Can I Freelance While Working Full Time?
When you work a full-time job, if you switch to becoming a freelancer, it can feel like a giant leap into the unknown. So in this article let’s talk about the question, ‘Can I freelance while working full time?’
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated when you make a purchase after clicking on my links, there is no extra cost to you
Click Here to Sign Up and Try it Free
When you think freelance with full-time job these all questions will definitely in your mind:
- How do I start?
- How do I get clients?
- Do I need a portfolio?
- What should I charge?
- Should I quit my job?
This can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t have independent friends that you can turn to for advice and guidance.
Similar Questions To Can I Freelance While Working Full Time?:
- Can I Freelance While on Maternity Leave?
- Can I Freelance While Working Full Time
- Can I Freelance Without a Business License?
- Can I Freelance For a Foreign Company?
Can I freelance while working a full time job:
Yes of course. While many people call freehand the “alternative” to traditional 9-5 work, it can also complement the traditional 9-5 job. You already have a full-time job, but you need a little extra money each month. If you can squeeze in an extra hour or two of exercise each day, the pay can be sweet and you can go to those extremes.
The best thing about a free launch is the freedom it can give you. So it doesn’t matter if you want to work from the beach full time or if you want to take a few hours here and there. The digital workforce can bring success to anyone.
Steps to starting a freelance business working full time
Before starting your freelance business, you need to be very clear about why you want to start a free launch in the first place. When you have your overall goals in mind, how you use the limited amount of time you have will determine your level of success with a free launch.
1. Define your goals
Without goals that are clearly measurable and easy to measure, you will have a hard time getting where you want to go.
- Is the free launch a way to earn extra income on the side of your day job?
- Do you want to eventually become a full-time freelancer due to the lifestyle benefits of being your own boss?
- Or do you want to use the free launch as a cornerstone to achieve a completely different goal in the end?
Whatever your end goal, you need to make it pretty clear. This is what the best entrepreneurs in the world agree to in order to start a successful business.
2. Find a profitable niche
We assume you are a graphic designer by trade, or have at least been honing your skills with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop in your spare time.
Clearly, there are many competitors in your industry who will be willing to charge you much lower fees no matter what you do. There are people around the world with lower costs of living who will be willing to take jobs for less than you. Get the idea of trying to compete on price like cheap, now.
3. Identify your target customers
Finding a profitable niche is as important as attracting the right types of clients for your freelance business.
Since you’re just starting your freelance business, it’s good to take a shotgun approach to getting some clients. Make some initial assumptions about who you want to work with, focus on them first, and after working through a few of them you will develop a very clear understanding of whether you want to continue with similar clients.
4. Create a website (and a portfolio)
Once you’ve defined your business goals, found a niche, identified your target customer, and set your prices, you’ll want to create an online presence. And the best way to do that is to create your own website with a portfolio showcasing your previous work, skills, and experience.
Creating a free website through a website builder like WIX is a great thing, but you’d better buy a domain name from a hosting website. You’ll get a unique name for your online presence and a custom email address, making it much more credible and professional overall to your potential clients. Once you have selected a host name and domain, you can install WordPress on your website and choose the website theme. Then you can add a landing page that describes your services and prices, maybe even a separate page for your blog where you write about industry related topics.
5. Expand your network
Once you’ve found your first customer, you will need to work toward getting repeat customers. Your first customer may be a repeat customer. And, the transmission that that first customer gave you can encourage others to reach out to you and provide you with a constant flow of work.
However, you’d better expand your network, and this is where the famous Pareto principle comes in handy. According to him, maintaining a good relationship with 20% of your clients will help you get 80 percent of your new job through their referrals.
Don’t mix your daily work priorities with Freelance businesses
Above all, it is important to remember that your day job (and the only reliable source of income) is your top priority. Don’t do anything that will jeopardize your full-time job, as you still need it to support you as you grow your freelance business on the sidelines. It’s definitely worth my in-depth post on how not to tire (and sue) as you begin a side business reading as you begin your freelance career.
Before you go, I hope this above article can I freelance while working full time is helpful for you. If you have questions feel free to add it in the comments.