All Questions
2,002
questions
161
votes
10
answers
122k
views
How do I get my first job at a freelancing site?
I am in the software development industry and I'm an experienced software engineer.
I am new to freelancing websites. The problem is I have zero rating and I can't get any projects even if I bid the ...
- 2,183
66
votes
15
answers
5k
views
Tracking hours you are working for clients
When working through the day, I may work on many different projects. Web development is one of the freelancing jobs that I'm sure many people bounce around project to project, or maybe that is just ...
- 1,547
58
votes
10
answers
3k
views
How do you make family understand that you need to stick to a schedule?
I'm having trouble balancing freelancing work with family. My wife thinks that just because I work at home that this means I'm available for home stuff at any hour, which creates problems in my ...
- 1,059
55
votes
8
answers
8k
views
Hourly billing, is it appropriate to include time to research if you don't know how to do something?
The title is a bit confusing, but here is an issue I face occasionally, but don't know how to bill. Here is an example, and I hope you can get the general idea and apply it to a broader concept of how ...
- 651
46
votes
7
answers
3k
views
How can we prepare for "getting hit by a bus"?
As a self-employed person working for a client (e.g. creating a website), you have a bus factor of 1:
The bus factor is the total number of key developers who would need to be incapacitated (as by ...
- 1,481
46
votes
7
answers
6k
views
Where can I find good contract templates?
When a new freelancer works with a small client, neither party may have experience with contracts. This community wiki provides starting points they can use to think through the issues that should be ...
- 1,238
40
votes
7
answers
2k
views
At what point is it no longer a "Free Change"
I am a freelance web developer. I have built many different websites for all sorts of people. Once my client signs off on a project as complete I am still willing to offer little updates and things. ...
- 1,547
40
votes
7
answers
13k
views
When is it ok to ask a client for more money?
I am pretty good at estimating my time on a project. For this question, let's say it is for a simple WordPress website with a custom theme development. I have quoted and set my contract with my ...
- 1,547
39
votes
6
answers
6k
views
How do I calculate pay rate if I've never freelanced before?
I've been working full time in the field (software) for about 5-6 years. However, I've never done any freelancing work before and am new to this entire process. At my job, pay is easy, since it's ...
- 631
38
votes
8
answers
73k
views
How much payment should be required up front?
When accepting a job and negotiating a price, how much of this should be required up front before starting the work, especially when you haven't dealt with the client before? Should it be a flat ...
- 819
36
votes
3
answers
47k
views
How can I start freelancing and get online projects to work on?
I have good experience in PHP and I want to start freelancing. I have opened accounts on Elance, freelancer, oDesk and have been trying to bid on projects for the last 2 months, but I still didn't get ...
- 461
35
votes
8
answers
11k
views
Dealing with "friend" who won't pay after delivery despite signed contracts
I need help dealing with this situation.
I have a (person who claims to be my) "friend" who did not pay upon completion and delivery of project, despite a signed contract last May.
The ...
- 564
35
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Fixed price or per hour for a web developer?
I am a starting freelancer in the webdevelopment sector. I focus on both personal or one-man business full websites and websites for advanced users for which I write plugins or add features (but don't ...
user19
34
votes
8
answers
2k
views
Best approach to finding clients in your own city?
I am working as a Software Engineer, but I want to add to my pay by freelancing.
What is the best way to find clients in my own city? I am open to doing small projects (like for schools or small ...
- 2,183
34
votes
5
answers
3k
views
How to get over the discomfort of asking for money?
I've just started freelancing full-time. I've done bits here and there before.
I've mostly been drawn to freelancing because of the higher rates I can bill and the ability to be master of my own ...
- 442
31
votes
6
answers
8k
views
Should I bill my clients for bathroom breaks or other various interruptions?
I use Toggl for time tracking, and I'm pretty diligent about starting a new task for pretty much every thing I'm working on.
Recently, while working at home, I had to use the restroom, and afterwards ...
- 505
31
votes
4
answers
1k
views
How to make the jump from normal employee to higher level freelancing
I am a professional software developer with 6+ years of full-time experience, full degree, co-op program, currently employed at a programming desk job. I would call my self at the intermediate level.
