Starting Freelancing With No Experience: Your Step-by-Step Guide

The freelance workforce is growing every year worldwide. In the U.S. alone, there are nearly 80 million freelancers in 2025, and that number is only going to keep rising. There’s never been a better time to kickstart your freelance journey, even with no experience — you just need to be smart about it.

For this article, I’ve teamed up with Geoff Tucker, founder of DataOps Group, who shares his insights from building a specialized HubSpot consulting business. Whether you’re leaving your 9-5 or starting freelancing as a student, in this guide, you’ll learn how to start with no experience. 

Things to consider before you pursue a freelancing career 

Many people wonder how to start freelancing, but not enough ask themselves if freelancing is really the right fit for them. Self-employment can feel liberating — you get to choose when, how, and with whom you work. At the same time, it’s important to be honest with yourself about whether you’re truly ready for this path. Being your own boss isn’t all glitz and glamour. 

Let’s break down some basics you’ll need to pay attention to. This is especially important if you’re considering leaving your 9-5. In traditional employment, you often take certain benefits for granted, including:

• Regular income. The amount of money you get is predictable. You don’t need to stress about the periods of feast and famine that freelancing can sometimes bring. 
• Employment benefits. When you’re no longer an employee, you become your own employer. Taxes, insurance, pension, sick leave, paid holidays — all these are your responsibility now. 
• Community. In a classic setup, work just throws in new people from your field your way. As a freelancer, you’re in charge of networking and making new connections. 

So, do you still want to switch to freelancing full-time? If so, let’s get started and work on it together. 

Skill audit 

If you have no prior work experience or want to change careers, it’s a good call for career counselling and self-assessment. Think about what you do or did well in college/at your previous job, or what your friends and family say you’re good at. This can be your starting point in identifying what types of services you can provide. 

If you’re still not sure, you can take a couple of career quizzes to get a better idea of what you could try. For example, this one by Coursera. I took it out of curiosity to see what kind of a career it would suggest, and I must say it was pretty spot-on.

Remember, tests and career counselling can only point you in the right direction — they’re not definitive answers. The truth is, you never know what you’re good at and what you enjoy doing unless you try it. Theory is helpful, but getting hands-on practice as soon as possible is even better.

Many clients are actually fine working with beginners as long as you can prove you’ve done your research and are genuinely interested in the role. Besides, many jobs available today are 100% working-from-home- and beginner-friendly. For example, customer support, virtual assistance, data entry, and others — we cover some of the most common work from home jobs that require no experience in another article. 

Making a plan 

If you’re in a 9-5 now, don’t quit just yet. Make some savings while you’re building a strategy. Use this time to identify what types of services you want to offer, who your ideal clients are, what niches you want to try, and how you’ll market yourself. 

Let’s say you’re now in digital marketing and want to switch to freelancing within a year. Here’s how you could approach it: 

Geoff Tucker shared that if he were starting over today, he’d focus on becoming the go-to expert in a very specific niche rather than being a generalist. 

Your positioning should be ultra-specific. Instead of saying, “I do marketing automation,” try “I help B2B companies fix their HubSpot reporting so they can make confident business decisions.” 
Always be specific, speak to the industry you serve and the people within it. Make sure when they read your profile or website that what you offer makes them say, “Yes, this is me and here's a person who gets it.”

{{Geoff Tucker}}

Your positioning is closely tied to your niche. We have a dedicated article on identifying your perfect freelancing niche — give it a read. 

Building the right positioning will save you a lot of time in the long run, no matter which channels you use to promote your services — freelance platforms, social media, or elsewhere.

Mock projects and portfolio

Clients care about getting their problems solved above all else. You’ve got to show them you’re ready and able to handle whatever they need to get done. Mock projects are perfect for this because you get to create a portfolio item and acquire new skills along the way. 

Let’s say you're a graphic designer just starting without real clients. You could design a complete visual identity for a fictional café, including a logo, menu, social media posts, and even packaging concepts. Treat it like a real client project by researching the target audience and crafting a brand personality. 

Another way to build a portfolio is to ask your existing network whether they or someone they know would like a small free service in exchange for a testimonial. Just make sure you’re clear on how many free projects you’ll do. Don’t get stuck in the free labor loop — set a limit of 1-2 free services and move on to charging real money after. 

Once you have something to show, build a simple webpage. Place your work samples there with easy navigation. 

Don’t worry if you don’t know how to code — there are plenty of platforms offering free website builders like Wix or Canva. They are very intuitive and easy to navigate. 

Having your own website is definitely a plus when looking for clients. But just having a portfolio isn’t enough — you’ll need to put in some effort to land your first gigs.

