Let’s be honest. As a freelancer, what’s the one thing that gives you more stress than a difficult client or a looming deadline? For most of us, it’s taxes.
That dreaded email from the KRA, the confusion around what to pay, and the constant fear of penalties can be overwhelming. It’s especially tough when your income isn’t a fixed monthly salary. One month you’re crushing it, and the next is quiet. How are you supposed to manage your tax obligations with that kind of unpredictability?
Well, what if I told you that you might be leaving money on the table? What if there were simple, 100% legal ways to not just pay your taxes, but to actually save money in the process?
Stop stressing and start saving. Here are three powerful, yet simple, tax strategies every freelancer and small business owner in Kenya needs to know for 2025.
1. Make Withholding Tax Work FOR You
First up is a concept that many freelancers find confusing: Withholding Tax. You might have seen it on a client’s contract—a 5% deduction—but what is it, really?
Think of it like this: Withholding Tax is a client pre-paying a small part of your annual tax bill on your behalf. It’s like a forced savings account specifically for your taxes!
Here’s how it works in simple terms. Let’s say you’re a freelance consultant and you send an invoice for a project worth 100,000 shillings.
When your client pays you, they are required by the KRA to “withhold” 5% of that service fee, which amounts to 5,000 shillings. You receive the remaining 95,000 shillings in your bank account.
But that 5,000 shillings isn’t gone forever. The client remits it directly to the KRA under your KRA PIN. It now sits safely in your KRA account as a tax credit.
So, how does this save you money?
At the end of the year when you file your annual returns, imagine the KRA calculates that your total income tax for the year is 50,000 shillings. Instead of paying the full amount, you get to deduct all the withholding tax credits you’ve accumulated. If you completed ten projects just like the one above, you’d have 50,000 shillings (5,000 x 10) already sitting in your KRA account.
Your tax bill just went from 50,000 down to ZERO.
By operating as a registered business (even a simple Sole Proprietorship), you can turn this tax deduction into a powerful tool for managing your end-of-year tax bill.
2. Turn Your Business Expenses into Tax Savings with VAT
This next strategy is a game-changer, especially if you’re looking to grow your freelance work into a serious business. We’re talking about VAT (Value Added Tax).
Don’t let the term intimidate you. Imagine you have two piggy banks:
Tax Bank #1 is for the VAT you collect from your clients.
Tax Bank #2 is for the VAT you pay on your business expenses.
When you register for VAT, you must add 16% to your invoices. So, if you charge a client 100,000 shillings, you actually invoice them for 116,000 shillings. That extra 16,000 goes into Piggy Bank #1. It’s not your money—you’re just holding it for the KRA.
Here’s the magic part.
Whenever you buy something for your business—a new laptop, an internet subscription, software, or even office supplies—you also pay 16% VAT. That amount goes into Tax Bank #2.
At the end of the month, the KRA asks for the money in Piggy Bank #1. But you get to say, “Hold on! I can subtract everything that’s in Tax Bank #2 first.”
For example:
You collected 32,000 Ksh in VAT from your clients this month (Tax Bank #1).
However, you bought a new office chair and paid 5,000 Ksh in VAT. You also paid for software and paid 3,000 Ksh in VAT. In total, you paid 8,000 Ksh in VAT on your expenses (Tax Bank #2).
So, the amount you actually remit to the KRA is 32,000 minus 8,000, which equals 24,000 shillings.
You just saved 8,000 shillings! You’re essentially getting a discount on all your legitimate business purchases, which encourages you to reinvest in your own growth. Just remember to always get a proper ETR receipt with your business KRA PIN on it to make a claim.
3. The Easiest Money You’ll Ever Save
This last one isn’t a fancy loophole. It’s the most simple, most overlooked way to save money, and it costs you nothing but a bit of discipline: File your taxes on time.
Seriously.
The KRA charges fixed penalties for late filing that can add up quickly.
For an individual or a sole proprietorship, it’s Ksh. 2,000.
For a registered company, it’s Ksh. 10,000.
That’s money you are literally throwing away for no reason. Think about it—saving Ksh. 2,000 is just as good as earning an extra Ksh. 2,000.
Set a reminder on your phone. Put a big red circle on your calendar for June 30th. Do whatever it takes to file on time, even if you have zero income to declare for the year. Avoiding that penalty is the easiest profit you’ll make all year.
Taxes don’t have to be a source of stress. When you understand the system, you can make it work for you.
For more expert tips on freelance, media, tech, and business, make sure to follow me on all social media platforms @cheptionymutai. Let’s level up together!
And if you need video production consultancy services, you can reach out to me here.
As a freelancer or business owner, you’ve likely faced the frustrating situation of completing work only for a client to delay or decline payment. That feeling of “turmoil” is all too real.
But what if you could prevent this? Establishing a clear and efficient online payment procedure isn’t just about getting paid; it’s about protecting your time, effort, and bottom line.
In this post, I will walk you through the essential steps to ensuring you get paid reliably online, every time.
Step 1: Lay the Foundation with a Solid Written Agreement
The very first, and arguably most critical, step in ensuring you get paid reliably online is to formalize your working relationship.
