How to Start Freelancing With No Experience
Three months ago I had zero clients, zero portfolio pieces, zero confidence, and honestly zero idea what I was doing. I just knew I needed to make money and I kept seeing people online talking about freelancing like it was the answer to everything.
So I tried it. And let me tell you, the first two weeks were rough. I applied to maybe 40 jobs on Upwork. Got rejected by all of them. Well, most of them just ignored me completely which somehow felt worse than rejection. I created a Fiverr gig that sat there with zero orders for 11 days. I started questioning whether this whole freelancing thing was a scam designed to give people false hope.
But then on day 12, I got my first order. A 500 word blog post about home organization tips. The client paid $10. I spent way too long on it (probably 3 hours for a piece that should have taken 45 minutes) because I was terrified of getting a bad review.
The client loved it. Left a 5 star review. And that one review changed everything. Because suddenly I was not "someone with no experience." I was "someone with a 5 star rating." And more orders started coming.
That was three months ago. Last month I made over $800 from freelancing. Not a fortune. But a whole lot more than the $0 I was making before I started.
Let me walk you through exactly how I did it so you can skip the panic and confusion I went through.
What Even Is Freelancing?
Let me strip away all the fancy language. Freelancing means you do work for people and they pay you. That is it. No boss. No office. No fixed schedule. Someone needs something done, you do it, they pay you.The difference between freelancing and a regular job is that instead of one employer, you have multiple clients. Some stick around for months. Some hire you once. But you control who you work with, when you work, and what you charge.
Types of work people pay freelancers for:
| What You Would Do | Skills You Actually Need | How Hard to Start |
|---|---|---|
| Blog and article writing | Ability to write clearly | Easy |
| Virtual assistant stuff | Organization, email, basic computer skills | Easy |
| Social media posts | Using Instagram/Facebook/TikTok regularly | Easy |
| Data entry | Typing and attention to detail | Very easy |
| Transcription | Listening and typing | Easy |
| Basic graphic design | Canva knowledge (free, learnable in a day) | Easy |
| Translation | Speaking two languages | Easy if bilingual |
| Customer service emails | Communication skills | Easy |
| Web research | Knowing how to Google things well | Very easy |
| Tutoring | Knowledge of a subject | Easy |
I started with writing because it was the one skill I was somewhat confident about. But honestly, if I could go back, I might have started with virtual assistant work because the barrier to entry is even lower and it teaches you how to work with clients, which is the real skill in freelancing.
The "No Experience" Problem (And Why It Is Not Actually a Problem)
Here is the thing that kept me stuck for weeks before I actually started. Every job posting said "looking for experienced freelancers" or "must have portfolio." And I had neither. Classic chicken and egg problem. Need experience to get hired. Need to get hired to get experience.I thought this was an unbreakable cycle. Turns out it is incredibly breakable. Here is how.
Make your own samples. This sounds almost too obvious but it did not occur to me for an embarrassingly long time. Nobody said your portfolio pieces have to be from CLIENTS. They just have to show you can do the work.
I wrote three blog posts on my own. About topics I chose. Published them on my own blog. And when potential clients asked for samples, I sent those links. Not once did a client say "but these are not from real clients." They just wanted to see if I could write. And I could.
Do one project for free or super cheap for someone you know. I wrote a set of social media captions for my cousin's small business. Took me about 2 hours. She was thrilled. I asked her to write a short testimonial. She wrote something like "Great work, delivered quickly, understood my brand perfectly." That testimonial went on my freelance profiles and added instant credibility.
Your blog IS your portfolio. If you have been following along with my content on this blog, you already have published writing samples. Every article on MoneyMintPath could serve as a portfolio piece for a freelance writing gig. You already have more than most beginners.
Picking Your Freelance Service (Do Not Overthink This)
I see people spend weeks researching which freelance service to offer. Reading articles. Making pros and cons lists. Watching YouTube videos. Doing everything except actually starting.Here is my advice: pick the thing you can start TODAY and just go. You can always change later.
Quick decision guide:
| If This Describes You | Start With This |
|---|---|
| You write decent text messages and emails | Freelance writing or copywriting |
| You are weirdly organized and love making lists | Virtual assistant work |
| You spend too much time on social media anyway | Social media management |
| You type fast and have good ears | Transcription |
| You notice typos on restaurant menus | Proofreading and editing |
| You speak two languages | Translation |
| You are good at explaining things to people | Online tutoring |
| You know your way around Canva | Graphic design and templates |
| You honestly have no standout skill | Virtual assistant (it teaches you everything else) |
Building Your Portfolio in One Day (Yes, One Day)
I spent way too long agonizing over my portfolio. I thought I needed a beautiful website, a professional headshot, perfectly curated samples, and a bio that made me sound like a seasoned professional.What I actually needed: three writing samples and an email address.