...
29
votes
2
answers
3k
views
How can experienced contractor survive outside Elance/oDesk/Freelancer?
This is what a friend asked me and I directed him to the similar question How to find clients beyond sites like oDesk/Guru/Freelancer? here. Then we started discussing the issue and I realize that ...
- 14.3k
29
votes
6
answers
741
views
How can I mitigate not being part of a big team?
Freelancing has its advantages - don't get me wrong; however, many people want to be reassured that they are dealing with a big company. Since I can't possibly provide this, how can I mitigate these ...
- 1,230
28
votes
12
answers
12k
views
Client wants to pay a percentage of revenue generated by website
I recently came in contact with one of my Dad's friends who is looking for a website. This guy gave my Dad a job when we first moved to California and has been a really good "family friend" ever since....
- 381
27
votes
10
answers
3k
views
Too many projects and no one to outsource them to - how is this possible?
For the last 3-4 years I have been both a freelancer and the client. I'm the client mainly when I outsource projects I cannot handle myself, or when I seek a specific expert as a part of a project (...
- 14.3k
27
votes
7
answers
8k
views
How should I respond to requests to work "for exposure"?
There's this huge misconception in the more creative industries, like art and writing, that creators that do not yet have an established reputation (and even some who do have one) don't deserve to get ...
- 371
27
votes
9
answers
6k
views
Unprofessional to leave before project ended for better paid project?
I just recently started freelancing (software development) for a new client; they're a start-up and my old boss is the CTO.
They gave me a 3 month freelancing contract which doesn't specify how many ...
27
votes
3
answers
675
views
When is it a good idea to start considering an LLC or incorporation?
I've done freelance work as an independent contractor for years, which works well-enough for sporadic freelance work. But as I get more gigs and an established portfolio, are there benefits to forming ...
27
votes
5
answers
17k
views
Non-US citizen freelancing in the US remotely
I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction. I've spoken to no fewer than 3 accounting firms - one huge international one here in Sweden and they say they're not allowed to advise on ...
- 503
26
votes
4
answers
45k
views
What do web developers charge for site maintenance (not changes/updates)?
I'm a freelance web developer in the evenings and my framework of choice is Wordpress.org. Wordpress and its community plugins are updated frequently. Wordpress is also a highly targeted framework for ...
- 363
25
votes
4
answers
724
views
Do you fix hourly estimation or accept your mistake and do for free?
The scenario is the usual one: You are asked to make a price estimation. You analyse all features at your best knowledge, experience and logic. You event count the buffer of 20%.
You then start the ...
- 14.3k
25
votes
4
answers
3k
views
What's the smallest unit of time I should charge for when clients request minor changes?
If a client needs a small change made to their website (e.g. a phone number needs changing, a user profile needs to be updated in a way the site doesn't allow, etc.) I usually will not charge my ...
- 353
23
votes
6
answers
17k
views
How do I put freelancing in my CV?
After I finished my CS school, I had an accident which took me far away from the industry for approximately 4 years. After that I worked on my dad's business, and I didn't do much in the way of ...
- 333
23
votes
5
answers
1k
views
How can I discipline myself as a freelancer?
I have been freelancing full-time for a few years and have quiet office away from home but am easily distracted with (for example):
keeping up with news in my industry
staying current in my field of ...
- 2,028
23
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How can I be successful as a digital nomad?
I have been reading articles on digital nomad-ing.
Here are some of them:
Being a digital nomad in Bali
This guy built his business by the beach
Joel Gascoigne of Buffer (11 cities in 3 months)
...
- 454
22
votes
6
answers
8k
views
Is it unprofessional to approach a business, unsolicited, based upon technical problems you see on their website?
I don't know why it would be bad to approach a business per se, but there are times I am incredibly frustrated with sites I know are easily fixable. For example, a small Mom-and-Pop business whose ...
- 357
22
votes
4
answers
26k
views
What does an LLC's limited liability really protect you against (if you are sole owner and employee)?
I have looked into forming an LLC a few times in the US (right now I am better off not doing so for tax reasons while I am abroad but that is another story). However in my research, I may be ...
