Step 1: Choose Your Profitable Skill (What Will You Sell in the Market?)
The very first and most important step in figuring out how to start freelancing. Freelancing means selling your skill (hunar). If you don’t have any skills, why will a client pay you? The goal is to identify a high-demand skill that solves a problem for a business.
So think, what are you good at? Or what can you learn? Don’t worry if you’re starting from scratch; many of the best high-income skills can be learned in 90 days. We cover many of them in our detailed post: 10 Best Ways to Earn Money Online in 2026.
These are some high-income skills that are “super hot” in 2025 and perfect for someone learning how to start freelancing:
- Video Editing: It’s the era of Reels, boss. Everyone wants to be a creator, but no one has the time or skill for editing. This is where you are in demand.
- Graphic Design (Canva/Adobe): A good thumbnail gets clicks on a video, and a good logo builds a brand. Every business needs a good designer.
- Script Writing / Copywriting: What is seen, sells… and behind what sells, there is a strong ‘writer’. If you can play with words, this field is for you.
- Website Development (WordPress/Shopify): Whether it’s a doctor or a shopkeeper, everyone wants to go online today. You can build their “digital dukaan” (digital shop), i.e., their website.
- Social Media Management (SMM): Handling brands’ Instagram, YouTube. Not just posting, but ‘talking’ to the audience and helping them grow.
- Paid Ads (Performance Marketing): There’s a lot of money in this! Running ads on Facebook and Google to bring direct sales (dhandha) to the company.
But just technical skills are not enough. According to the HBA Services video, two “foundational” skills are also necessary to succeed when you how to start freelancing:
- Communication Skill: You will have to learn how to talk to clients professionally, whether by email, call, or message.
- Sales Skill: No matter how good an editor you are, if you don’t know how to “sell” your work, how will you get work? This involves confidently presenting your work and value.
You must select a niche. Don’t be a generalist; be a specialist. Instead of “I am a writer,” say, “I am an SEO Blog Writer for SaaS Companies.” That specialization lets you charge premium rates.
Step 2: Strengthening Your Skill and Building Mastery
Decided on a skill? Great! Now it’s time to master it. This phase is crucial for ensuring you can deliver high-quality work and maintain a successful freelance career.
Get Free Knowledge (The YouTube University)
It’s not necessary to buy a ₹ 50,000 course on day one. YouTube is a free university. How to start freelancing without investing money? Use these resources:
Dheeraj Mehra mentioned in his video that he learned Premiere Pro (video editing software) from the GFX Mentor channel. You can also start with free tutorials. Look for complete, long-form courses that cover software basics and practical projects.
Learn and Build (The Most Important Phase)
Nothing will happen just by watching videos. Whatever you learn, try making it. This hands-on practice determines your readiness to truly start freelancing.
- If you’re learning video editing, take any famous podcast and edit 10 short clips (reels) from it.
- If you’re learning graphic design, replicate 5 famous Instagram ads you like.
- If you’re learning web development, build a dummy contact form and make sure it sends data correctly.
This is called project-based learning. It is the bridge between theory and practice.
Start With Your Phone
Dheeraj Mehra shared that he started his journey by editing TikTok videos in CapCut (a mobile app), that too from his phone! This proves you don’t need expensive gear to figure out how to start freelancing.
So don’t make the excuse that “I don’t have a good laptop.” Start with what you have. Consistency in practice is more important than the quality of equipment in the beginning.
Step 3: Creating an Irresistible Portfolio (Your Digital Dukaan)
A portfolio is the display of your “digital dukaan.” The client will decide whether to give you work or not only after seeing this. This step is non-negotiable for anyone who wants to successfully start freelancing.
You must be thinking: “Bro, I never had any clients, how do I build a portfolio?”
It’s simple. These methods come from the videos of WsCube Tech and Ishan Sharma:
- Mock Projects (Fake Projects): Create projects yourself.
- If you are a logo designer, redesign the Nike or Apple logo in your own style.