Don’t just verbally agree on terms; create a comprehensive written agreement, whether it’s a formal contract or detailed terms of service published on your website and agreed to by the client.
This isn’t about being overly rigid; it’s about establishing clear expectations and demonstrating your professionalism. Your agreement should meticulously outline the scope of work you will deliver, the specific information, assets, or access the client must provide for you to complete the project successfully (and the implications if they don’t).
Furthermore, break down the cost of your service clearly, detailing what the client is paying for.
Crucially, this is where you define your payment terms: specify the total amount due, any deposit requirements, payment milestones (if applicable), the deadline for payment (e.g. within 7 days), acceptable online payment methods, and the exact process the client needs to follow to submit payment.
Having all of this in writing and agreed upon upfront significantly reduces the likelihood of misunderstandings and provides a clear reference point if any payment issues arise.
Step 2: Ask For Not Less Than 50% Upfront Commitment Fee/ Down-payment
Implementing a policy of requesting a commitment fee or down payment, ideally around 50% of the total project cost, is a crucial step in safeguarding your income as a freelancer or business owner operating online.
This isn’t about a lack of trust in your clients; rather, it’s a standard professional practice that offers significant benefits for both parties and drastically reduces your risk of non-payment.
Here’s why this step is so vital:
Demonstrates Client Commitment
When a client is willing to invest financially upfront, it immediately signals their seriousness and commitment to the project. This helps filter out potential clients who may not be fully invested or might be more likely to disappear before paying.
Provides Essential Operating Capital
Freelancing and running an online business often involve initial expenses, whether it’s software subscriptions, necessary tools, or simply the time invested in initial planning and setup before the main work is completed. A 50% deposit helps cover these upfront costs, ensuring you’re not out-of-pocket while you deliver the service.
Reduces Your Financial Risk
In the unfortunate event that a client becomes unresponsive or cancels the project midway, having received a significant portion of the payment upfront provides a safety net. It ensures you are compensated for at least a substantial part of the work and time invested, mitigating the impact of potential non-payment.
Improves Cash Flow
Waiting until a project is 100% complete to receive any payment can create unpredictable income streams. An upfront deposit provides an immediate influx of cash, helping you manage your business finances more effectively and providing greater stability.
Sets a Professional Tone
Clearly stating your requirement for a deposit in your initial terms and contract (as outlined in Step 1) reinforces your position as a professional business with established procedures. It sets a clear expectation from the outset and helps prevent awkward payment conversations later.
This 50% figure is a common starting point, striking a balance between securing significant commitment and not being an unreasonable burden on the client.
Depending on the nature and length of your projects, you might adjust this percentage, but the principle of getting a portion of the payment upfront remains a cornerstone of getting paid reliably online. Ensure this requirement is clearly stated in your contract and discussed with the client before any work commences.
Step 3: Leverage Safe and Integrated Payment Gateways to Build Trust
Once your terms are clear and you’ve secured a commitment fee, the next critical step is to make the actual payment process as smooth, professional, and secure as possible for your clients.
Think of a payment gateway as the digital equivalent of a point-of-sale terminal in a physical store. It’s the technology that securely authorizes and processes online payments, acting as a bridge between your website, your client’s bank, and your business bank account.
But it’s not just about functionality; the choice and integration of your payment gateway significantly impact client trust – you are, in essence, using it to “buy” their confidence.
Here’s why this step is essential:
Enhances Security and Professionalism
Reputable payment gateways employ advanced security measures like encryption and fraud detection. By using them, you signal to your clients that you prioritize the safety of their sensitive financial information.
A clunky or insecure payment process can be a major red flag for clients and lead to abandoned payments. A professional, integrated gateway reassures them that their transaction is protected.
Creates a Seamless User Experience
Ideally, your clients should be able to pay you directly on your website or through a secure, branded payment link without being redirected to an unfamiliar third-party site. Seamless integration of a payment gateway provides a smooth and consistent experience, reducing friction and increasing the likelihood of timely payment.
Offers Multiple Payment Options
Leading payment gateways support a variety of payment methods, including major credit cards, debit cards, and sometimes digital wallets or bank transfers. Offering your clients their preferred payment method adds convenience and further builds trust by accommodating their needs.
Automates and Streamlines the Process
Integrated payment gateways automate much of the payment process, from authorization to transfer, reducing manual effort and potential errors. This efficiency benefits both you and your client.
Builds Credibility
Associating your business with well-known and trusted payment gateway brands (like Pesapal, PayPal, Wise, Stripe, Square, etc.) lends credibility to your operation. Clients are often more comfortable paying through gateways they recognize and trust.
By carefully selecting and integrating a safe payment gateway, you’re not just setting up a mechanism to receive funds; you’re actively building a trustworthy and professional image that encourages clients to pay confidently and promptly.
Step 4: Exceed Expectations – Give it Your All and Deliver Exceptional Quality
While the previous steps focused on setting up clear terms and robust payment systems, this step hones in on the absolute cornerstone of consistent online income: the quality of your work.
No matter how well you’ve drafted your contract or how seamless your payment gateway is, consistently delivering high-quality results is paramount to getting paid without hassle and building a sustainable online business.
