer?

Posted May 22, 2009 in Business, Lifestyle

Someone I know once said to me:

“Absolutely anyone can freelance if they want to.”

The words were flung out there innocently enough, and I know that the person speaking them truly believed it, but in a way they were hurtful to me.

I have worked very hard to set up my freelancing business and I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished with it. While it may not cost a lot to start a freelancing business, I’m not so sure that just anyone can do it.

Let’s take a look at what it really takes to start a freelancing business.

Practical Prerequisites to Starting a Freelancing Business

Naturally, there are some practical prerequisites to starting a freelance business. Without these practical prerequisites, I don’t believe that a person could freelance successfully.

Here are five practical prerequisites that a person should have before they begin to freelance:

Marketable skill — To successfully freelance a person must be able to provide a product or service that someone wants. If there’s no demand for what a person can offer, they can’t really have a freelance business.
Basic business knowledge — To successfully freelance a person should have some basic business knowledge. They should be able to create an invoice, communicate with clients, keep records, and so on.
Networking skills — To successfully freelance networking skills are critical. A good freelancer is familiar with both high tech and low tech methods of social networking. They know how to form and keep business relationships.
Time to perform freelance work — To successfully freelance an individual should have the time to perform the freelance work. If the would-be freelancer can’t deliver, they can’t stay in business.
Space to perform the work — To successfully freelance an individual must have the space to perform freelance work. Although a private office isn’t necessary, most freelancers need at least a chair and a desk.

For many forms of freelancing, it is also helpful if you have a computer, telephone, and Internet connection.

Personal Prerequisites to Starting a Freelancing Business

There are also some personal prerequisites to starting a freelance business. Personal prerequisites are character traits that are needed to run a business.

Here are five personal prerequisities that a person should have before they begin to freelance:

Willingness to work hard — To successfully freelance a person must work hard. Freelancing is hard work. Those who aren’t willing to work hard won’t make it in the freelance world.
Ability to promote one’s self — To successfully freelance an individual needs the self-confidence to promote their business. Marketing is a key part of running a freelance business.
Good organizational skills — To successfully freelance it’s important to be organized. Freelancers need to track revenues, expenses, and even their own work schedules.
Basic communication skills — To successfully freelance one needs have basic communication skills. The ability to say what you mean clearly and concisely is vital to business success.
Self-discipline — To successfully freelance a person should have self-discipline. They need to be able to work without supervision. They need to be self-driven and self-directed.

It Takes a Special Breed to Freelance

My conclusion is that it takes a special breed to become a freelancer. You need the right knowledge, the skills, and character traits to be successful.

Not everyone can or should freelance, but that’s okay.

What Do You Think? Can Just Anyone Freelance?
Why, or why not? Share your thoughts here.

About the author: Laura Spencer is a freelance writer from North Central Texas with over 20 years of professional business writing experience. If you liked this post, then you may also enjoy Laura’s blog about her freelance writing experiences, WritingThoughts. Laura is also on Google+.

← Previous Post Random PostNext Post →

The Unlimited Freelancer is Now Only $19

Unleash the true potential of your business. Get The Unlimited Freelancer and start transforming your freelance business,
now only $19.

53 Comments

Art
May 22nd, 2009 at 10:37 am

I’d like to think that anyone could freelance because I find it easy. Then again, I’d also like to think anyone can graduate college. I graduated… but I know that not everyone is motivated enough to get through.

I’d definitely have to agree with you that freelancing takes a number of practical and personal prerequisites. I just don’t think everyone makes work a high-enough priority to be a successful freelancer.
Michael Rose
May 22nd, 2009 at 10:40 am

Laura, this is totally right!

