Software development is no longer restricted to full-time IT job duties. Certified programmers are increasingly opting for the more flexible approach to software development – freelance software developers. This is due to the fact that freelancing allows you to control your productivity, production, and deadlines. You have the freedom to pursue freelance software developer projects that pique your interest and pay well.
Once you’ve earned enough industry expertise and knowledge over a certain software development topic, transitioning to becoming a freelance software developer becomes both simple and advantageous to your career. Working on various projects allows you to learn new things and work with cutting-edge technology, increasing your knowledge. Most importantly, you make the decisions and define your own work-life balance — you may start your day whenever you choose.
Are You Sick of Working a Standard 9-5 Office Software Job?
You might be enticed to quit your job and work as a freelance software developer. For many, freelancing evokes the attraction of working when and where you want, on what you want, and for more money than you would make in a conventional job.
But what exactly are you getting yourself into? Would the benefits of venturing out on your own balance the numerous drawbacks?
In this blog, we’ve put together the experiences of freelance software developers. We’ll discuss the advantages and disadvantages of becoming a freelance software developer to help you determine if it’s right for you.
Who Exactly is a Freelance Software Developer?
IT workers that operate as independent contractors rather than salaried employees are known as freelance software developers. This work arrangement frequently allows these experts to have greater freedom in the work they undertake and in the work environment they choose.
They engage as freelance software developers for one or more firms on short- to medium-term projects that are typically, but not always, completed from home or another place of the freelancer’s preference, such as a shared office space or even the beach!
Let’s Discuss the Benefits of Becoming a Freelance Software Developer?
In general, being your own employer has several advantages for freelance software developers. The following are the primary advantages of freelancing from various perspectives:
- Making More Money:
- There are several benefits to working as a freelance software developer, including the ability to earn as much as you desire. There is no limit to the number of projects that one individual may engage in at the same time. If you are a master of many, if not all, trades, you may take on several projects that need different skills and work on them all at the same time if you are multi-talented. You’ll be more efficient and earn more money this way.
- You Will be your Own Boss:
- The most major advantage of working as a freelance software developer is that you are the CEO of your own company. You are an entirely self-contained creature. You have complete control over the sorts of customers and persons with whom you choose to deal. You have the authority as a freelance software developer to decline to deal with customers who are aggressively demanding.
- You Get to Break Up the Monotony:
- After you’ve embraced the freelance software developer lifestyle, the puck is in your court. You can change it up since you may choose your client and project. You not only have the flexibility to choose the sort of work you do as a freelancer, but you also have control over your business hours. Work while your creative spirit is flowing, and relax when you need to. Freelance software developer work allows you to design your own routine.
- Worldwide Exposure:
- Jobs for freelance software developers can come from anywhere. You are not confined by geographic borders. Working with clients from other countries educates you about different work cultures and communication methods. You’ll have the opportunity to build meaningful professional partnerships that will help you broaden your network and mix your contacts. While working on a project, you will have the ability to collaborate with other freelance software developers. You may experience the global workforce from the comfort of your own home. It also adds an extra splash of color to your résumé.
Since we mentioned the perks of becoming a freelance software developer, let’s take a look at the cons/ drawbacks of becoming one.
Let’s Discuss the Drawbacks of Becoming a Freelance Software Developer
Just like a coin has two sides, freelancing has a few disadvantages of its own.
- Job Security Issues: According to statistics, the majority of new firms fail within the first two years. Furthermore, if your firm fails, you will not be eligible for unemployment benefits. In the early stages of being a freelance software developer, you may wish to maintain your normal work and begin your freelance business part-time on the side until you have a solid customer base.
- Liability: You are the bottom line as a freelance software developer, and the success or failure of the firm lies on your shoulders. To thrive without management or other staff to keep you on track, you must be exceptionally self-motivated and disciplined. Working from home may provide several distractions, including personal phone calls to children, relatives, and guests, as well as the allure of the refrigerator, television, domestic tasks, and personal errands.
