Many visitors to the FilipinoFreelancers site are newcomers to the business of freelancing. To help "newbies" understand the business, and to answer some of their most common questions, FilipinoFreelancers has prepared this list of Frequently Asked Questions.
If you have questions to add to this FAQ, please e-mail us.
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What is a freelancer?
What qualifications and skills do I need?
What equipment do I need?
How do I set myself up as a business?
How do I find work? And where?
What should I charge?
How do I protect myself?
Who will hire me?
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A freelancer is "one who pursues a profession or occupation usually in the arts under no long-term contractual commitments to any one employer or company." Freelancers are on their own to find work, negotiate the terms and compensation for that work, and deliver the work to the satisfaction of the paying client.
Freelancers work in many fields, including editing, writing, design, broadcasting, and advertising. In some cases, employers need certain tasks done so infrequently that it makes no sense to hire a permanent employee for the job, or their workload varies so much that it makes sense to maintain a small permanent staff and hire outside help at busy times.
In other cases, employers prefer to hire freelancers because of the varied and specific skills and insight that freelancers can offer.
Freelancing can offer a great deal of flexibility. The work need not be done in a specific location, during specific hours, or for a set number of hours each day. It is an attractive option for those interested in working part time or in supplementing their income from another job.
The income potential of freelancing is good. But it is worth considering the disadvantages of any form of self-employment. Freelancing involves the certainty of uncertainty.
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What qualifications and skills do I need?
To be a successful freelancer, you should expect to have qualifications and skills comparable to those that a person doing the work as a permanent employee would have. This means, for example, that if you are seeking work as a freelance editor you should have sufficient editing skills that you could be hired as an editor full time.
If you do not have the skills, you will need to get them. There are many courses available in such fields as editing, writing, and design. Check nearby colleges or vocational schools, and search the Internet for online or correspondence courses.
Again, from the dictionary: A freelancer is "paid by the job, and the number and importance of his jobs depends largely on the reputation he has built." Basic skills will get you your first job. Expert use of those skills will get you the next. Experience will build the reputation you need to be successful as a freelancer.
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As a freelancer, you are expected to supply all the tools necessary to do your work. If you are a web page designer, you must own or have access to all the necessary computer power and software. If you are an editor, you must have all the tools needed to do the job, from style books and reference materials to red pencils and word-processing programs.
Some freelance fields, such as computer graphics, clearly require sophisticated equipment. Other fields, such as editing and writing, can still be done in relatively low-tech fashion, with only basic communications and word-processing equipment. But many freelancers are finding that knowledgeable use of the computer is an advantage in finding work, communicating with clients, and delivering completed projects.
In addition to your work tools, you will need bookkeeping, invoicing, and communications supplies and equipment. You should think of yourself as a business, and equip yourself accordingly.
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How do I set myself up as a business?
The rules for going into business for yourself vary widely from one location to the next. If you intend to freelance on a modest part-time basis, you probably will not need to do much more than keep good records and declare all income on your tax forms.
More formal business arrangements may require legal documents, for which you may need the help of a lawyer. You may need a business license. If you are seeking financing to get started, you will need a business plan.
You also should consider your insurance needs. If you are self-employed full time, you will need to cover your own health insurance costs. You also may need insurance related to your field, such as liability insurance.
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This is where FilipinoFreelancers comes in. We will help you find the most updated projects -- just browse through our project categories. You have the freedom to choose which projects best suit your talents and skills.
Marketing your services will always be a large part of your freelance life. Until you are established, with a regular clientele, you may spend more time marketing than you spend actually doing freelance work. You will need to be alert to all opportunities and become adept at networking.
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Your fees will depend on your skills and experience. While it is not appropriate to discuss specific rates here, there has been discussion of general rates in some fields. Check with professional associations in your field for additional information and guidance.
Some freelancers charge by the hour. Others prefer to negotiate a price for a complete project, but project fees are based on an hourly rate. To calculate a project fee, you need to look carefully at the proposed project, including representative materials from the prospective client, and estimate how many hours of your time it will take to do the job. Multiplying that number by your hourly rate will give you a realistic project fee.
Your hourly rate is determined by many factors, not the least of which is your level of experience, but it should include a percentage for business overhead.
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Some freelancers work under informal, oral agreements, but most prefer the safety of a contract. Contracts specify the type of work to be done, deadlines, the fee and when it is to be paid, which publication or use rights will be assigned to the client and which will remain with the freelancer, and other details of the agreement.
Contract provisions vary by field. Professional associations may offer more detailed advice and examples or templates of contracts.
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As a freelancer, it is important that you learn how to market your skills to employers who need them. Employers who hire freelancers are usually interested in hiring a freelancer who already has the skills needed to perform a quality job. That means you must present your skills in a clear, concise way. Many employers have a budget to cover the work required, and the budget does not include training time. That means the job must be done right the first time around.
You can list your profile or biography with us for quick and easy reference by employers and Web users. Browse through our project posting and find the projects that best fit your skills.
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