Having not been a freelancer for very long I feel the need to be recognised as someone special! :)

Joking aside it takes a lot of effort to get everything in place to make the leap and a hell of a lot of courage too.
Colin Wright
May 22nd, 2009 at 10:47 am

I think the freelancer personality type is the same as the entrepreneurial personality type, and you can usually spot those a mile away. In fact, I find that when I’m introduced to someone ‘of a like mind,’ I can usually tell that I’ll get along with them right away!
Judith
May 22nd, 2009 at 11:00 am

Freelancing calls for patience, resilience, hard-work and the ability to bounce back after several set backs. On the business side, en entrepreneurial spirit is called for. If any aspiring freelancers these and the above highlighted skills and characteristics, then they are better off working full time, so freelancing can frustratingly disappointing for the faint hearted.
But…i love the experience.
@twitter.com/kenyanfreelance
Syed Sumair Zafar
May 22nd, 2009 at 11:38 am

You are right,,,,,

i like Personal Prerequisites
Susan Johnston
May 22nd, 2009 at 12:41 pm

I’m with Collin – being a successful freelancer requires an entrepreneurial mindset! While some people think “anyone could do it,” there are others who are amazed that I’m able to earning a living as a freelance writer. “So you’re actually able to pay your bills from freelance writing projects?! That’s amazing – I didn’t think it was possible anymore. Isn’t it really hard to get assignments?” Calm down – it’s not rocket science!

I teach a freelance writing course, and I do try to instill in them these qualities that Laura mentions. Sometimes someone has those traits and just doesn’t know where to start. That’s where a book or a course can be really helpful. Others simply don’t have the drive and want to earn money in their pajamas.
Allen Laudenslager
May 22nd, 2009 at 12:49 pm

Not just anyone can be a freelancer. Many (most?) of us really thrive in a division of labor work space. I can do great tech writing but I don’t market or sell very well.

A freelancer must be a superb self marketer. To some degree you can learn marketing, like me, well enough to get by. But to really succeed you must be exceptional and that’s just not my talent.

Most people who try to freelance fall by the wayside because their natural talent won’t let them become effective marketers.
Jennifer Bourn
May 22nd, 2009 at 1:14 pm

I’ve had someone say something similar to me before – My response… There is a difference between “being a freelancer” and “being a successful freelancer”

Yes, anyone can award themselves any title they want for the most part. But it doesn’t make them an expert, it doesn’t make them good, and it doesn’t mean they can get their clients the results they are expecting.

In a recent magazine article in Ali Magazine, they stated that web design was a skill any entrepreneur could teach themselves with the right software and actually had the gall to state that getting a degree in design is not important at all because the technology changes so quickly.

To anyone out there who thinks along those lines, I’ve got somthing to say! There is so much more to being a successful designer and freelancer than knowing a software program or a tech tool. The true talent isn’t in the production or basic implementation. It is in the understanding of color, relationships, theory, history, typography, perpective, preception, desire… the ability to generate ideas that evoke emotion and get people to take action.

While anyone can open up Photoshop and create something… Anyone can not do do the above. And frankly, not all designers are cut out to freelance and be successful. Running a business is hard and you have not market yourself. If you dont’ … FAIL.

Great post BTW.
Trisha Bartle
May 22nd, 2009 at 1:22 pm

It’s so true. Not everyone can do this. I think a lot of people would get distracted by everyday household things. I do sometimes, but not enough to ruin my freelancing business. ;)
Alfred Larue
May 22nd, 2009 at 2:19 pm

I like the way this blog uses stock photography and at the same time doles out career advice to freelancers. What a joke.
Media Designer
May 22nd, 2009 at 2:46 pm

How is stock photography opposing freelancing?

But I agree with the post. Each and every job has a mindset that you need to do the job. I couldn’t be an accountant, grave digger, or Toothpaste Tube Cap Applicator.
Jared O'Toole
May 22nd, 2009 at 3:17 pm

It def takes a certain type to be a freelancer. The biggest hurdle as with entrepreneurship is that self discipline. You have to be able to function on your own and move forward. No one will push you to do things you have to make it happen.
Tracey Grady
May 22nd, 2009 at 7:06 pm

All of these are very good points. Self-discipline is key.

I would also add: the ability to get through the day with little or none of the kind of human/social contact you make in an office environment; techniques to deal with high levels of stress at times (you have no one else to hand responsibilities to); and resourcefulness – how to get through quiet periods, how to come up with ideas for new client leads, how to draw on skills that other freelancers have which can complement your services, are examples.
Joost
May 22nd, 2009 at 7:15 pm

Yeah, it’s definitely not something anyone can do.
Apart from the obvious skills as marketing, networking, etc., not every skill does well on the freelance market.
A close friend of mine is a very good high-school mathematics teacher and he is able to make some extra income tutoring, but it would be a stretch to believe he could make close to the (very good) salary he makes now, being a freelancer.