- No fixed income/ workload: As a freelance software developer, you will experience both busy and lean periods. You must learn how to handle fluctuating workloads as well as many conflicting goals and deadlines. Your workload and revenue may vary from month to month and be difficult to estimate, especially if you are just starting out. Large income fluctuations might make budgeting tough. Furthermore, as a freelance software developer, you are not eligible for incentives, awards, or corporate recognition. Client feedback is often positive, but it does not usually result in further cash compensation. You may be given the opportunity to write for free in return for visibility in a well-known publication.
Freelance Software Developer Roles Requires a Lot Of Juggling:
Aside from the benefits and cons, another factor to consider is that being a successful freelancer necessitates wearing multiple hats and a lot f juggling. This isn’t for everyone; some people dislike freelancing since they want to focus only on programming, rather than sales or customer interaction.
Freelance software developer roles require you to master so many skills so that you can find jobs at any time and from anywhere. This will definitely boost your resume but also take away a lot of your time. Clients expect you to be the master in all the skills you possess, and this can take time. But these are just troubles you will face in the beginning stages of being a freelance software developer.
To be honest, freelancing isn’t for everyone. Now that you’ve heard from various freelancers about the advantages and disadvantages of their work, here are a few pieces of advice on how you can start your journey to becoming a freelance software developer.
First, try a demo. If you currently have a full-time job and don’t want to leave it just yet, or if you’re not sure if freelancing is for you, start with a little project in your leisure time and see how it goes.
Speak with other freelancers. If you have any freelancing pals, inquire about their experiences. Otherwise, go to local gatherings to meet other freelancers. Alternatively, you may do it online (slack communities, forums, etc.). Carry out your “research.” Consider the consequences of working from home – there are some advantages and disadvantages to this as well.
Here are 8 Steps to Guide to become a Freelance Software Developer:
You may make your own decisions as a freelancer. In 2022, freelance software developers will have a number of possibilities for success. You can begin your journey in your spare time or as a full-time career. Whatever approach you take, the 7 steps indicated below will assist you in avoiding many of the common stumbling blocks that new freelance software developers have while looking for freelancing work.
1. Define yourself as well as your “why.”
To be a successful freelance software developer, you must first determine your end goal. Take some time to examine why you want to work as a freelancer. Your “why,” whether it’s to live a particular lifestyle or to raise more income, is what will keep you going when things become rough.
2. Create an attractive Resume
Creating a solid resume is an important component of being a successful freelance software developer. Your resume demonstrates the quality of your work by displaying your accomplishments and past projects; this might assist you in landing your first few freelancing tasks.
Your portfolio should highlight the best work in your sector of service. Each component of your portfolio should clearly demonstrate how you contributed to the project and how it benefited the customer. Case studies, testimonials, data-driven results, photographs, charts, work samples, and mock-ups are all examples of successful portfolio items that might help you land freelancing gigs.
It should also have relevant skills that will boost your profile. Knowledge of programming, database and various software tools can be an added benefit to your search for becoming a freelance software developer.
3. Continue to Improve Your Skills
Companies/clients engage freelance software developers for the services and skills they offer. As a result, freelance software developers must constantly improve their skills, adapt to new situations, and increase their knowledge. Keeping up with current trends is also essential for providing the finest service to your clients. If you want to maintain your skills up to date for freelancing work, online learning sites like Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, and even YouTube are great places to start.
4. Focus on Developing Your Personal Brand
Spend some time as a freelance software developer polishing your image and promoting your brand across several media platforms. Your aim in using a strong digital brand is to be easy to find and remember. In addition to creating a social media presence, consider spending time on industry-specific forums. In order to ignite people’s interest in your initiative, you should ask and answer questions. This is a very targeted strategy that helps you to reach out to possible clients who are already on sites related to your industry. This might help you stand out when applying for freelancing work. Another benefit of online platforms is that you can meet more people in the same amount of time that you would in person.