- If you build websites, make an imaginary website for the ’10 Best Cafes in Your City’.
- If you are a video editor, take a famous brand’s ad and edit it in your style.
- Do Free Work in the Beginning: Don’t panic! Go to your local cafe, shop, or NGO. Tell them, “I will create 5 social media posts/reels for you for free.”
In return, get a good testimonial (review) from them in video or text format after the work. In the beginning, this review is more valuable than ₹10,000. It proves you know how to start freelancing professionally and can deliver results.
Where to Host Your Portfolio?
Don’t just put your work in a Google Drive folder and send the link! Be professional.
- Behance / Dribbble: These are the best platforms for designers.
- Instagram / LinkedIn: Post your work here regularly.
- Notion / Framer / Wix: You can build a simple and beautiful portfolio website for free on these.
Step 4: Where to Get Clients? (The Real Game of Freelancing)
Okay, so the skill is ready, the portfolio is ready. Now, where to get the “maalik” (client)? This is the moment you transition from learning how to start freelancing to actively earning.
There are two main ways for this:
Method 1: Freelancing Platforms (The Crowded Market)
You must have heard of Fiverr, Upwork, or Freelancer.com. The 2-hour course by WsCube Tech gives a detailed guide on these platforms.
- Fiverr: Best for quick, transactional Gigs (e.g., “I will design a logo in 24 hours”). It’s great for building initial reviews.
- Upwork: Best for high-value, long-term contracts. This requires better proposal writing but leads to higher-paying opportunities.
But… Ishan Sharma and Dheeraj Mehra advise beginners against focusing too much here in the beginning. Why? It’s too crowded. People there are working for $5 (₹400) too. This starts the “race to the bottom” (cheaper and cheaper). It’s difficult to know how to start freelancing and command high rates if you rely solely on these platforms initially.
Method 2: Direct Outreach (This is the Real Goldmine)
This is the professionals’ way, where you skip the platform fees and set your own rates:
- Local Businesses: Dheeraj Mehra’s best method. Go to the sweet shops, cafes, or gyms around you. Talk to their owners about how you can improve their social media. Tell them, “I can make one of your reels go viral and bring you 10 new customers.” They don’t understand ‘digital marketing’, they understand ‘dhandha’ (business).
- Social Media (LinkedIn/Instagram): Post your work. Let people see what you do. The client himself will come to your “DM” (Direct Message).
- Cold Outreach (Super Power): Directly message the company’s founders or marketing heads via email or LinkedIn. But don’t just write, ‘Hi, give me work.’ First, look at their work. Write a personalized message:
“Hello Sir, I saw your Instagram page, it’s very good. But I noticed that your reels don’t have subtitles. If you add subtitles, your reach can increase by 20%. Here is one reel I made for you as a sample. If you like it, let me know, I can work for you.”
- Network: Tell your friends, relatives (chachu, mama), everyone what you do. You never know when you might get a referral (work through contacts).
- Freelancer Groups: Join freelancer groups on WhatsApp, Discord, and Facebook. Many times, big freelancers pass on their extra work there.
Direct outreach is often the best answer to how to start freelancing with confidence, as it allows you to charge based on the value you provide, not the low rates set by marketplace competition.
Step 5: Pricing Strategy: How Much Should I Charge?
One of the hardest parts of learning how to start freelancing is setting your rate. Undervalue yourself, and you’ll burn out. Overvalue yourself, and you won’t get hired. Here is a three-phase approach:
Phase 1: The Beginner Rate (The “Get Hired” Rate)
In the first 3-5 projects, your goal is to get a 5-star review and a testimonial, not to get rich. Your rate should be slightly below the market average. This is purely for portfolio building.
Phase 2: The Experienced Rate (The “Market Value” Rate)
Once you have 5-10 solid reviews, you should charge based on your market value. For example, a beginner writer might charge $10 (₹800) per 1000 words. An experienced writer might charge $50 (₹4000).