Think of the payment you receive as a direct reflection of the value you provide. When you “give it your all” and deliver exceptional quality, you not only fulfill the obligations outlined in your initial agreement (Step 1), but you also build significant goodwill and trust with your clients. This goes beyond simply meeting expectations; it’s about exceeding them whenever possible.
Here’s why delivering top-notch quality is so critical for getting paid:
Justifies Your Value and Price
High-quality work clearly demonstrates the value you bring to the client and justifies your fees. When clients are genuinely impressed with the results, they are far less likely to question the cost or delay payment. Your work becomes its own compelling argument for timely compensation.
Minimizes Disputes and Revisions
Poor quality or work that doesn’t align with the agreed-upon scope is the primary reason for client dissatisfaction and payment disputes. By focusing on excellence from the outset, you reduce the need for extensive revisions and the potential for disagreements over whether the work was delivered as promised.
Builds Trust and Credibility (Reinforcing Step 3)
Just as a secure payment gateway builds trust in the transaction process, delivering consistent quality builds trust in your abilities and reliability as a service provider or business. This reinforces the professional image you’ve worked to cultivate and makes clients more confident in continuing to do business with you and, crucially, paying you on time.
Generates Repeat Business and Referrals
Satisfied clients who are thrilled with the quality of your work are your best advocates. They are highly likely to become repeat customers and refer new business to you. This creates a virtuous cycle where your commitment to quality directly leads to more opportunities to get paid.
Creates a Positive Reputation
In the online world, reputation is everything. Consistently delivering high-quality work builds a strong positive reputation, making you a sought-after professional. This can give you more leverage in setting your terms and attracting clients who value quality and are willing to pay for it.
Ultimately, while contracts and payment systems provide the framework, the actual exchange of value happens through the quality of your deliverables. By committing to excellence in every project, you not only honor your agreement but also proactively reduce potential payment friction and lay the foundation for long-term success and financial consistency in your online endeavors.
Step 5: Cultivate Social Proof – Don’t Let Happy Clients Leave Without a Review
You’ve set clear terms, secured an upfront payment, implemented a smooth payment gateway, and delivered exceptional quality (Steps 1-4). Now it’s time to leverage that positive experience to build a powerful tool for future payments: social proof.
This step is all about actively encouraging your happy clients to share their positive experiences through reviews and testimonials.
In the online world, trust is currency, and social proof is gold. Potential clients looking for freelance services or online businesses rely heavily on the experiences of others to make their decisions.
They want to know that you are reliable, deliver on your promises, and provide genuine value. Positive reviews act as powerful endorsements, validating your expertise and significantly influencing a potential client’s comfort level in hiring you and, crucially, in trusting you with their payment information.
Here’s why actively seeking reviews is essential for consistent online payments:
Builds Credibility and Authority
A collection of positive reviews across different platforms (your website, Google My Business, social media, industry-specific sites) immediately builds your credibility with new prospects. It shows that others have trusted you and had positive outcomes, making you a more attractive and less risky choice.
Increases Trust in the Payment Process
When potential clients see that others have successfully worked with you and were satisfied, it extends their trust to the entire interaction, including the payment process. Knowing that happy customers have navigated your payment system and received quality work reduces anxiety for new clients when it’s time to pay.
Acts as Powerful Marketing
Positive reviews are authentic, third-party endorsements that are often more persuasive than your own marketing copy. They highlight the real-world benefits of working with you and can attract clients who are a good fit and are likely to value your services – and thus pay for them willingly.
Provides Valuable Feedback (and Helps You Improve)
While the focus here is on getting paid, the reviews themselves also offer invaluable insights into what you’re doing well and areas where you could improve. This feedback loop helps you maintain and even enhance the quality of your services (Step 4), further reducing future payment issues.
Reduces Hesitation for New Clients
For someone considering hiring you for the first time, seeing positive testimonials from satisfied clients can be the final push they need to commit. This reduces their hesitation and makes the initial payment (like the commitment fee in Step 2) feel less like a gamble and more like a worthwhile investment.
How to Ask for Reviews Effectively
Timing is key. Ask for a review when the client is happiest – immediately after successfully delivering the final product or service, or after they’ve expressed genuine satisfaction. Make it easy for them by providing a direct link to where you’d like them to leave the review. Personalize your request, reminding them of the specific positive outcome you helped them achieve.
Where to Showcase Your Reviews
Strategically display testimonials on your website, particularly on your homepage, services pages, and a dedicated testimonials page. Share them on your social media channels and include snippets in your proposals or email signatures. The more visible your positive social proof is, the more it will work for you in building trust and encouraging timely payments from new clients.
By making the collection and showcasing of positive client feedback a standard part of your process, you leverage the power of social proof to attract better clients, build trust, and ultimately ensure you get paid online consistently and reliably.
Conclusion
Getting paid reliably online as a freelancer or business owner doesn’t have to be a source of stress. By implementing these five essential steps – from setting clear terms and securing upfront commitment to delivering exceptional quality and leveraging positive reviews – you build a robust system that minimizes risk and fosters trust. Follow this guide consistently, and you’ll pave the way for predictable income, stronger client relationships, and the sustainable growth of your online business.
