Here\u2019s how to start freelancing while keeping your day job for both beginners and seasoned professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHow to start freelancing (or moonlighting)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Freelancing refers to working a second job alongside full-time work<\/a>, typically at night. That\u2019s why freelancers are also known as moonlighters \u2014 inspired by the idea of working under the moonlight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Based on the 2024 State of Independence research<\/a>, 37% of Americans with a traditional job also have a side gig. The study also showed that US employees mainly adopt side hustles to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Track freelance projects with Clockify<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Whatever the reason, you\u2019ll need to consider the following steps to start freelancing alongside a full-time job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Decide whether you\u2019re considering freelance as a side gig<\/a> or a full-time business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your choice will determine the trajectory of your freelancing journey. More specifically, you\u2019ll either aim to balance your day job and freelance work or transition fully into freelancing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to CEO Chris Sorensen<\/a> (who has managed freelancers many times), the first step to freelancing is to clarify your intentions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDetermine if you\u2019re freelancing for extra income, career growth, or for the goal of transitioning into full-time self-employment.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Once you define your long-term goal<\/a>, create a game plan to achieve it. For instance, set several short-term goals and answer questions like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Knowing why you\u2019re pursuing freelancing and what you hope to achieve will help launch your career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Track goals in Clockify<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 CLOCKIFY PRO TIP<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Understand long-term and short-term planning and get tips on how to handle both successfully in the following blog post:<\/p>\n\n\n\n To succeed in the freelance business, you\u2019ll have to specialize in a particular work area<\/strong> \u2014 whether you\u2019re a copywriter or graphic designer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, you can begin your content writing career by tackling various topics to find your ideal niche. After all, clients need area-specific content more often than general material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Likewise, as a budding graphic designer, you should consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, pick and focus on your design field \u2014 whether it\u2019s creating visuals for websites or designing product packaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On building a freelance career<\/a>, Forbes suggests that narrowing down your services can set you apart from your competitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can occasionally work outside your field but prioritize building a strong reputation<\/a> in your chosen work area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This will increase your chances of landing side gigs with reputable companies looking for experts in a particular niche.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Track your learning time with Clockify<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of catering to the global market, focus on the needs of a specific audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Different customers may require the same type of service you\u2019re offering \u2014 like small businesses, remote workers<\/a>, and other freelancers. Regardless, you should target 1 or 2 types of clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similar to choosing a niche, selecting a target market will help jumpstart your freelancing journey. To identify target clients<\/a>, create a customer profile based on these key points:<\/p>\n\n\n\n With this information, you can create an offer that clearly targets your desired audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, as a content writer, you could write for female Millennial graduates from the US looking to start a social media career while traveling on a budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This strategy is specific enough to attract the right audience but general enough not to alienate other potential clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall, you\u2019ll better understand which services to offer and where and how to market them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 CLOCKIFY PRO TIP<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Explore our thorough overview of the top freelance marketplaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Defining your freelance rates can feel like an intimidating task. So, let\u2019s list the necessary parameters that will help determine your ideal pricelist:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Set freelance rates in Clockify<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n Clockify lets you easily define freelance rates to track your earnings. Simply specify your billable rate (the hourly amount you charge clients) and mark time entries as billable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “It’s important for me to provide clients with the accurate amount of work that I did so that they can see what they’re paying for. Clockify allows me to invest more time into what I do best rather than paperwork or counting hours.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2013 Elijah D, Graphic designer<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n After collecting the listed data, you can calculate your hourly rate<\/a>. For instance, higher education, ample experience, and constant demand for your services allow you to set higher prices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2024, North America had the highest average hourly rate<\/a> in the world, $56 per hour. So, if you\u2019re based in this area, you can command higher rates. However, you would have to balance your prices with the country\u2019s high living standards and expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 CLOCKIFY PRO TIP<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Below are the solutions for freelancers looking to calculate ideal hourly rates and convert hours into earnings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n When pricing your services<\/a>, don\u2019t price yourself too high in relation to the above parameters. Otherwise, you\u2019ll appear too expensive compared to your competition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t sell yourself short, either. You\u2019ll need to cover your freelance expenses and still make a profit. So, study your competitors\u2019 offers to learn where you stand on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To create an online presence, you\u2019ll need to dabble in web development \u2014 i.e., build a website with a portfolio showcasing your work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ve got 2 choices \u2014<\/strong> create a website for free with a website builder like Wix or buy a domain name from a hosting website. In the latter case, you\u2019ll get a unique site name and a customized email address to appear more professional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Based on a recent paper on website design<\/a>, you can build a platform in 4 steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 CLOCKIFY PRO TIP<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Use KPIs to see how well your website is performing \u2014 e.g., the number of views your web pages receive:<\/p>\n\n\n\n While your portfolio may attract the first client, you should continue pursuing gigs and advertise your offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On freelancers\u2019 marketing struggles, PR strategist Laura Podesta<\/a> says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA big hurdle when people decide to work for themselves is that they don’t like to market themselves \u2014 but it\u2019s essential to get clients.