Who the f*ck are you?
I’ve been a freelancer for over 15 years and a web developer long before that. I’ve built everything from slick agency portfolios to absolute monstrosities inherited from a cousin’s mate’s nephew who “knew a bit of HTML.” I’ve worked solo, collaborated with devs, wrangled clients who ghosted mid-project, and even survived a full WordPress multisite rebuild. Mostly.
I didn’t start out freelance. That came later — after earning a few stripes, taking a few knocks, and figuring out how not to completely balls things up.
My route into freelancing
I started, like many, by messing around with HTML on MySpace. Then I got obsessed with how things worked: poking around premium WP templates, breaking them, rebuilding them, and learning why certain patterns hold up while others fall over.
Eventually I realised I was spending more time designing websites than anything else. I built a portfolio, landed an agency role as a Front-End Developer (found on a forum of all places), and learned the stuff no tutorial covers: stakeholder wrangling, feedback that makes you question reality (“Can we make the logo pop, but also disappear a bit?”), and shipping real projects with real deadlines.
Freelancing came later. I didn’t wake up and say, “Right, I’m going solo.” I started moonlighting — evenings, weekends, mates’ businesses. It’s the smart way to test the waters before you leave the 9–5 safety net.
Pick a tech stack
Truth: your stack matters less than your skills. Most clients care about results, not the logo soup in your footer.
A sane stack for independents:
- Design: Figma (you’re covered)
- Frontend: Astro + Tailwind (lightweight, fast)
- CMS: WordPress + ACF for familiarity, or Prismic/Decap if you like headless
- Visual builders: Webflow or Framer if you don’t want to code
- Animation: GSAP (or vanilla if you’re brave)
- Build tools: Vite, GitHub, npm scripts — keep it lean
- Hosting: Netlify for JAMstack; Krystal for WordPress
Pick tools that let you work fast and learn them properly — not copy-paste-pray.
Going balls deep
Contracts
Not optional. Not for mates. Not for “quick jobs.” Get it in writing.
I use a general Terms & Conditions doc and reference it on invoices. Contracts set timelines, deliverables, payment terms, and what happens when things wobble.
If you need signatures: Bonsai or PandaDoc.
Proposals
Not just a price. A proposal should:
- Reframe the problem
- Show your approach
- Make the value obvious
- Lay out scope and timelines
- Include next steps
- Look like you know what you’re doing
Talk outcomes, not jargon.
Limited company vs sole trader
Both work; pick based on risk, admin appetite, and who you want to work with.
Sole Trader
- Easy setup, low admin
- You’re personally liable
- “Payments on account” can sting
Limited Company
- Looks more professional to bigger orgs
- Can be more tax-efficient
- More paperwork + accountancy fees
Money, money, money
How much should you charge?
Price a bit above your comfort zone. If you’re never nervous sending a quote, you’re probably undercharging.
Two main models:
- Hourly/daily for consultancy, retainers, fuzzy scope
- Project rate for most builds
Adjust for complexity, risk, and value. Your price needs to cover tools, tax, time, experience — and a margin for stress.
Branding
Brand ≠ logo. It’s how you show up.
- Clear tone of voice (pick one and stick to it)
- Simple, consistent visual system
- Memorable name (your own is fine)
- A real website (not “coming soon”)
Own a niche if you can — it sharpens messaging and referrals.
Marketing
Great work doesn’t sell itself.
- Search: target the kinds of phrases your ideal clients actually use (service + niche + location)
- Content: posts, case studies, tutorials — demonstrate expertise
- Social: pick 1–2 channels you’ll actually maintain
- Referrals: ask happy clients; make it easy to recommend you
- Email: collect addresses and send occasional value
Don’t wait until the pipeline is empty to start.
Time management
Being your own boss is brilliant until you realise you’re also your own manager.
- Time-blocking: e.g., calls 10–11 and 2–3; protect deep-work blocks
- Calendar or it didn’t happen
- Track time (even on fixed-fee) to learn your ratios
- Say no to bad-fit work
- Batch tasks — context switching kills momentum
Also: rest. You’re not a robot.
Tools
Design & Dev
- Figma, VS Code (+ Prettier/linting), GitHub
Project Management
- Notion for docs, Trello/ClickUp for tasks
Proposals & Invoicing
- Bonsai/PandaDoc for proposals/signatures
- FreeAgent/Xero for invoicing & tax
Misc
- Toggl, CleanShot X, 1Password
Use what you’ll actually use. Pay yearly when it makes sense.
Summary
Freelancing isn’t easy. You’ll juggle hats, chase content, and occasionally question life choices. It’s also one of the best ways to earn a living doing something creative on your terms.
You don’t need a business degree or a viral thread. You need:
- Solid skills
- Clear processes
- Good clients (with boundaries)
- A willingness to keep learning
If you’re considering the leap, start moonlighting. Learn the business side while your rent is safe. Go full-time when you’re ready — not when you’re desperate.