For me, a web designer/developer, it is a lot easier.

Apart from that, motivation plays a very big role.
Vu Tran
May 22nd, 2009 at 7:29 pm

I also believe that motivation and self-discipline plays a very important role in freelancing.
Thiago Cavalcanti
May 22nd, 2009 at 7:41 pm

To me, the key is to love what you to, to be really passionate about it. If that is the case, the rest will fit in by itself.
Benek
May 22nd, 2009 at 8:00 pm

You mentioned “basic communication skills”? I think you need a lot more than “basic”. Managing clients is all about communication.
Vishal Nayak - B2B Copywriter
May 23rd, 2009 at 2:33 am

Laura, I agree with you: not everyone can and should be a freelancer. Freelancing is not easy, especially when you just start out. Many people who begin freelancing have lost hope in this period. The mantra is focus, determination and a desire to win (and sustain the win).

My personal experience is: initial days of freelancing used to be a back and forth game of either extreme affluence at times or abject penury at times. One has to know lot of survival tactics and one picks up a lot of survival tactics during the initial period. Once that phase is crossed then life is a little easier but that initial period is where freelancing loses 90% of its proponents.
Lauren
May 23rd, 2009 at 2:52 am

Of course anyone can do it. If freelancing means working from home…and working from home means pyjamas all day, beer for breakfast, napping on the couch, only to wake for Oprah late afternoon before a strenuous Starbucks session (did I miss anything?)….

I think that’s the stereotype we’re fighting…. the gory details of business start-up don’t even come into it.
Raja Sekharan
May 23rd, 2009 at 4:13 am

The character requisites you have mentioned are very very important. Even if some or most of the practical requisites are not available to a person.

Discipling I feel should be at the head of the list. Followed by focus.
Tahir Akram
May 23rd, 2009 at 8:03 am

I am wondering what is the difference between a Freelance and a Entrepreneur having a small startup?
Danielle Buffardi
May 23rd, 2009 at 8:58 am

Come visit my site. I blog about tips for writers and parents.
Original Blogger
May 23rd, 2009 at 9:09 am

Can Anybody Be A Freelancer? Yes. But can they be good at it?

No.
Frederick Pohl
May 23rd, 2009 at 10:41 am

I think anyone can be a freelancer. How to start? If you are a designer or developer start marketing your services to friends and business.

The questions is where you would like to take it.

Has anyone done the Lemonade stand deal when they were kids. Set your shop up and offer your services. Get some business cards made, start a list of prospect clients, and send out offers.

Marketing your services can be done as easy as a few steps.

Build your self confidence with small projects at your current job.

Start small and grow from there, A good place to start is offering Banner Design services. You can charge a small fee and get your work out there, Even designing banners you should be able to make at lease $500 extra a month from freelancing.

If you do quality work, start marketing your services. Or look for a niche market that you can get started in.

Banner Ads are very easy to get started on. Go to elance.com and give it a try.

One important aspect is to have a Can do attitude. You will definetly not get there if you feel you cant do it or do not have the skills to complete the task at hand.

Great tips on the article above to the up an comign freelancer.

I quit my 9-5 1 year ago and can say I made more my last year than working the old 9-5 job – I will not be looking for a job again just business contacts.
Delmy Alvarenga
May 23rd, 2009 at 3:09 pm

KNOW WHAT YOU WANT, that’s the only thing I can say about freelancing or not. If you know what you want, you will be doing everything to keep doing it. If you have no clue at all, you’ll be wasting your clients time and yours as well.
Nadia
May 23rd, 2009 at 3:15 pm

I think absolutely NOT everyone can be a freelancer. The article was pretty well rounded except for the one point, which I happen to be the deal breaker when it comes to having the capacity or not to be a freelancer, and that is the ability to negotiate and problem solve. Authoring or correctly tweaking contracts that cater to each client’s needs is a talent. Knowing how to handle clients that don’t always respect or “stick” to the contract is an entire art in and of it itself, and it takes a lot of street smart! Is everyone street smart… I don’t think so. Can everyone freelance? Not at least without a great level of street smart or a mentor you can call any time of day or night.
Lexi Rodrigo
May 24th, 2009 at 7:32 am

I agree that not everybody can be a successful – and happy – freelancer. Aside from the requirements you mentioned, another practical prerequisite is enough financial resources to get through difficult times. Many freelancers quit because they run out of money and get desperate for a job, any job.

