Perks of Being a Freelance Software Developer
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There are a lot of ways where you can show your skills as a software developer. You can go freelance or work under a professional company, like NAXCON.
Do you dream of quitting your regular job and becoming a freelance software developer, but don’t know when to start working as a freelance software developer?
To be honest, working as a freelancer can be a stressful and time-consuming lifestyle if you’re not ready to do it. However, finding the right time to quit your job, start working as a full-time freelancer, and then become your own boss can be difficult. So if you are not into freelancing life, you should probably apply for a consulting and HR company, like NAXCON.
Rest assured, many people make the decision to work as a freelancer out of necessity. These needs are to be able to plan work in their spare time or to plan their health and retirement plans with a fixed salary that they can receive every month.
And the people you care for (children, parents, etc.), the length of time you work in the current company, how many holidays you go on a year and how satisfied you are with your life, in general, can affect the decision you will make for your career.
Therefore, before starting a job as a freelancer, it would be better to learn as much as you can about freelancing.
This way, before you leave the comfort of your 9–5 job, you can decide if you’re truly ready to freelance.
What Does Self-Employment Mean?
While self-employment has a lot of conveniences, leaving a regular job can have its own set of challenges as if pre-arranged.
If you want to navigate the challenges of freelancing and be successful, you must be very clear about your goals and motivation before giving up your regular income. If not, like we said, maybe freelancing is not for you.
The next question is, what does working as a freelancer mean to you? To find the real meaning of work, ask yourself these questions:
Are you ready to give up 40 hours a week?
You must also accept the possibility that you can work 70 hours.
Most people assume that freelancing means not working 40 hours at work on weekdays. They couldn’t be more wrong.
Once you start freelancing, it’s your responsibility to manage your time, and that doesn’t mean it’s going to be any easier. For example, if you have a family and work from home, you will probably need to adjust your working hours accordingly. If you live alone and work from home, you will also need to devote time to shopping, cooking, and household chores.
All this means it gives you the freedom to work freelance and avoid fixed shifts. But you must also admit that you can work +70 hours a week. Especially when you’re just starting out and getting new customers!
If you don’t run into problems this far (like sticking with fixed customers, hiring your own staff), the next thing to consider is how to manage the money you earn.
Are you ready to face your financial situation?
How do I track how much money I’ve earned? How much should I earn from the services I provide? How about a good profit margin?
All of these questions are questions that freelancers ask themselves.
Of course, the idea of working for yourself is exciting. Maybe you’ve always dreamed of being your own boss, living a nomad lifestyle, living a nomad, or just working as much as you want.
But when it comes to being successful as a freelancer, you have to make sure that the income you earn is satisfying and that this form of finance is right for you.
Therefore, before becoming a full-time freelance software developer, consider the ways in which you can resolve the following possible situations;
How much debt do you currently owe?
Do you have enough savings to last 1–2 years without a fixed income?
Will you be able to support yourself if things don’t go as you planned? (Do you have a plan B?)
The truth is that working freelance will not bring you a steady income. Your ability to find customers is critical to driving revenue growth, as you never know how much you will earn next month.
At the same time, what many people are not willing to do is manage their finances yourself. Some freelancers work with accountants to calculate income. In software like Xero, QuickBooks, or Zoho Books, you need to keep track of all financial transactions on spreadsheets.
Are you ready to deal with your customers?
Freelance work mainly depends on being able to network. If you already own a large network that needs freelancers for software projects, great! We can say that you are in a good position to be a freelance software developer.
If you do not have such an opportunity, there are many platforms where freelancers can find clients. On these platforms, they can work contractually with companies that are looking for software developers for their projects or campaigns. Sites with freelance jobs like UpWork and Freelancer.com are just a few of the places you can find clients by signing up.
After finishing a contract you will be working with a new and different client and some may be more difficult than others. You need to know how much to fulfill your customers’ wishes, when to draw a line, and to maintain positive work. Because it doesn’t just help you gain repeat business. But one bad comment can seriously damage your freelance career.
Some freelancers recommend having above-average human skills and superhuman patience to advance in the freelancing industry.
If you think you can now manage your relationships and sales conversations with your customers, let’s ask the next big question.
Are You Ready to Be Responsible for Yourself?
You think the essence of success is to start your own company and work for yourself. Freelancing can be a great way to start your own software company, which means hiring your own employees. But again, before that, you need to know how to manage yourself and your business.
To be a successful freelancer you need the following;
Outstanding Time Management Ability: Are you self-starting or can you stick to a schedule without someone obliging you?
The Ability to Take Risk: When something goes wrong, can you get the job done without giving up or going back home for help?
Business Process Knowledge: Can you do marketing, sales, customer relations, and project management?
One of the biggest differences between 9/5 and a freelance job is that you plan your own sprints, set your own goals, and make sure you stick to them. (No one will do this for you) If you are good at keeping to a schedule and consistently achieving your goals, you will most likely be successful as a freelancer.
Is it the right time to work as a full-time freelancer?
If you answered “Yes!” to these questions, take action! Go out and start becoming a full-time freelance software developer!
We speak the truth, freelancing can be difficult. Being a full-time freelancer can take a lot of time, dedication, and effort. But it can also be one of the most lucrative jobs you can have.
So, are you ready to find your first client as a freelancer?
If your answer is no, we are always here to show you the path!
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