The simplest portfolio (takes 30 minutes):
Option 1: A Google Doc.
Seriously. Create a Google Doc with:
- Your name at the top
- One line saying what you do ("Freelance writer specializing in personal finance and lifestyle content")
- Links to 3 writing samples (your own blog posts work perfectly)
- Your email address
Option 2: A page on your existing blog.
Since you already have a blog (or are building one), create a page called "Work With Me" or "Hire Me." Add a short description of your services, links to your best articles, and your contact info. Done.
Setting Your Prices (The Part That Terrified Me)
Pricing was genuinely the most stressful part of starting. I agonized over it for days. Too high and nobody hires me. Too low and I am working for pennies. What is the right number?Here is what I learned: there is no perfect number. There is just "good enough to get started" and "raise it later."
My actual pricing journey:
| When | What I Charged | How I Felt About It |
|---|---|---|
| First month | $10 per 500 word article | Embarrassed but desperate |
| Month two | $20 per 500 words | Slightly less embarrassed |
| Month three | $35 to $50 per 500 words | Starting to feel fair |
| Current | $50 to $75 per 500 words | Good but still raising |
Starting prices for different services (beginner rates):
| Service | Start Here | Raise To (After 3 to 6 Months) |
|---|---|---|
| Blog writing (per 1,000 words) | $15 to $30 | $50 to $100 |
| Social media management (monthly) | $100 to $200 | $300 to $500 |
| Virtual assistant (hourly) | $5 to $10 | $15 to $25 |
| Graphic design (per project) | $10 to $25 | $50 to $100 |
| Transcription (per audio hour) | $10 to $20 | $25 to $50 |
| Data entry (hourly) | $5 to $10 | $10 to $20 |
Where to Find Clients (I Tried Everything, Here is What Worked)
Fiverr (Where I got my first client):Fiverr was the easiest platform to start on because you do not apply to jobs. You create a "gig" (a listing for your service) and clients come to you. It felt less vulnerable than sending proposals and getting rejected.
My first gig title was generic and boring: "I will write articles for you." It sat there for over a week with zero orders. Then I changed it to "I will write SEO blog posts about personal finance and lifestyle." More specific. More targeted. Orders started coming within days.
What I learned about Fiverr:
- Specific gigs attract more buyers than generic ones
- Your first 5 reviews are the hardest to get and the most important
- The 20% fee hurts but it is worth it for access to clients
- Response time matters. Reply to messages fast.
Upwork is where the bigger money is but it is also harder to break into. You apply to jobs by sending "proposals" and the competition is fierce. My first 20 proposals were ignored. I wanted to quit.
Then I changed my approach. Instead of writing generic proposals like "Hi, I am a writer and I would love to work on this project," I started personalizing every single one.
My proposal template that actually got responses:
Hi [name],
I just read your posting about [specific thing from their job description]. This caught my attention because [reason related to my experience or knowledge].
I recently wrote an article about [relevant topic] that you can see here: [link to sample].
I can deliver this within [timeframe] and I am happy to discuss any details before we start.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
The key is showing you actually READ their job posting. Most freelancers send the same copy pasted proposal to every job. The ones who personalize stand out dramatically.
Outside of platforms (where the REAL money is):
After my first month, I realized that platforms take a cut of everything. Fiverr takes 20%. Upwork takes 10%. So I started looking for clients outside of these platforms.
I found my best paying client through a Facebook group. She posted in a small business group saying she needed blog content. I responded with a helpful comment (not a pitch, just genuine advice about content strategy). She messaged me privately. We talked. She hired me at $60 per article with no platform taking a cut.
Other places to find clients directly:
- LinkedIn (optimize your profile, post about your freelance services)
- Facebook groups (business owner groups, entrepreneur groups)
- Cold email (find businesses with outdated blogs, email them offering to help)
- Local networking (tell everyone you know what you do)
Delivering Work and Getting That Crucial First Review
Your first project matters more than any other project you will ever do. Not because the work itself is special but because that first review opens every door that comes after.How I handled my first project:
The client wanted a 500 word article about home organization. I could have banged it out in 30 minutes. Instead, I spent 3 hours making it perfect. I researched like I was writing a thesis. I revised it four times. I formatted it beautifully. I delivered it a day early.
