Freelance Jobs Online for Beginners: 3 Best Practices to Make Sure You Get Paid

Are you considering accepting freelance jobs online for beginners?

This guide offers you freelance ideas to ensure you get paid.

When you undertake freelance jobs online for beginners, clients may try to take advantage of you.

This article offers freelance jobs online for beginners tips to help you get paid and not stiffed.

When I realized I wanted to make money blogging, I researched and discovered freelancing is one of the best day jobs for writers.

I began running a freelance blog in 2015, and I continue to run a freelance blog to this day.

What is a freelance blog?

You offer your blogging skills and knowledge in exchange for financial compensation.

Freelancing can indeed be lucrative.

However, freelancers want to get paid for their services.

What are the protocols?

This guide shares best practices for new freelancers who want to make sure they receive compensation.

Are you ready to learn more about the financial consequences of accepting freelance jobs online for beginners?

Freelancing & Finances (Real Tips for Real Entrepreneurs)

Becoming a financially viable entrepreneur ultimately means making money by running a successful business or two.

What does a business need to run? Financing.

Who do you get financing from? Mainly clients.

But how exactly do you get paid?

Now, although this all sounds very simple, it isn’t always quite so straightforward. When freelancing, payments can easily slip through the cracks, and if this happens often enough, you may find yourself in a world of trouble. 

Let’s explore the best ways to ensure you get the payments you are due to keep your freelancing business going from strength to strength.

Getting paid is only easy if you do the groundwork

If you want to ensure that you get paid on time, you may wish to browse a selection of invoicing templates. Why? Because conducting your business finances through email is a bit like facing the wrong way at a bus stop as the bus approaches. Most of the time, you will be ignored and that bus will keep on trucking without so much of a tap of the brake pedal. 

If you want to get paid, your clients need to know an indisputable breakdown of services for which they have been billed. They also need a payment date and your preferred payment methods. That way, not only are you facing the right way at the bus stop as the bus approaches, but you are holding a big sign that says “ACTION REQUIRED.”

In order to get paid, you need to choose a vendor. You can use PayPal to transfer money internationally. Venmo is also a popular choice.

You need an account at one of these merchant vendors, so when clients ask you how you accept money, you have an answer with an account in place.

You might be accepting freelance jobs online for beginners but you can seem knowledgeable. With this guide, you will be knowledgeable.

Look at the way the PayPal invoice is structured:

By looking at the screenshot, you see you can add more descriptions of your services as well as more services.

The PayPal invoice tells your clients when the payment is due. Also, you see at PayPal whose invoices are overdue. PayPal allows you to “Send a Reminder” to your clients that compensation is overdue for services rendered.

Reddit Subreddit Freelance Writers

One helpful place you can research is the Reddit Freelance Writers. Pick the other freelancers’ brains about how much to charge and freelance jobs online for beginners best practices to get paid.

I read one freelancer in the subreddit felt compelled to take a job that paid her pennies on the dollar and she didn’t know what to do, so she turned to the subreddit for advice.

You find many helpful freelance ideas in the subreddit.

Publish a static Hire Me Page on your website.

Static pages get indexed at Google easier than blog posts.

Look at my Hire Me page for ideas. You see I have testimonials from happy clients. Word-of-mouth goes a long way in extending your branding.

Learn to calculate your rate 

Freelancing is a peculiar pursuit. No matter your reputation, clients always want something for free. If the client were to deal with a business, there would never be a dispute over the payment requested. But where freelancers are concerned, clients see dollar signs. 

First, check out the going rate. If you are new to your professional sphere, you may wish to come in slightly lower than the going rate (to remain competitive and build a portfolio).

Second, figure out how many hours you work per week. If you can give your client a breakdown in terms of hourly rate rather than a day rate, you will look more professional and less like you are guesstimating. 

Remember, when Everest was first measured, the total height was exactly 29,000 ft but the height given to the media was 29,002 ft. because that looks way more accurate. People respect accurate figures. Your hourly rate speaks volumes about your professionalism. 

It’s true. These are best practices. When people send us inquiries about my freelance rates, I refer them to my business manager who sends them my compensation chart.

Big job? Negotiate payment upfront

Clients who pay for small tasks expect zero fuss. Clients who employ you to help out on much larger tasks expect a salary negotiation. Give them one.

For example, if you run a construction company, being hired to build a wall is straightforward. The client expects the task to be completed on time with no issues. However, if your construction company is hired to build a hospital, you would be within your rights to negotiate an upfront payment. 

Even if you only secure 50% of the full cost upfront, the fact the client has the money and has no issues with paying some of the total cost as a goodwill gesture is added insurance that the client will eventually pay in full.

Have you ever been stiffed by a client? I have. If the client returns, I’d ask half the money upfront.

Freelance Jobs Online for Beginners Best Practices: FAQ

What Freelancing Site is Best for Beginners?

Many freelancers use Upwork and Fiverr.

What is the easiest freelance job?

Whatever freelance jobs you have an interest in doing and a passion for completing will be easy for you. Remember to study your craft to learn changes in your industry such as changing trends.

Wrapping Up: Freelance Jobs Online for Beginners Best Practices

Best practices for freelance jobs for beginners involve preparation and prior planning.

• How much will you charge?
• Where will you state your rates?
• Which vendor will you use to accept money?

Clearly, you have a great deal to think about before you start trying to generate business as a freelancer.

Takeaways: Freelance Jobs Online for Beginners Best Practices

• Do your research
• Know your worth
• Negotiate upfront if the compensation is big enough

As you see, this guide offers actionable strategies for starting a freelance business. This post provides actionable plans.

Readers, please share these freelance jobs online for beginners best practices.

I look forward to your views in the comments section. Can you suggest any additional freelance jobs online for beginners to make sure they get paid instead of stiffed?

Authors: Janice Wald and a Contributing Author

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