Freelancing in Pakistan: How to Start Your Career as a Freelancer

Freelancing is becoming more and more popular in Pakistan, especially among the younger generations. Data show that it has the fourth-fastest growing freelancing market in the world, expanding at a rate of 47% annually. This surge has been attributed to a number of factors, but the two most significant are the government’s efforts to promote technical education and the widespread availability of 4G services in Pakistan.

Freelance opportunities are now available in many industries today, so it is relatively easy for one to work in a field that they are familiar with. In this blog, Graana.com brings you a comprehensive guide on freelancing in Pakistan to help you kick-start your career.

What is freelancing in Pakistan?

Understanding the Basics of Freelancing

 

 

Freelancing is a form of self-employment when an individual enters into a contract to sell their products or services to others. Freelancers can take on many projects at once, and work for both businesses and private clients. They typically have fixed or starting rates that people or corporations agree to before work begins.

For a one-hour photo shoot with a set amount of photographs, for example, a freelance photographer might bill $150. One can either consider it their full-time profession or do it part-time while holding down a full-time career. Freelancing might be advantageous for anyone who needs to augment their income in between jobs.

Given that freelancing is a sort of self-employment and grants the worker entire independence, one can choose their own working hours.

How to Start Freelancing in Pakistan

Following are the steps you should take to becoming a freelancer:

Set Your Goals

 

 

One must first choose the services they want to offer as a freelancer. In this manner, they might be able to focus more with a straightforward business concept.

For instance, if someone intends to work as a freelance graphic designer, they must decide what kind of content they want to create. This could include brochures, internet advertisements, or company logos.

Before beginning, individuals should consider what they want to accomplish with their skills, how to market those skill sets, how much they really would like to offer, and the types of payments they will accept. They must conduct some research to find out what other businesses offering comparable services charge in order to determine a reasonable starting price.

Locate Your Ideal Client

 

 

One can pick and select whom they would like to work with as a freelancer. It can be advantageous to find potential clients who would gain the most from their services. It would get easier to increase one’s clientele after gaining some experience.

Check for Tax and Licensing Requirements

 

 

As long as one is not stealing or committing any kind of financial fraud, freelancing in Pakistan is neither illegal nor unethical.

However, a person might need to have a licence or authorisation in order to work independently or under contracts in various fields. They will also need to take different taxes into consideration, such as sales tax because they are providing a service to other people.

Construct a Portfolio

A portfolio is an assortment of a person’s finest prior work. Building a portfolio while working with clients and gaining experience is necessary for one to succeed as a freelancer and attract more clients. 

Make Connections and Expand Your Professional Network

 

 

Connecting with other freelancers is crucial for success. One can join groups for Pakistani freelancers on Facebook and/or WhatsApp. They will be able to stay abreast of all the most recent developments, fee adjustments, and news regarding freelancing in this manner.

Also, one should always make an attempt to build long-term connections with their clients so they can hire them for their services again in future or recommend them to others.

Utilise Websites for Online Freelance Work

Once a freelancer has some experience, they ought to check out some of the most popular freelance networks. These online earning websites in Pakistan will enable them to develop profiles and market their skills. They are also reliable, ensuring that no freelancer is taken advantage of and that they are paid for their work.

Earning Through Freelancing

It may take some time for a freelancer to build clientele and portfolio. If you want to earn in Pakistan with zero investment, consider the following ideas:

Maintain Your Profits

 

It’s essential to monitor revenue when one initially begins freelancing. Utilise a spreadsheet to keep account of deals and earnings according to the time spent on each project. This information can be used to determine whether  a fair price is being charged for the services provided.

 

Pricing Your Services Properly

Lack of knowledge about the market can cause one to undersell their services. To make money as a freelancer, one has to set a reasonable fee for one‘s time, hard work, and knowledge. They can conduct some industry research to make sure they are charging the right amount of money for their services. 

When Possible, Upsell

One can also package or promote their skills under specific conditions. Making more money can be achieved by upselling solutions, such as offering a more costly design bundle or additional alternatives. 

 

Online Freelancing Platforms

There are several online platforms through which you can run your freelancing business. The most popular ones are given below.

• Fiverr
• Upwork
• Freelancer.com
• PeoplePerHour

 

Fiverr

 

 

Nearly every freelancer in Pakistan who wants to make money online uses the freelancing forum Fiverr. It is also listed as one of the top 100 websites in the country. The lowest payment a freelancer can receive here is $5 per gig.

PeoplePerHour

 

 

PeoplePerHour, a well-known UK-based online freelancing community, is also popular among Pakistani freelancers. The website asks you to subscribe for a paid service after you have sent 15 ideas to various companies for free. PeoplePerHour posts hundreds of jobs every day.

Upwork

 

 

More than 12 million daily active freelancers are on this network. On Upwork, almost 3 million jobs are listed each year. To register as a freelancer on the platform, you must first develop and upload a profile referencing your pertinent qualifications and experience.

Your profile will start to show up in front of clients from all across the world once it has been reviewed and authorised.

Freelancer.com

 

 

Freelancer.com, arguably among the earliest and most reputable freelancing sites in the world, has aided the worldwide freelancing sector for more than ten years. It is another source of income for a sizable number of Pakistani freelancers. 

For more information, visit Graana.com.