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n So, here\u2019s how to start freelancing through self-promotion:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 CLOCKIFY PRO TIP<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Juggling emails and tasks can put freelancers in a time crunch. Read this text to master email management and stay productive:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you secure your first customer, focus on finding regular clients to ensure a steady stream of work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s where the Pareto principle<\/a> comes in handy. According to this rule, cultivating a strong relationship with 20% of your clients will help you find 80% of new work through their recommendations. So, for every 20 referrals, your chances of landing new projects increase by 80%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To expand your client base, you can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before you start growing your client pool, make sure that you comply with the local freelancing laws \u2014 which we\u2019ll discuss next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To start a freelance job while working full-time, check your company\u2019s policy on working side hustles. Perhaps your contract forbids you from accepting freelance work in your chosen niche.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Legally, freelancers are self-employed<\/a> individuals who work for multiple clients and have tax responsibilities. They\u2019re often associated with independent contractors, who usually work full-time for a single client long-term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the IRS on self-employed tax obligations<\/a>, people who are self-employed have to make quarterly payments, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Create tax-inclusive invoices with Clockify<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Attorney Benjamin Michael<\/a> addresses common legal mistakes and consequences for inexperienced freelancers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNew freelancers often don\u2019t realize that they have to <\/em>pay quarterly taxes<\/em><\/a> because nobody is going to remind them. When tax season rolls around, and you haven\u2019t made these payments, you can be hit with steep fines.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, check your state’s laws to see if you need a permit to sell your products or services<\/a>. Your state license will vary based on your business activities and location, as will your permit fees and expiration dates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A license proves that you\u2019re qualified to work in a field and follow local regulations. So, having one could boost your reputation and trust among potential customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 CLOCKIFY PRO TIP<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Use tax deductions for self-employed people to lower your taxable income \u2014 and decrease the amount you owe the IRS:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that you\u2019ve learned how to start freelancing, here\u2019s the next conundrum:<\/p>\n\n\n\n How do you keep your regular job while freelancing?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Freelancers with full-time jobs usually depend on them to cover:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Monitor your expenses with Clockify<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n So, you should prioritize your 9-to-5 job over part-time gigs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Career entrepreneur Jeremy Yamaguchi<\/a> identifies the biggest challenge for freelancers with day jobs \u2014 the workload:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf you\u2019re still working a full or part-time job, don\u2019t bite off more than you can chew. Take on just one gig or a couple. You can start figuring out <\/em>how long certain tasks take<\/em><\/a> you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n As a full-time employee and freelancer, you should also define your priorities and create a daily schedule<\/a> to manage project deadlines and achieve peak productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 CLOCKIFY PRO TIP<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Use our printable, free schedule templates to manage time better and prioritize tasks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, a 2024 survey on freelancers\u2019 habits<\/a> showed that 45.5% of the surveyed participants spend 5 to 6 hours per day on freelance jobs. So, when you work full-time and take on side gigs, you may end up working 80+ hours per week<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To prevent burnout and stay productive<\/a>, protect your mental health and leave sufficient time for meals, sleep, exercise, and leisure time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 CLOCKIFY PRO TIP<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Freelancers have to monitor their business expenses, transactions, and monthly goals. Here\u2019s how you can do it: <\/p>\n\n\n\n So far, our freelancer\u2019s guide covered steps to building a freelance career for both newbies and pros. Now, let’s focus solely on beginners who are learning how to start freelancing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a newcomer, you\u2019ll face multiple challenges \u2014 from finding your true (freelance) calling to competing with professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s explore ways to approach the matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Identify your passions and interests. If this happens to be a programming language, you\u2019re off to an excellent start. But there are many profitable markets worth exploring before making your decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just because a particular industry is thriving doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019ll enjoy working in it. In fact, Yoh\u2019s study on employee dissatisfaction<\/a> found that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, here\u2019s how to properly determine what work area best suits your needs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 CLOCKIFY PRO TIP<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Among in-demand freelance roles, the virtual assistant (VA) market has grown exponentially. Find out how to land a VA job:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re interested in a quick-start side gig, there are ample opportunities that require no experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Forbes, here are the top 3 remote jobs you can start without experience<\/a> in 2025:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
![\"REASONS](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Clockify-BP-Visual_REASONS-WHY-EMPLOYEES-WORK-SIDE-HUSTLES.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n#1: Define your business goals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Chris](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Chris-Sorensen-CEO.jpeg\")
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#2: Find a perspective niche (and stick to it)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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#3: Identify target clients<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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#4: Set your freelance rates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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#5: Create a website (and portfolio)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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#6: Find your first client<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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#7: Expand your network<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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#8: Explore the legal and tax requirements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Balance your full-time job with part-time freelancing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How to start freelancing without experience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
#1: Choose what you\u2019re passionate about<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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#2: Consider side jobs that don\u2019t require experience<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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