Many visitors to the FilipinoFreelancers site are newcomers
to the business of freelancing. To help "newbies"
understand the business, and to answer some of their most
common questions, FilipinoFreelancers has prepared this
list of Frequently Asked Questions.
If you have questions to add to this FAQ, please e-mail
us.
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What is a freelancer?
What qualifications and skills
do I need?
What equipment do I need?
How do I set myself up as a business?
How do I find work? And where?
What should I charge?
How do I protect myself?
Who will hire me?
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What
is a freelancer?
A
freelancer is "one who pursues a profession or occupation
usually in the arts under no long-term contractual commitments
to any one employer or company." Freelancers are
on their own to find work, negotiate the terms and compensation
for that work, and deliver the work to the satisfaction
of the paying client.
Freelancers work in many fields, including editing, writing,
design, broadcasting, and advertising. In some cases,
employers need certain tasks done so infrequently that
it makes no sense to hire a permanent employee for the
job, or their workload varies so much that it makes sense
to maintain a small permanent staff and hire outside help
at busy times.
In other cases, employers prefer to hire freelancers because
of the varied and specific skills and insight that freelancers
can offer.
Freelancing can offer a great deal of flexibility. The
work need not be done in a specific location, during specific
hours, or for a set number of hours each day. It is an
attractive option for those interested in working part
time or in supplementing their income from another job.
The income potential of freelancing is good. But it is
worth considering the disadvantages of any form of self-employment.
Freelancing involves the certainty of uncertainty.
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What
qualifications and skills do I need?
To
be a successful freelancer, you should expect to have
qualifications and skills comparable to those that a person
doing the work as a permanent employee would have. This
means, for example, that if you are seeking work as a
freelance editor you should have sufficient editing skills
that you could be hired as an editor full time.
If you do not have the skills, you will need to get them.
There are many courses available in such fields as editing,
writing, and design. Check nearby colleges or vocational
schools, and search the Internet for online or correspondence
courses.
Again, from the dictionary: A freelancer is "paid
by the job, and the number and importance of his jobs
depends largely on the reputation he has built."
Basic skills will get you your first job. Expert use of
those skills will get you the next. Experience will build
the reputation you need to be successful as a freelancer.
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What
equipment do I need?
As
a freelancer, you are expected to supply all the tools
necessary to do your work. If you are a web page designer,
you must own or have access to all the necessary computer
power and software. If you are an editor, you must have
all the tools needed to do the job, from style books and
reference materials to red pencils and word-processing
programs.
Some freelance fields, such as computer graphics, clearly
require sophisticated equipment. Other fields, such as
editing and writing, can still be done in relatively low-tech
fashion, with only basic communications and word-processing
equipment. But many freelancers are finding that knowledgeable
use of the computer is an advantage in finding work, communicating
with clients, and delivering completed projects.
In addition to your work tools, you will need bookkeeping,
invoicing, and communications supplies and equipment.
You should think of yourself as a business, and equip
yourself accordingly.
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How
do I set myself up as a business?
The
rules for going into business for yourself vary widely
from one location to the next. If you intend to freelance
on a modest part-time basis, you probably will not need
to do much more than keep good records and declare all
income on your tax forms.
More formal business arrangements may require legal documents,
for which you may need the help of a lawyer. You may need
a business license. If you are seeking financing to get
started, you will need a business plan.
You also should consider your insurance needs. If you
are self-employed full time, you will need to cover your
own health insurance costs. You also may need insurance
related to your field, such as liability insurance.
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How
do I find work?
This
is where FilipinoFreelancers comes in. We will help you
find the most updated projects -- just browse through
our project categories. You have the freedom to choose
which projects best suit your talents and skills.
Marketing your services will always be a large part of
your freelance life. Until you are established, with a
regular clientele, you may spend more time marketing than
you spend actually doing freelance work. You will need
to be alert to all opportunities and become adept at networking.
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What
should I charge?
Your
fees will depend on your skills and experience. While
it is not appropriate to discuss specific rates here,
there has been discussion of general rates in some fields.
Check with professional associations in your field for
additional information and guidance.
Some freelancers charge by the hour. Others prefer to
negotiate a price for a complete project, but project
fees are based on an hourly rate. To calculate a project
fee, you need to look carefully at the proposed project,
including representative materials from the prospective
client, and estimate how many hours of your time it will
take to do the job. Multiplying that number by your hourly
rate will give you a realistic project fee.
Your hourly rate is determined by many factors, not the
least of which is your level of experience, but it should
include a percentage for business overhead.
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How
do I protect myself?
Some
freelancers work under informal, oral agreements, but
most prefer the safety of a contract. Contracts specify
the type of work to be done, deadlines, the fee and when
it is to be paid, which publication or use rights will
be assigned to the client and which will remain with the
freelancer, and other details of the agreement.
Contract provisions vary by field. Professional associations
may offer more detailed advice and examples or templates
of contracts.
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Who
will hire me?
As
a freelancer, it is important that you learn how to market
your skills to employers who need them. Employers who
hire freelancers are usually interested in hiring a freelancer
who already has the skills needed to perform a quality
job. That means you must present your skills in a clear,
concise way. Many employers have a budget to cover the
work required, and the budget does not include training
time. That means the job must be done right the first
time around.
You can list your profile or biography with us for quick
and easy reference by employers and Web users. Browse
through our project posting and find the projects that
best fit your skills.
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