Freelance Jobs for Beginners To Get Started Quickly

Getting started as a freelancer can seem daunting, but there are many great entry-level freelance jobs perfect for beginners. With some research and dedication, anyone can find remote work opportunities suited to their skills and interests. This comprehensive guide covers various freelance jobs from writing to programming to consulting and more.

Writing and Editing Jobs

One of the most common ways aspiring freelancers make money involves writing and editing. Many businesses need blog posts, articles, product descriptions, and other written content but don’t have the resources to do it all in-house.

Blog Writing

One of the easiest writing gigs to land for beginners is blog writing. Many small companies and entrepreneurs run WordPress blogs but don’t have time to regularly create new posts. As a freelance blogger, you can offer your writing services to these clients.

Depending on the client, you may need to pitch post ideas or simply follow a style guide. Rates typically range from $0.05-0.20 per word. With consistency, blog writers can make $500-2,000+ per month.

For example, a life coach may hire a freelancer to ghostwrite two 500-word blog posts per week at $0.10/word, paying $100 per post or $800 per month.

Copywriting

New freelance copywriters can also find entry-level work writing product descriptions, website content, social media captions, and more. These short-form copywriting jobs rarely require previous experience.

With a good portfolio and mastery of writing compelling marketing copy, in time, you can charge $50-150 per hour as a freelance copywriter. Start by offering discounted rates to build a client base.

A jewelry company, for instance, could pay a beginner copywriter $20 to write 100-word descriptions for 15 of their most popular necklace designs to use on their website and eBay store.

Proofreading

Proofreading is another common writing task that beginners can pick up quickly. New freelance proofreaders should focus on mastering a style guide like AP or Chicago and avoiding common grammar errors.

Many businesses have a blog or other marketing materials but don’t have dedicated staff to polish and refine every piece of writing. As a proofreader, you can provide this service for $20-30 per hour.

A freelancer could proofread 4 blog posts per week for a busy marketing agency at $25 per hour, earning $100 per week or $400 per month.

Virtual Assistant Jobs

A virtual assistant (VA) provides administrative and clerical support to clients remotely. It’s an easy freelance job to start with little experience required beyond basic computer skills.

Common VA duties include email management, calendar management, project coordination, research, data entry, bookkeeping, and more. VAs usually charge $15-50 per hour. With some part-time VA work, you can easily make $1,000+ a month.

A life coach, for instance, could hire a VA for 5 hours per week at $20/hour to manage their email outreach, schedule appointments, conduct research, and update their CRM. This would cost them $100 per week or $400 per month.

Programming and Tech Jobs

While some programming jobs require a computer science degree, there are plenty of opportunities for new freelance developers to gain experience and earn income through contract work.

WordPress Development

With over 60 million websites built on WordPress, there is high demand for skilled WordPress developers. As a beginner, you can offer site maintenance and customization services to small businesses.

With self-study through online courses and resources, new WordPress developers can charge $15-50 per hour or fixed monthly rates like $500 per month for 10 hours of work.

A freelancer could build and customize a simple 5-page WordPress site with a contact form and gallery for a small business at a flat rate of $750. Ongoing maintenance could be a separate fixed monthly fee.

Data Entry

All businesses accumulate data, but it takes time to enter that data into digital formats. New freelancers can offer basic data entry services without specialized skills—just familiarity with Excel, Google Sheets, CRM platforms like HubSpot, and database tools.

While the pay per hour tends to be low, diligent data entry freelancers can make $10-15 per hour. Higher-skill data analysts and scientists can make much more.

A virtual assistant firm may pay a data entry freelancer $100 per week to process 15 hours worth of paper documents into digital formats for clients.

Consulting and Specialized Services

Beyond writing, technical skills, and administrative work, some entry-level freelance jobs leverage specialized knowledge and emerging digital platforms.

Social Media Management

Being social media savvy is enough to land clients as a freelance social media manager—no marketing degree required. Small business owners often need help crafting social posts, engaging followers, running ads, and tracking analytics.

Most beginning social media managers charge $25-50 per hour. Those with marketing expertise can charge much more over time. Expect to block off ~5 hours per week per client.

A freelancer could manage Instagram and Facebook for a boutique clothing store for $400 per month (8 hours of work) or $100 per week.

Tutoring

Whether you recently excelled at the SAT, speak fluent Spanish, or majored in economics, selling tutoring services is a popular part-time gig. Most tutors charge $20-50 per hour for their time depending on factors like subject matter, expertise level, and location.

You can promote tutoring services on community boards, through local schools, or via online tutor marketplaces like Wyzant. Over time, tutors build repeat business and referrals.

A freelance French tutor may meet with 2 regular students for hourly sessions twice a week, charging $30 per session and earning $240 per month.

Rideshare Driving

Driving for a rideshare app like Uber or Lyft provides flexible income streams for stay-at-home parents, part-time workers, and others with spare time. While profits vary widely depending on your market and hours logged, most rideshare drivers in busy cities gross $15-25 per hour before expenses.

An Uber driver could easily provide 5 hours worth of rideshare services on both Friday and Saturday nights, grossing $250 per weekend or $1,000 per month.

Voiceover Work

Voiceover artists record audio narrations for animated series, commercials, corporate videos, audiobooks, and more. The ability to record quality audio combined with clear enunciation is enough to land entry-level voice gigs.

At the lower end, voiceover work may pay just $20 for a 30-second radio spot. On the higher end, animation projects can pay hundreds of dollars per hour. Various online platforms like Fiverr streamline finding voiceover gigs today.

A freelancer could record 30 product descriptions for an ecommerce store’s website at $5 per recording, earning $150 for roughly 2 hours of studio time.

Getting Started With Freelancing

The hardest part of freelancing for beginners involves getting that crucial first client. Here are some tips:

• Set competitive rates, not the lowest rates, when starting out. Price too low and you won’t be taken seriously.
• Create an online portfolio showcasing your skills, whether writing samples, completed design projects, a live tutoring profile—anything tangible.
• Use freelance marketplaces like Fiverr and Upwork to bid on entry-level gigs to build ratings and reviews.
• Research small businesses in your area through Google Maps and email those who may need your services.
• Ask friends and family to spread the word about your services through their networks.

The most successful new freelancers target a profitable niche early on rather than trying to be generalists. Over time, raising rates to exceed minimum wage work is essential.

Remember that freelancing skills are always in demand. With consistent effort and delivery of good work, aspiring freelancers can carve out sustaining remote careers.

So don’t be afraid to take the leap! The freedom of freelance work makes it very rewarding.

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