Did I miss a step? Let me know in the comments section.
And if you need video production services, let me know here. Alternatively, you can visit our company website here.
Many clients who seek the services of video editors are not fully aware of the intricate processes involved in video editing. This lack of clarity often emboldens them to challenge the video editors they engage in attempts to get them to accept low pay for the comprehensive services provided.
Unfortunately, some video producers in the industry offer low wages to video editors, promising higher pay once they secure more projects. However, this often leads to a situation where editors find themselves overwhelmed with work, leaving little time for their personal lives. While it’s true that increased editing hours can result in higher earnings, this can come at the cost of work-life balance.
Given the potential negative impact on mental health caused by excessive workload, video editors should prioritize their well-being by setting fair rates for their services. Instead of undercutting their value, editors should establish a standard hourly rate that reflects the complexity of the project and the time required to complete it. By valuing their work and charging accordingly, editors can achieve a healthier work-life balance and enjoy their profession
If editors adopt this approach, it could revolutionize the post-production sector. However, for such a transformation to occur, it’s essential that every professional video editor meticulously records and assesses the frequent obstacles encountered during the editing process. By doing so, they can accurately gauge the time invested in each client’s project.
So What are the typical challenges faced by video editors during the creation, editing, and production stages of video content?
File Download Time
Video assets play a crucial role in the video editing process. However, the file size can significantly impact the workflow. Professional video editors should consider the time it takes to download large files from clients when estimating project timelines and setting rates.
Why? because you pay internet service providers (ISPs) for internet access, which you use to download files. Since internet usage often involves costs, it’s reasonable to consider charging for large file downloads. Implementing a fee for files exceeding a certain size, such as 5GB, can help offset the costs associated with high-bandwidth usage, especially considering varying internet speeds across different regions
Even when the download occurs in the background, it utilizes your electricity, computer, and paid internet service. In recognition of these resources, there should be a corresponding benefit provided by the client.
It’s important to account for all costs, including those that may seem minor. If a client shares large video files, such as 20 or 100GB, and expects you to download and edit them, the time spent waiting for the download can be significant. Depending on your internet speed, this could take several hours. It’s reasonable to consider charging for this time, as it represents a valuable resource that could have been used for other tasks.
System Upgrade
Many video editors face challenges due to inadequate computer systems. Video editing performance is heavily influenced by factors such as disk space, disk type, graphics card, and RAM. While most computers can handle basic video editing, high-quality or complex projects require more powerful hardware. This can lead to increased editing times, which clients may not fully understand or appreciate.
A video editor’s performance in terms of speed and efficiency is directly tied to the fees they command for their services. To deliver optimal results, a high-specification computer is essential. Should this not be feasible, upgrading certain hardware and software components becomes necessary to enhance processing speeds. However, consistently low service charges may render such improvements unattainable, thereby limiting the editor’s ability to work at their best.
To improve their efficiency and well-being, video editors should consider adjusting their pricing to reflect the value of their services. Clients who understand the importance of efficiency and are willing to invest in quality will appreciate the premium pricing and support the editor’s efforts to provide exceptional work.
Payment Frequency
Prioritizing payment for your editor post-delivery is essential. The promptness of your payment upon work approval is significant. It’s important not to presume that the editor is in a stable financial situation, which would allow for delayed payment at your convenience.
delivery can serve as a significant motivator. Should you entrust them with future projects, this timely remuneration may inspire heightened creativity in their approach to your assignments. Moreover, such prompt payment positions you favorably as a top-tier and preferred client in their considerations.
Gaining the respect of an editor is crucial, especially when your livelihood hinges on content creation. The manner in which you value and honor the editor’s time will shape the nature of your collaboration. Furthermore, the editor’s benevolence is a significant factor in your path to success.
Conclusion
Video editors, like any creative professional, face unique challenges in delivering high-quality work. It’s essential for clients to recognize the value of their time and creativity. These qualities are crucial for crafting compelling visuals that effectively market products or services. By appreciating the efforts of video editors, clients can contribute to a sustainable and rewarding career for these skilled individuals.
Seeking top-tier video editing services? Look no further. As a seasoned professional, I offer expert video editing solutions tailored to your specific needs. Working collaboratively with a talented team, I provide services to clients worldwide. To learn more about my work and explore my portfolio, please visit my company website here.
Up until next time, bye bye and take care.
Follow me on all social media networks @cheptionymutai
Before you start measuring the Return On Investment(ROI) of a video, it is important to first look at why you created the video at first , and who is their target audience. Businesses and brands create videos for different purposes. Some of the common reasons why people create videos are:
To be Famous. i.e. Via Youtube, Facebook and Tiktok.
For Reporting purposes– N.G.O’s and corporate organizations set aside money for documentation of their achievements through video.
For Marketing Product and services – Good example of this is advertisements, landing page videos, explainer videos e.tc.
To Educate – Through online video courses shared online that people can learn from.
To Entertain – E.g Music videos, drama, comedy e.t.c.
