Beginner5 steps

Just Starting Out

You landed your first gig. Congratulations! Now let's make sure you get paid properly, protect yourself legally, and build habits that will scale with your business.

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1

Set your hourly rate

Don't guess. Calculate the minimum rate you need to cover your expenses and hit your income target. This is the foundation of your entire pricing strategy.

2

Create your first invoice

Send a professional PDF invoice with proper numbering, payment terms, and your bank details. First impressions matter, even in accounting.

3

Start tracking your time

Even on fixed-price projects, track your time. It's the only way to know your true effective hourly rate and whether a project was actually profitable.

4

Estimate your taxes

Taxes aren't deducted from your freelance income automatically. Figure out what you owe and start setting money aside from day one.

5

Write a basic contract

Protect yourself with a simple contract that covers scope, payment terms, IP ownership, and what happens if things go wrong.