Another personal requirement is a certain toughness, a kind of bravery… I can’t find the right word so early in the morning… But it’s what will get you through rejection and uncertainty. Some people could not stand that. Give them $x every week and they’re happy – even if it means sitting in a cubicle all day.
Kathryn Barlow
May 24th, 2009 at 11:59 am

People tend to say “oh wow, you’re freelancing, you get to do all the design yourself!” which is true, but they’re forgetting there’s all the business management, project managment, client management, finding work etc etc. It’s a lot more than just the design. You have to want to do the business side of it too, because it is a huge part of every project. It’s also what makes it so fulfilling, to know you did 100% of the project, from initial client contact to the final touches.
Carla
May 24th, 2009 at 12:26 pm

I have the discipline and drive while I’m home on disability working on my business (web store), but don’t know if I have that “marketable skill” that someone else is looking for. I don’t even think I know what’s in demand at this time. I think I have all but the first requirement.
Reza Tehranian
May 24th, 2009 at 9:58 pm

Good post

I remember listening to a tape years ago. One line that I still remember from that tape was :”It’s simple, but it’s not easy”.

So I guess anybody can be Freelancer, as Jennifer pointed out, not everybody can be a successful freelancer. It takes hard work and commitment, and a you have to invest many hours, before you can kick back and relax.
Andrea Coutu
May 24th, 2009 at 10:42 pm

I’m inclined to say that anyone can become a freelancer. But that’s because I think far too many people are self limiting in their entrepreneurial aspirations. Many people think that “freelancer” and “consultant” are words for people not like themselves. They think that having knowledge or skills for sale involves some sort of special talent. Of course, you musth ave some sort of knowledge, skill or talent to market — but it doesn’t have to be grandiose. You just need to know how to do something better than your target market does! So I’m inclined to say that anyone can consult or freelance.

But can anyone do it successfully? I think it depends on how you define success. For some people, it’s enough to do it for one project, one client, one month…or during unemployment, during tough times, through semi retirement, while trying out their dreams, or when saving up for a major goal.
Nikhil
May 25th, 2009 at 4:28 am

This is fantastic read.

Wooow, I am freelancer.
Amy
May 25th, 2009 at 9:10 am

Great post. :) I also agree with Judith. Freelancers have to deal with setbacks like rejection, ups and downs in income, etc. It takes a certain mindset to deal with this without flipping out and go ahead with work day by day.
Laura Spencer
May 25th, 2009 at 10:13 am

Wow! The insights of the Freelance Folder community never fail to amaze me.

There’s a lot of great comments here.

I hope everyone else is enjoying their holiday weekend (in the U.S. at least) as much as I am.

Keep the comments coming!
Will
May 26th, 2009 at 3:39 am

Great post.

Most of my friends can’t for the life of them understand how I can be motivated and work from home whilst not ‘playing computer games’ or ‘watching tv’.

I definitely agree that it takes a certain kind of person. I think to be truly successful as a freelancer you need to be doing something that is your passion, and not just your job.
Luis Lopez
May 26th, 2009 at 12:21 pm

I totally agree with you, not everyone can freelance, you have to be different and beleive in you as a bussines man, if not, stay at work 10 hours a day in an office until the retire.

Great post
rjene
May 27th, 2009 at 5:11 am

I don’t think anyone can become a freelancer. There is a certain level of skill, flexibility, patience and discipline involved that really takes a lot of effort and time. And you have to want it big time.
Simon Stapleton
May 27th, 2009 at 9:24 am

Laura, great article as usual and the pre-requisites make total sense.

I just wonder if there should be another one:

6. An aptitude for believing in oneself

I see many freelancers crash and burn because they don’t believe in themself. Sure, they can market themself, but quite often the marketing doesn’t align to their self-belief, which creates a lack in self confidence. As Lexi reminds us, rejection is a constant factor which makes self-belief all the more important.