5. Make a Financial Plan for Yourself
Even if obtaining a full-time wage will take some time, it is still vital to have a financial goal. You may accomplish this by merging three distinct figures:
- Basic prerequisites: This is the bare minimum amount of money required to meet basic needs such as food, rent, and other expenses.
- Interests and leisure: This is the amount you’ll need to fund things like relaxation, entertainment, and hobbies outside of work.
- Wishlist: This is the amount of money that would allow you to grow, including funds for travels and other goods on your wish list.
This activity may help you determine how much money you’ll need to cover your living expenses and set objectives. You’ll know when you’ve made headway toward your goal when you reach a certain revenue level.
6. Seek a Mentor
Finding an experienced professional to guide you as your career as a freelance software developer progresses might be quite advantageous. To demonstrate your dedication to success, you may approach potential tutors with your business plan, website, and marketing strategy.
7. Network, and Network More:
This is something that cannot be overstated. When you start looking for freelancing work, tell everyone you know about your new enterprise. Don’t fail to tell them you’re prepared to start immediately and to urge them to provide your contact information to anyone who may need your assistance. As a consequence, you become their go-to professional and begin to broaden your network.
Where can Freelance Software Developers Work?
Companies from a variety of sectors engage freelance software developers to complete projects and resolve software challenges. Most freelance software developers work on a particular project and may assist a corporation in resolving software difficulties with their app or designing a website for a customer. You may also obtain employment as a freelance software developer on online freelancing marketplaces.
Freelance software developers are frequently members of internet forums and groups where they may communicate with and learn from other professionals in the field. Active networking allows developers to acquire help with tasks, hear about profitable job prospects, and gain access to helpful knowledge sources. Freelance software developers work independently and frequently finish their tasks remotely. Many freelancers work from home, but some use remote work to travel while still earning a living.
Websites You can Look Out for Freelance Software Developer Jobs:
- Optymize: When it comes to finding freelance software developer work, Optymize handles all of the heavy liftings for you. It’s simple to find freelancing work on this site.
- LinkedIn: has over 700 million members and millions of freelance software developer jobs advertised in a range of fields. Use relevant characteristics such as location, date posted, company size, pay, experience level, and so on to narrow your job search.
- Upwork: is a worldwide labor marketplace where you may discover freelancing jobs in the field of software development to help you maximize your potential. You can easily and comfortably search for employment that matches your talent/skills.
- Indeed: Every day, hundreds, if not thousands, of job postings are posted on Indeed.com. Some work may be completed from home or at a distance. To refine your job search, use characteristics such as date posted, remote or temporarily remote (COVID-19), income estimate, job kind, area, employer, and experience level. You can find a variety of opportunities to start your career as a freelance software developer.
- Freelancer: Another freelancing platform worth checking out is Freelancer. The site lists thousands of jobs in over 1,800 categories, with the majority of them in technology.
In a Nutshell
For numerous reasons, the freelance market is expected to expand further, and freelance software developer positions are becoming more common: you may supplement your primary source of income, choose the projects you work on and the people you work with, establish your own hours, work from anywhere, and so on. These freelance job search tactics will help you get started if you’re just starting started.
Switching to becoming a freelance software developer is a profitable proposition in today’s market, as the need for freelance developers has surged in recent years. It is an appealing option for creative individuals who are continuously looking for new challenges and learning chances in their jobs.
However, keep in mind that freelancing is not for the faint of heart. It necessitates a large investment of your time and finances. Sometimes the workload is heavy, and other times you don’t have tasks that you want to work on. So, only go freelance if you’re alright with a fluctuating workload.
It’s easy to be frightened by outreach, but remember that it’s not about pitching a project – it’s about selling a conversation. Have some fun, make some new friends, and you’ll be well on your way to acquiring new clients in no time and stepping up the ladder to become a great freelance software developer
