Freelancing Full Time
A few people I know have started working for themselves recently, and it got me wondering whether it's really as flexible as it sounds. From the outside it looks great, but I imagine there’s a lot more uncertainty when you're responsible for finding your own clients and managing your income. For those who have already gone down that path, what surprised you the most after becoming a freelancer, and is there anything you wish you had known before getting started?
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The biggest surprise for me was how much time I actually spend on things that aren't billable work. Marketing myself, sending proposals, invoicing, chasing payments, learning new skills. It adds up fast and you don't get paid for any of it. I also underestimated how stressful the income fluctuations can be. Some months are great, others you're lucky to get half of what you need. You really have to be disciplined about saving during the good months to survive the slow ones. The flexibility is amazing but it comes with a lot of responsibility that you don't see from the outside. A resource like Pinoy Freelance helped me understand the business side better, and I wish I had found it before jumping in.