Proposals 

Just like your positioning, your proposal should be specific. It is especially true if we’re talking about finding gigs on big freelance platforms where the competition is extremely high. Geoff shared his tips on writing winning proposals and standing out among competitors: 

• Instead of sending out boring, generic replies, talk about real examples of similar work you’ve done — even if it’s from a different field. Geoff believes case studies build way more trust than certificates these days, and I actually couldn’t agree more.

• Try offering a free “health check” or quick assessment to get your foot in the door and show you can bring value right away. You’ve got to give a little to get a little.

• When you send a proposal, add a quick tip or insight about their specific situation to show you really get it. Suggest a no-pressure call where you can learn more and give them advice on the spot.

• Focus on explaining how you work, not just what you can do. Make your proposals clear and organized with timelines, costs, and responsibilities. You want to be the obvious pick for their problem.

Geoff also shared that the fastest way he grew was by developing repeatable frameworks and methodologies. All because having a “signature process” makes you more referable and allows you to set premium rates. As an example, here’s what a proposal built with these principles would look like for a freelance designer — you can check it out here. 

Finding clients  

This is one of the most challenging parts for beginner freelancers. Especially if you don’t have a big network or solid previous work experience. Here’s what to try: 

• Tap your network. Ask around to see if anyone you know needs your services or can pass your name along to someone who does.

While it might feel uncomfortable at first, putting yourself out there really works. When I was teaching English online, posting on social media that I was looking for new students was my main way to get steady clients. My network shared those posts, and referrals kept coming in. 

• Give freelance marketplaces a shot. Yes, platforms like Upwork, Toptal, Fiverr, or PeoplePerHour are super competitive and often frustrating, but it’s worth seeing how it goes. Just make sure to use the tips from this article when setting up your profile and writing proposals. And don’t rely on these platforms alone — try out other channels to find clients instead of putting all your eggs in one basket.

• Reach out to agencies. Many freelancers collaborate with agencies for a (somewhat) stable gig flow. And many agencies are keen on hiring beginners. They may not state it directly, but if there are no specifications on the experience level, take it as a sign. This could be an amazing opportunity for you to build a rich portfolio. 

Send out introduction emails to agencies you’d like to work with. This type of collaboration would be especially relevant if you work in a creative field like copywriting, photography, design, or if you do programming. 

Once you start receiving your first positive reviews, don’t forget to add them to your website/profile. 

Personal brand and social media

Looking for clients is one thing, but what if clients started coming to you? In our day and age, you can’t really make it very far without an online personal brand. So, what is it exactly, and how do you start building one? 

Once you define how you want others to perceive you, it’s time to take action. Set up accounts on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, or any other relevant platforms where your ideal clients hang out. In the beginning, it’s better to keep it safe and be active on all big platforms just to test the waters first. 

Start posting your process, results, testimonials, before-and-after’s, and share your knowledge. But don’t just showcase your work — share your knowledge, tips, and insights. The education-first approach is a proven way to build trust and convert leads.

Grow your virtual network by engaging with others. Comment on posts, join relevant groups, and offer helpful advice. It’s also smart to team up with other freelancers in your field to cross-promote and refer clients to each other.

Partner with complementary providers: Build relationships with web developers, graphic designers, or other consultants who serve the same client base but offer different services. I did this through Sprocketeers, a Slack group for HubSpot consultants like me. Now I have great people to partner with on client projects.

{{Geoff Tucker}}

Don’t get discouraged if your posts don't have much success right away. Think of your online presence as part of your portfolio — it builds over time. Most importantly, let your personality shine through. Stay professional but be genuine — people can sense when you’re trying to help vs just want to get exposure. 

Setting your rates 

When you’re just starting out in freelancing, it’s easy to think that doing lots of free work or underbidding on freelance sites is the way to go. You’ve probably seen ridiculously low-priced services on popular platforms like Upwork or Fiverr. 

This strategy usually isn’t the best move — Geoff believes low prices or free work often attract the wrong clients and make it tough to raise your rates later on. Instead of giving work away, he recommends offering risk-reversal guarantees, like saying, “If you don’t get at least 3 actionable insights from this audit, I’ll give you your money back.” Check out different types of satisfaction guarantees with examples for some inspiration. 

Offer a low-cost diagnostic that naturally leads to higher-value implementation work. Offer a free audit, and be candid about problems and opportunities. Put their pain solution first, not your revenue. The money will come when you treat people right.

{{Geoff Tucker}}

Geoff also suggests starting with project-based pricing from day one, focusing on business results rather than billing by the hour. For example, he plans out a full implementation or fix over 3-6 months, charging a fixed monthly retainer based on how complex the work is.

When setting your rates, keep them realistic. Do some research to see what other beginners in your niche are charging. You might adjust your prices a few times as you get started — that’s totally normal. 

When you start freelancing, patience and persistence are key. Keep developing your skills and portfolio around the niche and positioning you’ve chosen, and focus on building your personal brand and making meaningful connections. Good luck, you’ve got this!