More and more people realize the need to transition from full-time employment to freelance work in today's world. Freelancing allows you to spend more time doing what you enjoy while also making money. A flexible schedule, no boss looking over your shoulder, and the ability to work wherever you want are just some of the perks of freelancing. You also get to choose what jobs or projects you take on, leaving you in control of how much or how little work you can handle at any given time.
1) Upwork
Upwork is one of today's most popular freelance sites. While some freelancers dread going to job boards like Upwork because of the competition, it's actually a perfect place to get started. Some professionals may scoff at using a freelancing website to find work because they assume that everyone there is an amateur, but that's not true. There are plenty of talented people on Upwork who have been in business for years and are looking for new clients. The best part about using Upwork is that you can choose which jobs you want to apply for, which means you don't have to sift through listings that aren't relevant or interesting.
2) Fiverr
Fiverr is one of those things where you have to realize it's not about what it is but what it can be. The site focuses heavily on low-cost services that you buy as a gig, ranging from voiceovers to logo designs and everything in between. Fiverr could become an essential part of your business if your freelancing side hustle really takes off or give you some side income while you're getting started. You may even use it to bring on new clients or find people with specific skillsets for projects outside of Fiverr. Either way, if you work in an area where having a talent for helpful something is valuable, Fiverr may be worth checking out.
Sure, LinkedIn is primarily used as a business-networking site, but it's also a good resource for freelance work. You can find short-term gigs here and more long-term projects that fit your skillset. Whether you need to earn some extra cash for Christmas or have always wanted to start your own business—you can use LinkedIn to get there. Because of its B2B roots, you'll have access to professional contacts who can help you build up your client base quickly. Plus, it's great if you want steady work on retainer because many businesses hire freelancers from here regularly.
4) Guru
If you're serious about making a living online, Guru is a great place to start. An online workplace allows freelancers and businesses to find one another and work together on projects. The website also offers access to multiple training resources and thousands of dollars worth of tools (e.g., PDFs, video training). But what really makes Guru an appealing destination is its commitment to expert freelancers—and you don't even have to pay anything for membership! The platform offers premier perks for any professional working in industries like writing, design, programming, or web development. If you do well working independently with deadlines, Guru might be a good fit.
5) Freelancer
Not all sites are created equal. Before diving into a project, check out what types of gigs each site can offer and how much your peers earn from gigs on different platforms. If you want to build a client base quickly, you'll need exposure, which means finding work on multiple freelance sites. How do we narrow down our list? Below are eight of our favourite places to find freelance work on any given day.
6) LinkedIn
LinkedIn is an excellent place to start looking for freelance jobs, as most of its users are there specifically to find or fill them. The site offers many other tools for professionals, including career advice and industry news. And, with more than 500 million members around the world, you're bound to be able to connect with people in your field who might have openings available. Just because someone has been on LinkedIn doesn't mean they're hiring—so don't be afraid to reach out directly and inquire! A site is an excellent place to network if you do.
7) Toptal
Toptal is an international network of elite software developers, designers and project managers for hire. Toptal can help you quickly build high-quality products and services with less risk. Toptal provides access to thousands of highly-skilled freelancers ready to start working on your projects immediately. You pay only when you are satisfied with your work, creating trust between you and your talent that was previously impossible in remote work arrangements. With Toptal, quality talent is vetted by real people who interview each candidate before they're allowed to join Toptal's elite network of freelancers.
8) 99designs
Designers submit work for your project, and you choose which one to use. Using a contest platform like 99designs is a great way to bring in multiple ideas from a large pool of talented designers. Hiring a professional designer can often cost $2,000 or more; using a service like 99designs can help save you money without sacrificing quality or uniqueness. Think about it—if you get three different designs for your company logo from three other designers, chances are good that each of those logos will look completely different.
9) Jooble
Jooble is an online job board that brings together employers and job seekers from all over in one place. Many remote positions are available, from accounting to technical support and more. The pricing model is attractive: if you want to apply for a job (but don't want your application posted on their site), it costs $5, but for all others, it's free.
10) Flexjobs
FlexJobs, like Upwork and others, is a job board for freelance positions that typically don't require previous experience or educational requirements. The key benefit of freelance sites is finding work on your own time from home. You set your hours and availability. While some freelancers are lucky enough to snag several jobs at once, it's more common to have several applications in progress at any given time. Rates vary widely depending on skillset and experience, but you might earn $30-40/hour working for some clients and make as little as $5/hour for others -- it depends on whether they need entry-level or advanced expertise.
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