eighteen and freelancing

4 years ago, my first and longest client — Elijah from FastFash Singapore approached me to help with their brand design and identity after seeing an Instagram story about me just messing around on GIMP (yes, the free alternative to Adobe photoshop — don't judge, boy’s broke at 14).

At first, I turned down the opportunity because me being someone who was just 14, the stage in life where I couldn’t even get my life together, how can a company trust me to do their brand design and identity? But Elijah told me “Don’t worry, treat this as something you do in your free time. If you can do it, I’ll pay you.” And then on, my career in the creative industry started…

When I celebrated my 4th-anniversary last night with my friends and some ex-clients over a zoom call, there were a few questions that keep coming back to me no matter how many times I answer them, and so I thought it would be better if I can answer those questions here once and for all.

Don’t you enjoy being your own boss? You can work anytime you want.

erm, no. The fact of the matter is that every client is my boss. I’m sorry to break it to you but the only tasks that a freelancer is in charge of are to find clients, schedule meetings and complete your huge load of administrative responsibilities (i.e. invoicing and marketing).

Yes, I can work anytime I want. But it doesn’t mean that I can have more free time (that's a sad fact as many people became freelancers due to freedom) because I don't have all the time in the world to complete my tasks.

I started freelancing during my holidays. I wake up as early as 8 in the morning to reply to emails, design collaterals and complete deliverables for clients. When school resumed, I would have to work to the wee hours of the night after finishing school homework and assignments.

How do you get clients?

Analogically, the freelancers’ community is basically a pool of individuals doing (almost-) the same thing, everyone in this pool is a competitor and we need to be ready to find ways to stand out from the rest, but also to be able to recover as and when we drown.

We have to let the market decide if we are worth paying. How do you expect to get a client when no one in the market knows you and there is always someone with a better portfolio and more experience than you?

How many clients do you have in a month?

The creative industry has its peak and dry period. In peak periods, I am getting at most 12 to 15 but there are also months I go by without any clients.

Can’t you choose your clients?

The projects I’ve done aren’t all that impressive to me, although some are. I’m not at the place where I have 50 clients a month and I can choose my clients and focus on only the brands I like. Projects can’t only be enjoyable.

Admittedly, I am doing what I like to earn, but there is nothing more to it than that. If a client checks all my boxes, I don’t think I have the liberty to turn down any project unless I have enough to tide me through the period I decide to prioritise studies.

How much do you charge?

My rates for each client differs. When I first started, my rates are extremely low. But why? The market often budgets freelancers based on what one can bring to the table. When you first start out, your portfolio is like a blank canvas. You would need exposure from other brands and companies, and at that point in time, I valued exposure over rates.

However, 4 years in, my rates have constantly been changing. After every half a year, it is only right that I increase my rates to help cover the increasing costs and commitment to providing quality services. It will also show my worth to clients.

Why can’t you just charge hourly?

I charge a flat rate instead of hourly rates because I believe that if I am competent in what I do, I think that I should be compensated fairly if I am efficient by completing the tasks faster.

Let’s put it into perspective. Say if I have been in the industry for 3 years and charge $120 per hour. Why am I punishing myself by charging clients $60 if I am able to complete the same quality work in half an hour? Shouldn’t I be paid more if I can complete my tasks faster and move on to other tasks?

What is your monthly income? and how much did you earn in the last 4 years?

In the freelance/gig industry, it is hard to state a monthly income as the figure for each month will never be the same. As the income is corresponded to the number of clients, the income during peak periods may go up to $X, XXX. While some months can have no income at all.

Within the last 4 years? I have earned $XX, XXX.XX.

wow, so much?

It seems like a lot huh, but when you divide it by 4 years, your stance will suddenly shift and change about whether it’s a lot or not. If you ask me, I wouldn’t call it much.

Working a typical 9-to-5 desk job would earn you almost the same, if not more income in a single year compared to the total income of my four full years. At the end of the day, I will still have to factor in the costs of the software I use, the remunerations of those I work with, and those clients that have run away when it is time to settle the invoices.

and finally, this is the question that everyone is interested to know!

Why should clients go to a freelancer instead of a company?

Freelancers are evidently cheaper than companies
When you hire a company, you are paying the costs the companies have to pay. One example is that companies have employees’ salaries and benefits to pay. Freelancers work independently, and in some instances, work with other freelancers. So there is no need to pay for one’s insurance or taxes. Hiring a freelancer will also help you save on rental costs, training costs, and more.

Last minute? No problem.
Most freelancers are available for hire at any time. They will be able to help you resolve last-minute emergencies as and when you need them. For example, you need a design rushed out by Friday night. If you have to wait until Monday morning for your company to come back to you, you could be losing out on the weekend’s worth of potential business. With a company, most business dealings end at 6 in the evening, but freelancers often have a more flexible work schedule that can revolve around a client’s needs.

With freelancers, Quality and Quantity work hand-in-hand
Before hiring a freelancer, you would have gone through their portfolio and be able to evaluate and review whether a freelancer will be able to meet your expectations and goals. As they are often in competition for projects, so you can find those who will give your project the attention and quality you need.

In many cases, freelancers deliver deliverables more quickly and accurately than employees. Employees usually handle several projects simultaneously. This slows down the process and delays deliveries. Contrary to this, freelancers usually work on one project at a time or within shorter deadlines, which increases efficiency and speeds up project completion.

Freelancers who successfully complete a project are able to build their reputation, expand their portfolio, and receive more referrals or employment. And of course, the faster a project is completed, the faster they will be able to add it to their portfolio.

Freelancers are fresh and new minds
Freelancers can provide a new and fresh perspective on a project. They may bring ideas that are unique and can benefit a project greatly. Depending on your situation, this new perspective may offer a solution to a problem or a new way of understanding your customer’s needs. This will help your ears from constantly hearing the same few words of “this is our company’s way”.

Even though ‘freelance’ can’t be spelt without the word ‘free’, hardly anything in the freelance/gig industry is ever free, other than having the freedom to work and to turn work down.

Having started freelancing at the young age of 14, I am often being associated with being self-sufficient and independent. Granted, it helps to build my portfolio and resumé. However, similar to every other job, freelancing has its advantages and disadvantages, but it is truly solely dependent on one person.

Last year, in January 2021, I started Trdemrk Digital to help brands curate solutions for their product and marketing needs, establishing them in their respective industries far further than when they started. Trdemrk Digital is a fully digital team comprising of young and skilled individuals from Singapore. Even though we do not have a physical location (‘office’), fret not, you may contact us through our various social media platforms!

If you have made it this far, please let me know your thoughts on Freelance!