July 8, 2020
July 8, 2020
I understand the sparkly and shiny nature of freelance entirely. I once made the bold transition from a stable full-time role into its mysterious waters.
It was an exciting but daunting challenge. That’s why I want to talk you through the steps I took and, of course, all the mistakes I made.
Full disclosure: I dabbled in freelancing on the side when I had a full-time job, picking up small projects here and there, whenever I could. But in 2018, I wasn't super happy with my full-time job and decided to cut my losses to freelance.
Either that or I would open a doggy daycare (but that is another story).
So I quit my job and I started my role as a full-time user research freelancer.
What had I done to prepare? Not nearly enough. What do I wish I had done? Much, much more. I am a weird mix between an impulsive person and an obsessive planner. For this situation, I went the spontaneous route. This experience I had brings me to my first point:
Before you jump into freelancing, sit down for a few days and consider the questions below.
Pull up a word document or a good ol pen and paper, and write down serious answers to them and any doubts you have.
Take others who rely on you into consideration during this brainstorm too. Although I was a household of one, I was living in New York City and supporting three animals.
The questions are:
The question of money comes up frequently with freelancing. I can't tell you exactly how much you will make as a freelancer. But I figured this out by:
And one other primary consideration: Paperwork. Remember, you have to do all your paperwork, such as taxes and health insurance. If you are creating a company (such as an LLC), this is a lot of paperwork to consider.
Also, taxes can be quite high, and health insurance can be expensive, depending on where you live. Keep these in mind when you think of your finances.
These questions aren’t meant to be a downer. I promise they are incredibly important to ask yourself. I got into some sticky situations (such as barely being able to afford rent) because I didn't think about my finances thoroughly.
After answering these questions, ask yourself: does it make sense right now?
It might not make sense right now, but that doesn't mean it never will. You can always work towards freelance and go into it when you are comfortable and stable.
Now let's say you decide it is the right time. Woohoo! You asked yourself all the "whats" and "whys." Now it was time to face the "how."
Now it’s time to make a step-by-step plan
Albeit I did this before thinking about everything I needed, it is still important to fully commit to this idea.
As I mentioned, I freelanced on the side for years, which is okay. However, if you want to dive into freelance, commit to the decision.
I took a full week to define my brand and how I would position myself in the industry. I created a Pinterest Board to collect ideas, inspiration, and articles. I used that as a jumping-off point to start my brainstorm. I had never done this before, so it was nice to have everything in one place.
I can't stress how important this is. I went through and listed out the different work I was willing to do, like a services list. This work did not include anything in the design sphere and was solely user research work. If you are struggling with your list of services, think about what you love to do and what you are best at.
Do this in the beginning, before getting your first projects! That way, you can respond quickly and confidently to anyone inquiring about your services. T
here are two main options of how to charge: hourly or by the project. Again, this is where freelance calculators can assist. Always keep in mind the extra costs (ex: health insurance) when determining the rate.
I could write an entire article just on this, but, instead, pick up the book "Never Split the Difference" by Chris Voth. When going into freelance, you need to learn how to negotiate through awkward financial or demanding situations.
Although last, it is the most crucial point. Write down your red lines. For instance, I would never do anything design-related, and I would never work for free. If someone hadn't paid me, I wouldn't start the work until after they had. I learned this the hard way.
I set up my plan and was ready to go. Now I needed to find jobs and get paid. That is the logical next step, of course. Here is how I found my first jobs:
I recommend looking up as many templates for what you need when you finally land your first freelance gig. You will need:
All of these vary significantly by field, company, and geographical location. For these, I would recommend speaking with other freelancers to ask if you can see their examples.
Overall, I liked freelancing, but it was hard. I'm sure I will go back to it at some point when I have more years of experience. I am grateful for the adventure and honestly believe you should try it at some point in your career!
Nikki Anderson-Stanier is the founder of User Research Academy and a qualitative researcher with 9 years in the field. She loves solving human problems and petting all the dogs.
To get even more UXR nuggets, check out her user research membership, follow her on LinkedIn, or subscribe to her Substack.