To express creativity or show people how to do things – e.g How to build, cook, edit videos e.t.c
For memories – e.g Travel videos, anniversaries, events e.t.c.
With all these factors considered, you will be in a good position to know if your video strategy is working and you can start measuring your video ROI.
On this blogpost, I will share with you 5 key metrics to look at when measuring your video ROI.
Watch Video – 5 Key Metrics to Measure Video Video ROI
Views
This is the easiest and most obvious metric to track. It tells you how many people have watched your video, either on your website, social media platforms, or other channels.
View count can give you an idea of the reach and popularity of your video, but it doesn’t tell you much about the quality of the views or the impact on your business goals. This metric is ideal for fame videos, educational videos, entertainment videos e.t.c.
Watch time
This metric tells you how long people have watched your video, either in total or as a percentage of the video length. Watch time can indicate the level of interest and engagement of your viewers, as well as the effectiveness of your video content.
A high watch time means your video is engaging and relevant to your audience, while a low watch time means your video is boring, off-topic, the sound is not clear, poor editing or the image quality is down.
Engagement
This metric measures how your audience interacts with your video. By liking, commenting, sharing, subscribing, or clicking a call to action on a video. Engagement tells you how your videos resonate with viewers, influence their behavior, and encourage them to take action.
A high engagement rate means your video is engaging and compelling, while a low engagement rate means your video is unappealing.
Conversion
This metric tracks how your video leads to a desired result, such as generating leads, sales, sign-ups, downloads, or donations. Conversion can show you how your video contributes to your business objectives and generates revenue.
A high conversion rate means that your video is effective and profitable, while a low conversion rate means that your video is not aligned with your objectives or value proposition.
Customer satisfaction
This metric measures how your video affects the contentment and devotion of your customers, such as increasing retention, referrals, reviews, or testimonials. Customer satisfaction can show you how your video builds trust and relationships with your customers, how it improves their experience and gratification, and how it creates advocates for your brand.
A high customer satisfaction score means that your video is valuable and memorable, while a low customer satisfaction score means that your video is disappointing or irrelevant.
And that is it.
How much have you invested in creating videos for your brand? How often do you measure ROI with your creator or producer in order to improve? Let me know in the comments section below.
And if you need someone to help you create professional video content for your brand or business, let me know here. That’s my line of work.
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This is a common question that many people wanting to pursue a career freelancing online today ask. Having been a freelancer for now 10 years, is freelancing truly a lucrative career? The answer to this question is an affirmative yes. Now the success that everyone is looking for lies on how you pursue it.
Watch Video: Is Freelancing Online A Lucrative Career?
For instance, freelancing on a platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, freelancer and others was very lucrative 5 years ago but now things have changed. It’s now hard to make a descent amount of money there. This is owing to an increased number of people joining these freelance gig platforms looking for work compared to the number of clients hiring.
So what makes freelancing a lucrative career despite the shifting tides in the freelance marketplace? It is the individuals flexibility to adapt to change. In this blogpost, I will share with you 3 things that still makes freelancing a very lucrative career to date.
Direct Connection With Clients
One of the biggest shifts that we all witnessed during the Covid-19 lockdown in the year 2020 was the change on how businesses connect with their customers and workers. Freelancers were not left out. They contacted clients directly to seek for work as opposed to applying for work through the freelancing platforms.
As it turned out from the freelancers I have interacted with, getting hired by a company directly online is more lucrative than applying for gigs every day via a freelancing platform. I am also a firm endorser to this approach to freelancing. It is the way to go.
A good example is a client who hires a freelancer for a 6 months contract. The contract pays the freelancer an average of $4,000 a month. That’s good money depending on the country you are residing in.
Moreover, you can plan how you will spend the money or invest.
When you compare this to a freelancing on a platform; on a freelancing platform, it’s really hard to get a client who hires you and give you work consistently for more than 3 months. You may have a contract with a client for long but what you make from it in a month is very small.
The secret today to a lucrative online freelancing career is to look for direct clients.
Diversify
Diversification gives one a room for growth. Diversity when it comes to freelancing is investing your earnings in profitable ventures. Before you do this, educate yourself on how different online investments work. For instance, before you start investing in cryptocurrency, educate yourself and know how the cryptocurrency you are investing in works.
Look for avenues in which you make good profit from your investment.
When you do this, you will be able to shift your focus from depending on one source of income to many. Freelance diversification is not only limited investments; you can diversify your knowledge as well.
For example, if you are a video producer like me, you can diversify and offer video script writing and graphics designer. This move will give you a room to grow financially.
Diversification multiplies your sources of income and this makes freelancing a lucrative career.
Own A Business Online
Take freelancing as an avenue to study and do market research for your next business. Have a goal of owning a business online that serves people within your career. The beauty of freelancing online is that you are paid as you learn how it works. When I started freelancing way back in the year 2013, I had very little experience in video production.
When I was hired for my first job, I learnt from it. I kept perfecting it with time while working on paid contracts. However, my goal always had been to own a successful video production business in Kenya. At the time, I had started it offline.
Take freelancing as your foundation to not only a lucrative career but a successful business as well.
Once you have you idea ready, start. Know who your target audience are and address them clearly. When you position your online startup well, you will definitely prosper in it.
