10 Things You Should Do When You Start Work as a Freelancer

Now that you’ve made the decision to start freelancing, there’s a few things you should do immediately, if you haven’t already. Don’t worry-- not of these tasks are hard, and they’ll actually help you stand out as a legit and serious freelance professional. You can start on some of these actions right away. Let’s jump right in:  

Do This Immediately or as soon as possible:)

1. Set Up Your PayPal

Most virtual employers pay via PayPal. It’s simple, universal, and easy. Even if you already have an account with PayPal, it’s a great idea to create a separate business account so that your funds are not intermingled. The good thing about PayPal is that it’s free to join and just about everyone uses it. This goes for those who are paying you and for any places that you’ll do business with in the future.  

2. Get an Accounting and Invoicing Tool

Now that you have a place to accept your money, you now need a stable accounting tool that does as almost everything that an accountant would do. Send out invoices to your clients and handle everything from payroll to credit card payments. Check out Freshbooks or Wave for an easy way to manage your money.  

3. Create Your Own Website

You can’t rely on other websites (i.e. job sites like Monster.com or Simply Hired) to present the whole story of who you are. You can, and should, create your own website. It allows you to control your online visual brand identity. You own this site, as opposed to renting on another site. Check out Squarespace or Strikingly for easy website solutions that you can have up and running within minutes, not hours.  

4. Create a Blog

A blog is not the same as a website. A website can consist of mostly static information that you update periodically. A blog, on the other hand, is something that’s updated regularly. There’s a reason you should have both a website and a blog. Your blog is the best way to speak directly to your site readers. It also gives you the opportunity to position yourself as an expert in your industry.  

5. Sign Up for Social Media

You probably already have a social media account with Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, or the like. But, as a professional freelancer, you’ll also need an account that represents your professional brand identity. No more tags with you and your friends in Cancun. Save this social media for all things related to your business. After all, the people following you on these accounts will only be interested in those topics, not your personal life.  

6. Apply for Jobs Like it is Your Job

It’s no secret that working as freelancer can be feast or famine at times. You need to stay hungry. Make sure that you apply for jobs regularly, even if you’re nearing capacity. That’s because you never know when the perfect job will come along. Plus, you want your job hunting skills to stay sharp. There’s nothing worse than desperately looking for a job and not finding one. Be proactive.  

7. Master Your Email

Did you know that 29% of an average work day is spent inside the inbox? Free yourself from the constant bureaucracy of email. Instead, set up email hacks that rescue your time. Here’s a few email hacks you can try right away:  

• Check email at designated times during the day (99% of the time, it’s not so important that it can’t wait a few hours).
• Turn off email notifications on your smartphone. They’ll only tempt you to check in.
• Keep your email direct and to the point. No one has all day to read novels in email form.
• If scheduling a meeting, offer multiple meeting time possibilities to cut down on back and forth emails.

  

8. Don’t Forget About Taxes

Taxes can be an unpleasant, but unavoidable, part of a freelancer’s life. Make sure you’re filing regularly (based on your country’s filing schedule). In the US, you can then also make important tax deductions to reduce the amount you owe, such as: travel experiences and office and utility fees.  

9. Schedule Everything

From experience: don’t use your brain to remember your upcoming jobs and tasks. You will forget. Instead, create a schedule (whether it’s in a handy notebook or an online calendar like Sunrise). List everything you need to and intend to do-- and do include your break times on that schedule. If you don’t, you’ll probably work straight through and find yourself burnt out as a freelancer. Breaks are as important as work.  

10. Plan Ahead for Rainy Days

Are you going strong with lots of great paying projects now and on the horizon? Good job! But never forget to save a little something for the lean times, and there will be lean times. It’s a good idea to save 30% for taxes, 30% for current expenses, and 30% for the future what ifs.  

Final Thoughts

Being a freelancing is one of the best things about living in the modern age. The world is available to you and that’s great news. Just remember that being your own boss doesn’t mean you’re free from responsibilities. When you take care to do these tasks, they’ll take care of you. Happy freelancing!   What do you think is the most important first step for any freelancer? Be sure to let us know in the comments below.

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