So You Want to Freelance: The Good. The Bad. The Ugly.

After finishing a UX design bootcamp, a new designer is eager to get their career started. They’ve been networking, attending meetups, sharing work online, and even landed interviews. But nothing has felt like the right fit yet.

So instead of waiting for the perfect opportunity, they decide to try freelancing. The thinking is simple: “Why wait for a company to hire me when I can start working on my own projects right now?”

They tell friends and family they’re available for freelance work, and a few opportunities come up. Maybe it’s a local store downtown that needs a website redesign, and they barter services — “I’ll design your website if you help me with something in return.” Or maybe a cousin needs a simple portfolio site.

These early projects are valuable. They provide practice, portfolio pieces, and confidence. But they’re not real client work. There’s no legal agreement, no formal contract, no defined scope. If something goes wrong, the stakes are low. That’s part of the problem — it creates a false sense of security.

While working on these low-stakes projects, the designer quickly realizes that freelancing isn’t just about designing. They still have bills. Rent still needs to be paid. Marketing still needs to happen. You can’t survive on barter alone.

Before taking on even a small project, you should have a basic business plan:

  • What does year one realistically look like?

  • How many clients do you need?

  • What is your pricing?

  • How will you scale as projects increase?

  • When does it make sense to hire someone for specialized work, like development or illustration?

  • How do you find those people and build your own network?

Because without these systems, even a small project can become overwhelming. You need to understand your own time and worth — taking on a project that will cost more time than you’re compensated for is a fast way to burn out.

Portfolio & Branding

Even bartered projects should be strategic. Each project should show the type of work you want to attract, demonstrating your niche and strengths.

Pricing Research

Study what other freelancers at your level are charging. You likely won’t match senior designer rates, but knowing realistic ranges helps you confidently price your services.

Remember, your clients are also doing their homework. They have a good sense of what to expect in terms of pricing, so being transparent and honest about your skill level and rates builds trust. This honesty not only enhances your credibility but also sets a solid foundation for future opportunities.

Client Vetting

Be cautious of clients who seem unreliable, offer vague promises, or suggest that working with them will be “good exposure” instead of actual payment. Even from the start, it’s essential to establish boundaries and prioritize your time. Respecting your own work sets the standard for how others will, too.

Time Management

Plan your days around client work, marketing, learning, and personal time. Without structure, projects can easily consume all your hours.

Continuous Learning

Even while working, you need to stay current. UX trends, tools, frameworks, and best practices are always evolving. Setting aside time to read articles, watch tutorials, experiment with new techniques, and test emerging workflows is essential to staying competitive and attracting clients.

The Good

Those first bartered or low-stakes projects are still exciting. You get to see your work in the real world. You practice your process. You gain confidence.

You might even get a recommendation that leads to a real, paying client — and suddenly, you feel like you’re doing it.

This is the good part: freelancing can be empowering. You get to choose your projects, build your skills, and see the direct impact of your work. You start building a reputation. And for the first time, you realize that you’re capable of managing your own design work from start to finish.

Small wins are important. Even completing a small project is a learning opportunity. You can experiment with new methods, test emerging UX patterns, and figure out which workflows actually improve efficiency. Staying up to date with industry trends strengthens your portfolio and signals to clients that you’re informed and capable.

The Bad — The Business Reality

Then reality sets in. That first paying client meeting arrives, and panic follows.

There’s no pricing sheet, no contract. No plan for taxes. No system for invoices or deadlines. No payment structure. Suddenly, it’s clear: freelancing isn’t just doing design work — it’s running a full business.

To do it right, you need a team — even if it’s just a few professionals:

  • Lawyer: to draft and review contracts

  • Accountant: to manage taxes, set aside quarterly estimates, and help with budgeting and write-offs (if any apply)

  • Registered Business: so you’re legally compliant and zoned correctly

And you pay yourself last. First come the bills — rent, software, subscriptions, health insurance, IRS or Roth contributions, and subcontractor payments. Then taxes. Only what’s left over goes into your own pocket. Sometimes that might be as little as $50.

You also need to think about marketing and networking continuously. One project does not make a business. And if you hire someone, you create yet another layer of contracts and budgeting — because professionals don’t work for free.

Contracts are non-negotiable. Handshakes won’t protect you if a client disputes a deliverable or delays payment. Contracts define scope, deadlines, and compensation — and they protect both parties.

Freelancing sounds freeing, but freedom only works when it’s built on structure. Otherwise, one missed payment or mismanaged project can create chaos.

Even small details matter: knowing how long a project will take, what tools you need, or whether you’ll need extra help can make or break a project financially. If you spend 18 hours on a task a specialist could handle in four, you’re wasting billable time — and that’s money lost.

The Ugly

Even after contracts, taxes, and budgeting, freelancing isn’t easy.

The workload is constant: design, admin, marketing, client communication — sometimes all at once.

The money is unpredictable. Projects might pay well, but dry spells happen. Underpricing is a trap — a $500 project might take 60 hours of work, leaving you making less than minimum wage.

Scaling too fast can be dangerous. Taking on multiple projects without systems or support leads to burnout — or worse, late deadlines and unhappy clients. There’s no design team to fall back on; you are the team.

And there’s an emotional component. Freelancers face uncertainty, self-doubt, and isolation. Some days, it feels like no one is noticing your work — and that can be tough to handle.

But the ugly side is also the teacher. It shows you how to negotiate, how to handle stressful situations, how to say no, how to value your time and skills, and how to build networks and processes.

When you finally get it right — when your business is structured, clients respect your process, your rates reflect your worth, and you stay up to date with the industry — freelancing stops being chaos. It becomes a choice.

Reflection

Freelancing isn’t a shortcut to freedom. It’s a business — a complex, challenging, and sometimes exhausting one.

If you’re a new designer considering it, know this: you can do it. But you must treat it like a company.

Plan your year. Build a network. Get a lawyer. Hire an accountant. Track your taxes. Pay your bills first, yourself second. Market constantly. Have a contract for everything.

Study your niche. Know your rates. Vet clients. Manage your time. Keep learning and stay current with industry trends. Celebrate small wins. Build a support system and hire help strategically.

Because freelancing isn’t just about finding work — it’s about building a sustainable business, one project, one lesson, one client at a time.

💬 Coming Next

This is the first post in a series about what freelancing is really like — from contracts and client management to workflow tips and mindset. Each post will share practical advice and lessons learned, helping you navigate the freelance world one step at a time.

Freelancing isn’t just about doing the work — it’s about figuring out how to make it all work for you.


Helping UX Designers bridge gaps and grow

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