The long term benefit of being a freelancer is owning a lucrative online business.
Conclusion
With new emerging technologies and ideas, freelancing will never cease to be a lucrative career. Be very honest with yourself when you take this path. I have seen many people show off and lie on camera that their luxury lifestyles are being financed by money they got from freelancing, trading on Forex, writing e.t.c. Not all of those who share their story about their freelancing journey or trading are lying. But the loud and flossy ones in most occasions lie.
When you get into the world of freelancing, be open minded. When you come across a good idea, pursue it with a positive mind. When you do so, you will surely succeed.
And that is if from me on why freelancing online is still a lucrative career today.
Did you find this article helpful? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.
And if you need professional video production services, you can reach out to me here.
Freelancing online has been on a steady rise in the past decade and it’s showing no signs of stopping. According to industry studies, the worldwide freelance marketplace is estimated to be worth $1.5 trillion in 2022. In US alone, there is 70.4 million freelancers and is forecasted to grow up to 90.1 million by 2028.
5 Freelance Platforms That Are Safe And Secure To Work On in 2023
On this blogpost, I will share with you 5 freelancing platforms that you should consider if you want to become a successful online freelancer and an entrepreneur.
Upwork is a freelance company based in the US and has been there for more than a decade. Upwork is among the pioneers of online freelance services. Originally it was called Odesk before it merged with another premium freelancing platform called Elance to form Upwork in 2013. Elance used to have more high paying projects than Odesk before the merge. Also, Elance was the first freelancing platform to offer Escrow services on fixed contracts.
Since the merge, Upwork has grown to accommodate all kinds of jobs. Also, their security has been heightened to protect freelancers and clients from fraud. It is reported that Upwork has more than 12 Million registered freelancers.
Upwork offers 5 ways to find work based on the freelancers experience using their platform. The first one is through bidding. This is a situation where a client posts a job; and freelancers on the platform bid on it. The client chooses the proposal that addresses their needs and meets their requirements. They then award the contract to the winning bidder.
The second way is though Creating project offers. The freelancer can create a project offer catalogue around the skills that he/she possesses and posts it on the platform. This will be displayed to the prospective clients. If a clients likes a certain catalogue, they will purchase it.
The last one is through Freelancer Enterprise client invitations and Direct hires. This is where a freelancer is interviewed and hired through Upwork Enterprise. Only freelancers with Top Rating and Top Rating Plus qualify for this offer.
Among the most competitive skills that are highly paying on the platform include Technical skills, customer service skills, digital marketing skills, creative and design skills, copywriting and more.
You can withdraw earned income to your Paypal, Local Bank , Payoneer, Mpesa digital wallet and more.
Fiverr is a Freelance platform founded in the year 2010 with it’s headquarters is in Tel Aviv Israel. Fiverr is popular for offering every service for $5 bucks. Freelancers can post their $5 service offers in many different categories.
Today, the company has grown and now hosts an estimated 3 million people comprising of buyers and sellers/freelancers.
Also, their $5 service offer approach has evolved over time. Sellers can scale up their offers from $5 to $1000+ per offer depending on the service they are offering through packages/pricing table.
Unlike Upwork, Freelancers can only post what they offer on Fiverr in a catalogue format and wait for buyers to find it through search. This means that if one spends enough time optimizing their offer, buyers will find it and they will in turn get many orders.
With Fiverr, you can sell any service as long as it can be sold digitally.
You can withdraw earned income to your Paypal, Bank , Skrill, Payoneer digital wallet and more.
Freelancer is an Australian freelance marketplace that was founded in the year 2009. It connects freelancers with clients across the world. Freelancer has more than 900 job categories to choose from. As of June 2022, it had over 59 million users.
Like Upwork, clients posts jobs for freelancers to bid on. They also offer escrow services on all contracts. On the other hand, they have a special offer called freelancer design contests. Here, the client posts design contests with a set price and any freelancer can submit their mock designs. The design that the client picks is the winner. The winner is made public and is rewarded with the set prize.
This is an ideal place to start if you are not sure of the category you will want to work in. Also, it is here that you can identify different skills that are hot in the market then learn how to do them and then look for freelance jobs on the platform.
Freelancer offer a wide range of withdrawal methods including Paypal, bank and Skrill.
Peopleperhour is a UK based freelance platform. It connects freelancers and clients across different categories of skills. One can sign up as a freelancer or a client. Once your profile is approved, you can proceed to search and apply for jobs that matches your skills.
Freelancers here also have an option to create a project catalogue telling prospective clients what they can do in a hour for a given price.
Most clients on Peopleperhour are genuine since they are required to confirm their preferred payment methods before they are allowed to hire. They are also required to fund escrow before a freelancer can start to work on their projects. At the end, freelancers are required to proof that they completed the discussed job by coordinating their communications strictly on the platform.
You can withdraw earned income to your Paypal, Bank , Skrill and Payoneer digital wallet.
Guru is the pioneer freelance marketplace with it’s headquarters in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania US. It was founded in the year 1998 and has had less hype since it’s inception. They still approach freelancing using the traditional methods of posting jobs and letting freelancers to apply them.