Phase 3: The Value-Based Rate (The “Expert” Rate)
This is where professionals live. You don’t charge for your time; you charge for the result. If your marketing work generates ₹1 Lakh in sales for the client, charging a fixed fee of ₹20,000 is justified. Focus on the value delivered, not the hours spent. If you need deeper guidance on how to structure contracts, check out our guide on Freelancing Pricing and Contract Templates.
Step 6: Should I Do a Job or Freelance? (The Smart Safety Net Strategy)
This is a big question. The HBA Services video suggests a very different “Safety Net Strategy” for those unsure how to start freelancing full-time immediately:
- First, learn the skill well.
- Then, get a job related to that same skill, even if the salary is low.
- In a job, you will get experience, you will learn, you will gain professionalism, and a fixed salary will keep coming every month (household expenses will be covered).
- Along with the job, start a side-hustle (freelancing) in the evenings or on weekends.
- When your freelancing income becomes double (2x) your job salary, and you have 3-6 months of an emergency fund (money for bad times) saved up…
- Only then think about leaving the job.
This is a safe and smart way, especially for those who don’t want to take risks. It teaches you how to start freelancing without sacrificing financial stability.
Step 7: How to Grow and Scale Your Freelancing Income
Got your first client? Congratulations! But you don’t have to stop. To truly master how to start freelancing as a long-term business, you must scale your efforts:
- On-Time Delivery and Over-deliver: Always give the client’s work on time or before time. If the client asked for 10, you give 11. If they asked for 3 designs, give 4 designs (one as a bonus). The client will always remember and come back.
- Niche Down (Become an Expert): Don’t be the one who does “everything.” Become an expert in one thing. Not just a “video editor,” but an expert “who edits drone videos for Real Estate agents.” When you’re an expert, you can charge more.
- Ask for Referrals: If the client likes your work, tell them, “Sir, if you liked the work, please tell 2 of your friends about me.”
- Never Stop Learning: The market is changing daily. Keep learning new tools and new AI trends.
- Passive Income Streams: Once you’ve figured out how to start freelancing, look for ways to turn your knowledge into passive income, such as selling templates, mini-courses, or eBooks.
Bonus: Avoid Freelancing Scams (Beware of Fraud!)
It’s online work, so there are scams too. Some safety tips from the WsCube Tech course. Always be cautious when learning how to start freelancing to protect yourself:
- Verify: If you are on Upwork/Fiverr, always check if the client’s “payment method verified” is active or not.
- Stay on the Platform: In the beginning, even if the client says so, don’t talk off-platform (on WhatsApp/Telegram). Always take payment through the platform.
- No Personal Details: Never share your bank account number, CVV, or personal details.
- Registration Fees: If someone asks you for ‘registration fees’ or ‘security deposit,’ 99.9% it’s a fraud. A real client pays you for work; they don’t take money from you.
The Final Word on How to Start Freelancing
Friend, Freelancing is not a “get rich quick” scheme. It takes time, it takes hard work. It requires discipline and persistence. But the rewards—the freedom and the earning potential—are unlimited. Understanding how to start freelancing is the first step toward true financial independence.
Dheeraj Mehra says to follow the steps mentioned with full honesty for 90 days, and you will definitely get results. The beginning is always difficult. It might take 30 days to find the first client. You may send emails to 100 people, and 99 won’t reply. But don’t give up. The moment you figure out how to start freelancing successfully, your life changes.
When you make that first earning, even if it’s just ₹1000, the confidence you will get is priceless.
This is a journey. You are your own boss. It will take effort, but the freedom and earning potential in this field are both unlimited. Now that you have this ultimate guide on how to start freelancing, there’s no excuse left.
So don’t think now. Choose your skill today, start learning, and get into the field!
All the best! If you found this helpful, consider sharing it on social media to help others figure out how to start freelancing, too. Also, don’t forget to check out our guide on Guide to Building a Freelance Emergency Fund for your financial safety net.