- 4,826
22
votes
3
answers
11k
views
How to estimate the hourly rate for senior developer?
I'm considering looking for contractor jobs (in Western Europe). I have the experience of senior developer (Java) so I'm confident of the high quality of value added I can provide to the client. But I'...
- 1,730
21
votes
8
answers
1k
views
Should I use a written contract when working for small businesses?
I’m working mostly for small businesses and I’ve never used a written contract. No client has asked about it yet. The only paper involved is my offer and invoice.
When I started my freelancing, I ...
- 1,481
21
votes
7
answers
2k
views
How to build passive income instead of just selling work hours?
As freelancers we mostly sell work hours. The income is directly affected by the amount of work we put in. Is there a better business model? Something that will gradually grow into a stable passive ...
- 311
21
votes
5
answers
4k
views
How can I advertise myself?
Advertising has a lot of effect in attracting big clients to a business. Is there a way (conventional or unconventional) to advertise myself as a freelancer so that I can attract good clients and ...
- 516
20
votes
5
answers
721
views
How to deal with 'Scope Creep'?
I am creating an online education portal for a client who pays on time and likes the work which I'm doing but after a day he says "Hey, I liked the work you did to the ABC section but after discussing ...
- 516
19
votes
6
answers
11k
views
How do I estimate the cost of building an Android app?
I am new to Android development. I have developed an app in Play Store and then I got approached by a client in Facebook to build a translation of a religious word as an app. He said he will give me $...
- 293
19
votes
4
answers
574
views
Charging more for emergencies because of the client's negligence?
I created a website for a client. I offered to install any future security updates for a fixed monthly fee (so it wouldn’t matter if there are 0 or 10 security updates in a month), but the client didn'...
- 1,481
19
votes
10
answers
2k
views
Best way to get clients as a freelance web developer? [closed]
Getting work on elance, etc. often requires suicidally low bids. Is online really the way to go, or is it better to get clients through "real-world" networking in your city?
19
votes
4
answers
32k
views
On a long contract, when is it ok to ask for a raise?
I started working at my current position nearly 6 months ago, and am paid per-hour, per-project at a flat rate. It was originally going to be a 3-month contract-to-hire, but the company lost a major ...
- 541
19
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Do you spend lots of time on a website for your freelance company?
I'm a one man band freelance company and have been using Upwork to supplement my income. I do it part time as well as working full time as a contractor for a government department.
I want to start ...
- 413
19
votes
3
answers
871
views
How can I measure the credibility of a Freelancing website?
On reading the reviews of Freelancer.com on SiteJabber or the reviews of Elance on Mouthshut the freelancing websites do not look convincing enough. The reviews suggest that most of them are stealers ...
- 303
19
votes
5
answers
567
views
How to work as a pet sitter with low self-confidence?
I want to take care of various pets for various (even dirt-cheap) prices just to be sure I can get any client to accept my offers. If I make prices unbelievably low, people will likely want me because ...
user1692
19
votes
2
answers
900
views
How to get paid and figure out if I want to keep this client
I have a client who is not paying on time, but it looks like the specifics don't match similar questions on this SE site.
I got a call from a client I did website work for years ago. I had not done ...
- 291
19
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Freelancing while being employed
Relying purely on freelancing to earn your bread can be somewhat risky and daunting. Say I want to do freelancing while also being employed (full or part time). What are the specific issues I need to ...
- 819
19
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Why should I not provide free services to friends when freelancing?
I'm running a relatively small one-man business in the software sector. I just started and am trying to create a larger portfolio. For that, I offer some friends free services.
I found a few reasons ...
user19
19
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Upwork taking 20% of my money. Alternatives
I am not very happy with Upwork now taking 20% of what I make. I have had to raise my price just to continue getting 10%.
Does anybody have any suggestions for a good alternative for Upwork? I do ...
- 338
18
votes
8
answers
14k
views
How to respond no to "Are your rates negotiable?"
What is the best way to tell a client that your rate is non-negotiable when they ask?
I am looking for way which will not offend the client and would also ensure that I don't end up decreasing my ...
- 391