Despite that, they have many long time clients across the world. At the time that I freelanced on Guru, one could easily be scammed by a new client. That has changed today.
However, one needs to be vigilant and ensure that the client has funded escrow before they start work. All in all, freelancing on Guru offers individuals a room to get more clients. Competition by bidders on Guru on jobs posted is not that fierce.
While competition is not that high, the number of projects to bid on here is very small. Generally, they have more tech related jobs than any other category. This is a freelancing site to bundle up with others until you find a bearing.
Big Downside of These Freelance Platforms
They don’t accept cryptocurrency as a payment method. This is despite the growing number of people using crypto as a digital currency. Cryptocurrency is here to stay. It is therefore something that all freelancing platforms should consider.
Conclusion
There are hundreds of freelancing platforms online today that you can find work on and get paid. Some platforms, specialize in providing certain services like writing, transcription, video production, design, coding e.t.c. If you want to take freelancing fulltime, consider signing up on some of them that you find suitable and begin bidding on jobs posted there.
You never know where your luck lies. You need to keep trying until you succeed.
Freelancing is a sustainable career that can make you up to $1000/month part time working from home.
You only need to commit some of your time daily to achieve the desired results. I have personally made up to $5000 a month on one freelancing platform.
And these are the 5 Freelancing Platforms That Are Safe And Secure To Work On Today.
Which is your favorite freelancing platform and why? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
And if you need help to create professional content to market your business, get in touch with us here. On the other hand, if you need professional video production services, you can request a quote here or start consultation here.
Freelancing and business share a lot in common. That’s why many people are capable of tackling both of them at a go. But which of the two should one invest more of their time in?
On this blogpost, I will try to demystify the strengths and weaknesses of each one of them so that you see where you need to invest most of your energy in online.
All the information I am going to share with you here is based on my experience freelancing on different freelancing platforms and running a video production business based in Nairobi Kenya.
First, I will start with the common things that freelancing and business share in common.
Common Things That Freelancers And Business People/Entrepreneurs Share
Freedom To Make Choices – Freelancers and business people have freedom to make their choices. They choose when to work, what to work on, where to work, when to go for vacation e.t.c.
Can Propose or Set Their Rates – When a client or prospect shares details of what they want done, freelancers or entrepreneurs can propose how much they will charge for their services. If the client agrees to it, they can set up a contract based on what has been agreed upon. This is the beauty of being either a freelancer or an entrepreneur.
Unlimited Earnings – Freelancers and business people are capable of making a lot of money based on the amount of contracts they win. More contracts means more money.
Can Work Anywhere – While a business person needs a permanent business establishment/location/offices for for them to operate, individuals who own online businesses offering services can work anywhere. This is the same case with freelancers, they can work anywhere.
Can Partner In Projects– Freelancers and business people can collaborate together very well in business dealings. In many scenarios, the business owner is usually the employer while the freelancer is the contractor.
With this said, it exists important things that differentiates freelancing and business.
Difference Between Freelancing And Business
Freelancer
NO
Business Person/Entrepreneur
You are limited on the who to contact for business. Most freelancers rely on invitations for interview and bidding on job posts on a freelancing platform.
1
Depends on your aggressiveness to look for business. You are free to identify and contact as many prospects as you can.
A freelancers is governed by a freelancing platform terms of service. Their profiles are at risk if they break certain rules.
2
Businesses are governed by the rules they set by the founders. Clients have the choice of either accepting or rejecting work offered to them.
Most of the project rates are set by the client. There is little freedom to make choices.
3
Business people send quotes based on the clients brief. They are free to quote the amount they want.
Growth is dependent on your past clients reviews. You have no control of any negative review you receive.
4
You have control on the reviews. You can grow depending how knowledgeable you are in a given assignment and not on what other people say about your services.
The clients you meet or have are yours as long as you remain on a given freelancing platform. You are not allowed to contact them outside the platform.
5
The clients who hires you are fully yours. You can communicate freely with them and ask for business.
If you are hired by many clients on a freelancing platforms, you are not allowed to sub-contract the same work to other freelancers unless you have a freelance agency on the same site.
6
You are the boss. You can contract and sub-contract with your set terms and conditions. This is the beauty of owning a business.
You are exempted from PAYE tax and only required to declare income tax on all your earnings annually. In some countries, income earned from a foreign country is not taxed.
7
Your business is governed by the tax laws of your country and you must be compliant to them. Failure to comply may result in your business being closed down.
The future of your success is at the mercies of the freelancing site you are in. If the site finds any small discrepancies in your account or a client reports your account for no reason, your account will be closed or suspended.
8
You hold the future of your business as you will grow from the repeat work from same clients. When you do good job, clients will recommend your services.
Comparison Between freelancing and Business
As you can see business wins when it comes to a long term investment with high returns. However, its important to point out the roles that freelancing plays when starting up.
Why Freelancing Is Important When Starting Up An Online Business
Freelancing plays a major role when starting up an online business. Here is why it might be a good idea to invest your time in freelancing first before launching your online business.
