Everything a freelancer needs, in the order you will need it. Start at the top if you are new, or jump to the stage you are at. Every guide links to free tools and templates you can use straight away.
1. Getting started
- How to become a freelancer with no experience – a step-by-step plan
- Freelancer vs employee – compare the money and the risks
- Business setup checklist – 15 things to do before your first client
- How to choose a business name – with ideas and a checklist
- Build a portfolio with no clients
- Choosing a freelance platform
2. Finding clients
- How to find your first clients – a 30-day plan
- Discovery call questions – a checklist and script
- Proposal template – copy and paste
- How to negotiate rates – with scripts
- Ask for a testimonial – email templates
3. Pricing your work
- How to calculate your hourly rate
- How much to charge – by type of service
- How to price projects – hourly, fixed or value-based
- Quote vs estimate vs proposal
- Retainer agreements
- What is a retainer fee?
- How to raise your rates
- 10 pricing mistakes
- Billable hours and utilization
Free tools for this stage: hourly rate calculator, day rate calculator, project price calculator and freelance vs employee calculator.
4. Contracts and running projects
- Contract template
- Statement of work template
- Project brief template
- Client onboarding process
- How to ask for a deposit
- How to handle scope creep
- How to fire a client
5. Invoicing and getting paid
- How to write an invoice
- Invoice template
- Invoice example
- Send an invoice by email
- Invoice vs receipt vs quote
- Purchase order vs invoice
- Payment terms
- What does Net 30 mean?
- How to get paid faster
- Chase an unpaid invoice
Free tools for this stage: invoice generator, quote generator, receipt generator, due date calculator and late fee calculator.
6. Money, tax and cash flow
- Cash flow with irregular income
- Track income and expenses
- Best accounting software for freelancers (US)
- Best free invoicing software (UK sole traders)
Free tools: tax set-aside calculator, cash runway calculator and break-even calculator.
7. Software for your business
- A software stack for a solo business
- Best free software for freelancers
- Project management software
- Time tracking software
- Free CRM software
This guide is general information. Rules on tax, contracts and business registration differ by country, so check what applies to you.