Was that financially smart? No. I earned about $3 per hour for that project. But the 5 star review I got was worth way more than the $10 payment.
My rules for client work:
- Deliver early whenever possible. If the deadline is Thursday, deliver Tuesday. Clients love this and it reduces your stress.
- Communicate before problems happen. If something is unclear, ask BEFORE you start working. Do not guess and hope for the best.
- Accept feedback without getting defensive. My second client asked for revisions. My ego wanted to explain why my original version was better. Instead I just said "of course, I will update this right away." She became a repeat client. Ego would have lost me that relationship.
- Always ask for a review. After delivering final work and the client is happy, I send a simple message: "So glad you are happy with the work! If you have a moment, a short review on [platform] would really help me as I grow. Thank you!" About 70% of satisfied clients leave reviews when you ask directly.
Raising Your Rates (The Scariest Part)
The first time I raised my rates, I was convinced every client would disappear. I went from $15 per article to $25. I literally lay in bed that night thinking "what have I done."You know what happened? Nothing. Zero clients complained. Some did not even notice. And my next new client just paid the new rate without questioning it.
When to raise rates:
| After This Happens | Do This |
|---|---|
| 5 completed projects with good reviews | Raise by 20% |
| 10 completed projects | Raise by another 20% |
| A client says "wow this was fast" | You are undercharging. Raise rates. |
| You are turning down work because you are too busy | Definitely raise rates. |
| You feel resentful about how much you earn per hour | Raise rates or find better clients. |
My 30 Day Starter Plan (What I Wish I Had Followed)
Week 1: Get Ready- Pick your service (just pick one, stop debating)
- Create 3 samples (even if they are self created projects)
- Set up profiles on Fiverr AND Upwork
- Create your first Fiverr gig (make it specific, not generic)
- Set beginner friendly prices
- Apply to 5 to 10 Upwork jobs per day (personalized proposals only)
- Share your Fiverr gig link on social media
- Join 3 to 5 relevant Facebook groups and start engaging (do not pitch yet)
- Tell friends and family you are freelancing (word of mouth is underrated)
- Follow up on unanswered proposals (polite, short follow up)
- Deliver your first project with obsessive attention to quality
- Get your first review
- Apply to more jobs every single day
- Analyze what is working (which proposals get responses? Which gig descriptions attract clicks?)
- Double down on what works
- Start raising rates slightly if you have good reviews
- Consider cold emailing potential clients directly
The Mistakes I Made So You Do Not Have To
I took rejection personally. Getting ignored on Upwork felt like being rejected as a human being. It is not. It is a numbers game. Most proposals get ignored regardless of quality. The experienced freelancers just send more proposals and do not take it personally.
I said yes to everything. In my first month, I took on a project I hated (writing product descriptions for a type of product I knew nothing about) because I was scared to say no. The work was painful, the client was difficult, and I earned $15 for about 4 hours of misery. Now I only take projects I am at least somewhat interested in. Life is too short for projects that make you dread opening your laptop.
I did not ask for testimonials early enough. My first two clients were thrilled with my work. I did not ask either of them for a review because I felt awkward about it. Those reviews could have accelerated my growth by weeks. Now I ask every single time. The worst that happens is they say no or forget. Usually they say yes.
I compared myself to established freelancers. I would look at profiles of people charging $200 per article with 500 reviews and think "I will never get there." What I did not see was that they started exactly where I was. Probably with worse first gigs than mine. The only difference was time and persistence.
The Uncomfortable Truth About Freelancing
It is not easy. Whoever told you freelancing is some kind of freedom paradise where you work from beaches and make money in your sleep either got lucky or is lying.The first few months are genuinely hard. You will face rejection. You will underprice yourself. You will have clients who are difficult. You will have weeks where you earn very little and wonder if you made a mistake.
But. And this is a big but.
If you push through those first few months, something shifts. You have reviews. You have repeat clients. You have confidence. You have skills you did not have before. And suddenly you are not the desperate beginner anymore. You are a freelancer with a track record and a growing income.
Three months ago I had nothing. Now I have clients who come back to me regularly, a growing reputation, and income that increases every month. Not because I am talented or special. Because I started before I was ready, survived the uncomfortable beginning, and kept going when it felt pointless.
You can do the same thing. I genuinely believe that. But only if you actually start.
Not after you finish reading one more article. Not after you watch one more YouTube video. Not after you feel "ready." Because you will never feel ready.
Start today. Figure it out as you go. And I promise you, three months from now, you will look back at this moment and be glad you did.
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