Raise Capital – At the early stages of starting an online business, one needs to invest money into building a system in form of a website. You can raise capital to build your online business offering freelance service online. The rule to this is; Don’t be carried away by the freelancing jobs to a point you forget about establishing your online business.
Identify a niche Within Your Skills– Freelancing platforms is the home for different skillsets. If you succeed freelancing in a given niche, it’s a pointer that there is demand for that service and others that are trending on a given freelancing platform in the same niche. This way, you can position your services in the online market place with a lot of confidence.
Income To Sustain Yourself – Before you start earning from your business, you need money for upkeep. This is the money that you can easily earn offering freelancing services.
And that is it from me. I hope this article was helpful to you.
Should people invest more of their time offering freelance services or doing business?
Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
And if you are looking for professional video production services, you can request a quote for free on Techtube Video Studio website. You will get a response within 12 hours.
Freelancing sites are perfect avenues to work in when you have clients who give you recurrent tasks and pays you well for the services you offer to them.
But have you ever asked yourself where you will be if the freelancing platform you are in collapses today?
Freelancing website platforms have a way of holding unto freelancers and keeping them in their comfort zone. I mean thats what they have to do in order to remain afloat in business.
Many great entrepreneurs lose the vision they had of setting and running a successful online business the moment they start getting freelancing clients.
One slowly starts allocating more of their time to freelancing and before they know, their drive to own an online business dies.
So how do you know that your dream of owning a business is dying as a freelancer?
Keep reading as that is what I will be discussing on this blogpost.
Tell Tell Signs You Taken Away By The Freelancing Platforms
#1 All Your Current Clients Are On A Freelance Platform
Unlike any other job, freelancing is the quickest path to owning a business. This is because you have the freedom to plan your time.
This is unlike 9-5 job where you depend on someone else to make decision for you. So if you only have clients you met on a freelancing platform, then you are loosing it.
#2 You Always Talk About The Freelancing Platform
An entrepreneur should always market his business whenever he or she gets a chance. A freelacing platform is business like yours and has a mechanism of marketing itself. You too should spend more time marketing and telling people about your business instead.
If you are currently doing the opposite, the
#3 You Are Signing Up On More Freelancing Platforms
Thats what will motivate one to take such action by signing up on more platforms in order to tap on more clients. What they forget is, the clients they find there is not their own clients, its the freelancing platforms clients.
The freelancing platform can decide to suspend their accounts anytime on the platform. If you are currently working on more than 2 freelancing platforms and you are an entrepreneur, stop and think, because you are loosing a lot.
Freelancing limits you to doing the job yourself. If you try to have someone do the work, you make losses because the pay is not enough.
Dont let freelancing take everything from you. If the earnings from freelancing is the one that fuels your business, then dont accept many jobs.
Be always open to invest in a team even if it means training them on the skills you have. Write ‘
#5 You Are Always Complaining of Low Paying Clients
Lets face it, in every 3 job postings on a freelancing platform, 2 are paying very poorly. Complaining on different online forums wont change this, as its mostly up to freelancers to apply on not to.
Always ask yourself instead is, where can I find well paying clients? Once you find an answer, go out and look for them. Don’t limit yourself to one place.
#6 Successful Freelancers Hype
Whoever said there is no free lunch was right. Take the motivation and and if you want, buy the course but never let it blind you from going for your dream business. While in all this hulabaloo, remind yourself that you have a business to market.
Dangers of Putting All Your Efforts/Mind/
Focus On a Freelancing Platform
Competion becomes fiecer everyday as more freelancers join a platform.
The freelancing site can suspend your account anytime they want and you have nothing to say.
The clients you meet on a freelancing platform are not your clients. You are not allowed to share contacts and communicate with them directly on e-mail or you will be violating the terms of the platform.
Freelancing platforms algorithms can eliminate you without your knowledge. I have been a client there and have seen many applications being hidden. Application being hidden is like an e-mail being marked as spam. So put yourself in that shoe and think.
Being in many freelancing sites doesen’t necessarily mean you will be successful. Some clients post same job in 3-4 freelancing sites in order to find the lowest bidding freelancer. And you can know this if you are a freelancer on all those sites. That means they might hire someone in the site you are not in.
You might end up leading a lonely life. The jobs you get does not pay enough for you to outsource and build a business. If you work from home, you will find yourself so tied up on the jobs you have and detatched from the outside world. Lonely life is the worst thing one would want live especially in the African setting in the name of wanting to become rich Freelancing.
With the growing number of freelancers joining the freelancing platforms and number of clients hiring through the platforms shrinking, its becoming hard to succeed freelancing and becoming rich than it was before.
Conclusion
All freelancers have high potential of becoming sucessful in businesss. If your original dream was to become a sucessful entrepreneur, stick to it.
Dont be carried away by freelancing platforms which offer you quick connection to clients by just setting up a profile. Aim for sky. The sky is the limit. Within no time, you will have found those high paying clients.
And thats it from me here.
What’s making you hold unto a freelancing platform and forget about your business? Let me know in the comments section below.
If are looking for professional video production services, let me know here. You can request for a quote on www.techtubestudio.com.
Until next time, bye bye and take care. Follow me on twitter @cheptiony.
