The freelance market in India is booming. Some want to escape the monotony of 9-to-5 jobs, while others want to earn extra income while working on projects they actually enjoy.

If you’re also planning to start freelancing to build a side hustle or have more work flexibility, now is a great time to start. However, it can feel overwhelming at first. You have to create a portfolio, find clients, and pitch your services.

But we’ve got you. In this article, we’ll show you how to start freelancing, build credibility from scratch, and find clients to grow your freelancing career.

What is Freelancing?

Freelancing means offering your skills as an independent professional or consultant. You work with multiple clients rather than working full-time for an employer. This way, you can control your schedule, rates, and workload. 

Remember that freelancing is different from gig jobs. As a freelancer, you’re essentially running your own business. You work with clients on a contractual basis and offer professional services. 

On the other hand, a gig job is a task-based role, such as e-commerce delivery.

Pros and cons of freelancing

How to Start Freelancing?

Let’s see the step-by-step process to begin your freelance journey. 

Step 1: Choose a freelance niche (with a global lens)

Firstly, write down what skills you’re good at. For example, writing, designing, or web development. Next, find out what you are passionate about. And then analyse the market demand. What are clients willing to pay for?

Select a freelancing skill that you’re good at and that you can monetise. 

Example: If you love writing and have experience in tech, consider UX writing or SaaS content marketing.

According to Upwork, here are some of the most in-demand freelance skills globally:

• Accounting and consulting: This involves accounting, bookkeeping, HR administration, and tax preparation.

• Coding and web development: You can do full-stack development, mobile app development, manual testing, scripting and automation, and web design. 

• Admin tasks: If you want simple and less time-consuming freelance opportunities alongside your full-time role, you can take up virtual assistance, data entry, market research, and project management tasks. 

• Personal coaching/career coaching: If you are a senior-level professional with decades of experience in the industry, you can also become a freelance career coach. 

• Data science and analytics: Data visualisation, data extraction, data processing, and data annotation are also in high demand. 

• AI & Generative AI Modelling: Skills in AI and generative AI modelling now command premium rates, with freelancers in these areas earning up to 22% more per hour than others.

• Digital Marketing: Social media marketing, SEO, and brand strategy are also in high demand, with marketing skills consistently ranking in the top five for enterprise freelance needs.

• Content Writing & Strategy: Technical writing, UX writing, and content strategy are valued by global clients seeking specialised expertise.

Step 2: Build your portfolio

A freelance portfolio helps you showcase your skills and projects to convince potential clients.

Here’s how you can build your portfolio:

• Create mock projects that show your skills. Add the outcome of the project to boost credibility. 

• Tell a story for each project. What was the challenge, how did you solve it, and what results did you achieve?

• Build a personal website as your portfolio. Add a compelling introduction, services you offer, pricing, and contact details. 

• Optimise your LinkedIn profile with updated skills, project highlights, and recommendations to boost your credibility.

• Leverage field-specific platforms like GitHub for coding, Behance or Dribble for design, and Medium for writing.  

To gain a global edge, contribute to open-source projects or international communities. This helps you connect with peers and clients worldwide. 

Step 3: Sign up on global freelance platforms

Here are the top platforms for indian freelancers to start their journey:

• General: Upwork, Toptal, Fiverr Pro, Contra, We Work Remotely, FlexJobs

• Specialised platforms: 

• Working Not Working (design and creative)

• Polywork (tech and collaboration)

• Kolabtree (science & research)

• Writesonic Gig Marketplace (writing) 

Freelance marketplaces give you better visibility and faster access to clients, but there is high competition and platform fees. 

You can also do cold emailing and LinkedIn outreach to target clients with personalised pitches. The best way to get leads is to build your brand and attract clients via content, SEO, and referrals. 

If you want high-earning freelance opportunities, find international clients from the US, UK, Germany, and Singapore. 

Step 4: Price your services based on market trends

You can charge clients in two ways: hourly or project-based pricing. Hourly rates work well for ongoing projects with multiple ad hoc tasks. This helps you get paid fairly for your time. 

However, if you have well-defined deliverables, project pricing is more suitable. 

Here’s how you can find the right pricing:

• Check platforms like Upwork and Fiverr to see what others with similar skills charge.

• Base your rates on expertise, niche, and project complexity. For example, AI/app devs in 2025 charge $50–$150/hr.

• Include overheads (tools, learning, etc.) by adding 20–30% to your base rate.

• Review and increase your rates by 10–20% each year as you gain experience.

Step 5: Handle contracts, taxes & legal requirements

Before you start working with a client, make sure to sign an agreement with a project scope and clear payment terms. It prevents disputes and financial losses. 

You can use tools like Bonsai, Indy, or AND.CO to create professional agreements with ease.

Make sure your contract includes key elements like:

• Scope of work: Define the tasks and deliverables clearly.

• Timeline and milestones: Mention turnaround times for different types of tasks. 

• Compensation and payment terms: Specify hourly/project rate, schedules, and late fee policies.

• Intellectual property (IP) rights: Clearly state ownership of the final work.

• Confidentiality (NDA): Protect sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.

• Termination and dispute resolution: Outline how either party can end the agreement and how disputes will be handled.

Additionally, here are the basic tax rules you should know as a freelancer:

• If you opt for presumptive taxation, file your freelance income under ITR-4. This makes compliance simpler.

• Once your income from Indian clients crosses ₹20 lakh in a financial year, you’ll also need GST registration. While GST isn’t applicable on the export of services, you’ll still need proper documentation to support this exemption.

• If you're working with international clients, understand the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA). It protects you from being taxed twice on the same income. Make sure to keep all invoices and payment proofs handy for smooth reporting and compliance.