Simon
Michael
May 27th, 2009 at 10:26 am

And you have to be AWESOME!

http://www.freelanceadvisor.co.uk/2009/05/27/awesomitise-discover-the-radical-alternative-to-searching-for-clients/

:)
Richard
May 27th, 2009 at 12:16 pm

A Website With Your Own Domain. A business these days without a website is outdated. A freelance graphic design business without one should be burned to the ground. With the huge explosion in technology and the Internet, to not have a website for your freelance graphic design business would be business suicide. Website hosting these days is cheap, with plenty of space and resources at your disposal. Forget the freebies like Geocities and that kind of thing.
thenumber
May 27th, 2009 at 4:39 pm

Nice article. Self-discipline is definitely a must. It can be hard to get things done without a structured work day.
Jane Steen
June 1st, 2009 at 8:13 pm

No, not everyone can be a freelancer. My husband found he needed the corporate structure to get motivated and to keep working (and I found I did not want him in the house playing computer games when he was supposed to be programming!) I, on the other hand, after freelancing for several years in real estate marketing, tried the corporate world for a couple of years and, although I loved the everyday interaction with co-workers and customers, found that the office politics drove me crazy. I left, spent some time thinking about it, and then realized that there were two things I hadn’t liked about my previous freelance experience.

First, I was in the wrong industry. Real estate didn’t appeal. I’m still looking for my niche, but I’m getting much better at identifying projects that interest me. Second, I needed people. With laptops getting fairly inexpensive, it’s pretty easy to take my work out on the road for some human interaction. My biggest challenge right now is getting out there to find work and accept the rejections that are an inevitable part of the process. I have no problem negotiating with clients or doing the paperwork.
adriel
June 19th, 2009 at 3:20 am

I agree with many of the comments but I must say you don’t have to be passionate about your work to be successful. I believe that you must have the passion to succeed because without it how else will you be driven. As a motion designer I do enjoy the work I do but I can also disconnect myself from its artistry and focus on the business aspects of my craft. In my humble opinion, to be a successful freelancer you must be able to apply your whole-hearted creative effort but at the same time compromise in order to appease your client’s desires. Being balanced is often overlooked by our breed.
info info antelope
April 19th, 2010 at 1:18 am

The skills you specified above are important if somebody wants to become a freelancer. Very informative post.
les glaciers
April 20th, 2012 at 8:15 am

After study a few of the blog posts on your website now, and I truly like your way of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back soon. Pls check out my web site as well and let me know what you think.

Trackbacks

Try searching "Getting Clients" or "Productivity"

Advertise On Freelance Folder

Free Report

Sign up for our product discount list to get a free copy of Why Some Freelancers Thrive and Others Barely Survive. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Forum Discussions

Comprare Generico ANTI-DEPRESSANT ANTI-ANXIETY Online - Farm
May 16th, 2012 - 10:13 am
Comprare Generico ANTIBIOTICS Online - Farmacia Online
May 16th, 2012 - 10:11 am
Comprare Generico ANTABUSE Online - Farmacia Online
May 16th, 2012 - 10:08 am

View More Discussions

Resources

HTML Website

What Is Freelance Folder?

FreelanceFolder is a community for freelancers, entrepreneurs, work-at-home business owners, and web-workers. We strive to bring you the articles, information, and community you need to succeed. If there's anything specific you're looking for, please contact us and let us know! Learn more about us →

Meet Our Team...

Mason Hipp

Mason Hipp is a marketer, designer, and entrepeneur. Mason helps freelancers and small businesses of all types, and he is the current owner of FreelanceFolder.
Ritu B. Pant

Ritu is a freelance writer who has been involved in social media for several years. At the moment he is working on a variety of projects, but is always open to new ideas. You can always find him on twitter as @ritubpant.

Jon Phillips

Jon Phillips is a full-time freelancer, blogger and designer. He loves WordPress and plays guitar in a heavy act. He is also the founder of FreelanceFolder.
Laura Spencer

Laura Spencer is a freelance writer from North Central Texas with over 19 years of professional business writing experience. Together with FreelanceFolder, she wrote the guide on How To Start a Freelance Writing Business.

Name
Email

Discover how to use the best web design tools on the market plus increase your income to $125 (or more) per hour... Sign up here for a free test drive: