Professional freelancing represents more than just a way of working, as it transforms into a way of thinking and living, creating daily excitement.
My name is Vasil Buraliev, and I share my personal experience after living for 8 years as a freelancer. I have worked as a professional in software development for over 15 years, holding roles as both developer and manager before transitioning to a professional freelance.
Before you continue reading about my philosophical perspective, facts, personal experiences, and hints, I want to calibrate your perception and understanding of the attributes that make up my specific profile as a professional freelancer.
- I’m Macedonian, living in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia.
- A wife and two beautiful and smart kids.
- I have worked as a professional freelancer from my office for over 8 years, dedicating 40+ hours per week to my work.
- 24+ years of experience in the software development industry.
- I offer the following services: product management, project management, business analysis, operations management, and software development consulting.
- I offer my services through a legal entity (VBU Consulting), meaning I maintain a company (Single-Member LLC).
- I rely on Upwork almost exclusively.
I’ll cover the most essential aspects and subjects related to the freelancing style of working and living based on my experience.
Table of Contents
The Three Pillars of Freelancing Life
After eight years of professional freelancing, when I reflect on it, I think of the mentality, sweat, and bliss that define the professional freelancer’s life.
Mentality: The Inner Game
Professional freelancing is a mental marathon. You’re on your own, no boss to push you, no HR to find you work, no sales team to bring in leads. You are on your own in selling, delivering, and making payments. I remember many mornings, coffee in hand, scrolling through Upwork, sending out proposal after proposal —sometimes 20 or 30 in a week —and getting no reply. Did you have that taste in your mouth? Did you start losing the floor of your confidence and asking yourself: Are you worth anything at all? That silence can be crushing. You have to believe in your skills and your value, even when the world seems not to notice. Mental strength is about fighting self-doubt, learning from rejection, and never giving up. My secret? I lean on my family, especially on my kids, and my morning coffee with myself, and sometimes with my friends. They’re my silent cheerleaders, giving me energy and hope, even though they don’t realize it.
Sweat: The Hard Work Behind the Scenes
People think being your own boss is glamorous. Usually, when I introduce myself as a freelancer to somebody who is not (and usually 99% of them are not), I instantly get: Aha, you are free and you work whenever you want! Everybody wants to see the nice Trieste coffee on a fancy table in a beautiful café bar, but nobody wants to see what’s under the table. The truth? It’s hard as hell. As a freelancer, I’m not just a developer or a manager—I’m my own sales team, accountant, marketer, and support desk. My day starts early, often before 7:00 AM. I scan job boards, shortlist opportunities, write tailored proposals, and then briefly plan the daily activities and priorities for my active client. My morning coffee is at 8:20. Afternoons are reserved for less demanding tasks or side projects, and evenings are for learning, reading, watching courses, and feeding my curiosity. Every moment counts, even when I’m on the toilet bowl. The hustle never stops, and you have to constantly optimize your workflow, learn new skills, and deliver value, or you’ll be left behind. If you weren’t aware, all those things are under the table with a nice cup of Trieste coffee.
Bliss: The Reward Beyond Money
For me, happiness isn’t just about the money (though let’s be honest, I’m not Mother Teresa; paying the bills matters). It’s about freedom—traveling with my family, meeting new people, learning from different cultures, and building products that matter. The joy comes from the journey: seeing a client’s business grow because of your work or launching a project that reaches people across the globe. The feeling when you did an excellent job for somebody or some organization/company, and the client gives a review with five stars and a paragraph that feels like you are a rock star. That’s the real reward.
What’s Important to Start as a Freelancer?
Self-knowledge about your strengths, weaknesses, and your passions is essential. I began my career as a software developer until I discovered my true passion for working with people and assisting startups in developing their concepts. Take time to reflect:
- What do you love?
- What drains you?
- What unique value can you offer?
If you’re not honest with yourself, freelancing will expose your blind spots fast. So, be transparent and honest with yourself. That’s an auspicious start.
Where to Find Jobs: The Best Platforms
My go-to is Upwork. It’s the largest and most reliable platform for freelance remote jobs, particularly in tech and business consulting. But there are others worth exploring:
- Freelancer.com – Wide range of projects, but high competition. (If you complain about the oversaturated market on Upwork, check out Freelancer.com to see how oversaturation looks)
- Fiverr – Great for creative gigs and quick tasks.
- Toptal – Focuses on top-tier professionals, with a tough screening process.
- People per hour – With a focus on the UK market.
- Braintrust – High-paying jobs, but there is usually a geographic location constraint.
- RemoteOK, We Work Remotely, FlexJobs – For remote, full-time, or part-time roles.
Each platform has its quirks—find the one that matches your skills and ambitions.
Balancing Client Work and Building Your Portfolio
You can’t just work for clients all day. You need to build your own brand—showcase your skills, create sample projects, and keep learning. I dedicate time every week to side projects and learning new tools or frameworks. This not only keeps me sharp but gives me real examples to show future clients. Optimize your day: block time for deep work, learning, and networking. At the end of each month, review what worked and what didn’t, and adjust.
Delivering Big Value: The Freelancer’s Ultimate Goal
The most skilled freelancers exceed their assigned tasks by providing additional value. I feel most accomplished when I help clients recognize new possibilities or identify issues they were previously unaware of. Your reputation is your currency. Your clients will return for more work or send new clients your way when you consistently exceed their expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
I remind myself of the most common questions I had when I started as a professional freelancer and provide concise answers.
What is a successful professional freelancer?
A successful professional freelancer (AKA hired gun) is an independent professional who delivers excellent value to clients through offered services on a project-by-project basis.
PRO Tip 1: Start planning and managing your finances by creating a simple spreadsheet that tracks projected incomes and expenses against actual results. Learn to maintain good visibility and stay informed about your balance. No, I’ll not provide a template document to you. You must improve your usage of a Spreadsheet tool, so start building a document by yourself from scratch.
What are the necessary requirements to start a freelance business?
You need marketable skills, a reliable internet connection, a way to find clients (such as Upwork or Fiverr), and the discipline to manage your own business.
PRO Tip 2: Take your time to identify all expenses you will incur and the legal form through which you will offer your services as a hired gun. In my case, I decided to opt for the DOOEL legal entity, which is equivalent to a single-member limited liability company (LLC) in the US. I strongly recommend that you learn about the limitations and advantages of the legal form you choose, which is suitable for you. That will optimize your expenses in the future and support your vision for your professional freelancing journey.
What is the No. 1 skill for professional freelancing?
Adaptability. The market changes fast, and you need to learn new skills, tools, and ways of working all the time.
PRO Tip 3: You probably think that adaptability will not help you a lot when you need to deliver to the client code written in C#, or a diagram created with PlantUML, or review, adapt, and customize a functional specification that you initially will generate with MS Copilot, and you are right. However, suppose you aspire to be a professional freelancer. In that case, you must understand that the freelancing way of working is dynamic and constantly evolving. The only constant is that you must keep adapting.
How do I earn as a freelancer?
The freelancer earns by completing projects for clients and getting paid per project, per hour, or per milestone, based on the agreement.
PRO Tip 4: If you can’t assess the complexity of the job you have to complete, and if you can’t articulate and agree with your client on all the details expected from you, then the best approach is an hourly pay approach. Please be aware that all the mentioned payment terms have advantages and disadvantages.
How do I start freelancing?
Identify your skills, create a strong profile on a freelance platform, start applying for jobs, and build your portfolio with every project.
PRO Tip 5: Mention the industries and business domains in which you delivered. Also, mention your previous experience and create concise case studies about your past work, even if you have only recently created an account on freelancing platforms such as Upwork. You will increase your chances of getting the job, not because, for instance, you know agile principles, but because you apply them in a specific context and industry, and the outcome is produced based on your use of the agile principles.
How does a freelancer work?
As a freelancer, you are responsible for managing your own time, finding clients, negotiating contracts, delivering work, and getting paid. Usually, freelancers work from home or a co-working space.
PRO Tip 6: As a professional freelancer, I work from my office. Working from home can be a viable solution if you don’t have children and can serve as a relatively short-term arrangement. Suppose you want to take freelancing seriously and need your complete focus and capacity to deliver an extra mile to your clients, who will recognize the great value in your deliverables and be willing to pay a suitable amount. In that case, I strongly recommend having a dedicated space that will serve as your office. A place that you will have to go to in the mornings from your home. It can be a co-working space, an empty apartment you don’t live in, or a dedicated office.
Yeah, you might think that this will increase expenses, and of course, you are right. However, you must create a suitable working environment for yourself that allows you to focus and dedicate yourself to delivering the best possible results. Only in this way will you be paid appropriately and not underpaid.
Also, whether you believe it or not, if you don’t go out of your home and go to work, even your family and friends will try to utilize your time helping them with various things, because their perception will be that you have free time. No, you don’t have free time. Even when you currently don’t have a client, you must dedicate part of the day when you have full energy and focus (not during the midnight hours) to work on your skills, your website, your Upwork profile, looking for prospects, and ideas for side projects.
How do freelancers pay tax?
As a freelancer, you are responsible for your own taxes, which means you need to keep track of your income and expenses and file your tax returns as self-employed (the rules may vary depending on the country).
For instance, in my country, North Macedonia, freelancers typically work without formal legal entities, and their tax is referred to as personal income tax (most closely equivalent to the federal individual income tax in the US). However, the primary constraint here is that you can’t have an income exceeding 2 million denars (~$ 38,000). So, suppose you are a professional freelancer who earns more than the annual limits. In that case, the proper approach is to register a suitable legal entity and offer your services under that legal entity.
PRO Tip 7: Learn about the benefits and constraints of working under a legal entity in your country. Learn to manage your finances and incorporate the expenses of running a legal entity in your rates.
What does a freelancer do?
Anything! From software development and design to writing, marketing, consulting, and more. The spectrum of services and products is limitless if you can easily distribute them via modern digital channels for communication and collaboration. That enables your services to be accessible on the global market. Yes, there is a huge opportunity, but also be aware that the international market has a vast pool of competitors.
What does freelancer mean?
I started this article about the three pillars of a professional freelancing life, but let me summarize it in a single sentence using different words.
It means freedom, responsibility, and building your own path—professionally and personally.
Can I earn $ 1,000 a month from freelance writing?
Absolutely. Many writers earn much more, but it depends on finding a suitable client (a good match with your skills, and a niche in which you have expertise). Of course, it’s essential to market yourself effectively.
Do freelancers make money?
Yes, many make a good living. But income can be unpredictable. Some months are great, others are slow.
PRO Tip 8: When the days are good, don’t forget that bad days will come. When you are on the waves of “going well,” don’t forget to save some money and don’t act like a new taicone burning money on stupid things. A good bank balance during tough times will support your mental strength, allowing you to maintain the rate you deserve and avoid accepting every underpaid job.
What are the jobs in freelancing?
Software development, design, writing, marketing, consulting, project management, business analysis, and more.
Which jobs are the most popular?
Based on the most recent data and cross-referenced global sources, the 10 most popular freelance jobs across the top five countries with the largest freelance workforces (the US, Brazil, India, the UK, and Pakistan) in 2025 are:
- Software Developer / Engineer
- AI & Machine Learning Specialist
- Digital Marketing Specialist
- Graphic Designer / UX-UI Designer
- Content Writer / Copywriter
- Video Editor
- Cybersecurity Specialist
- Virtual Assistant / Executive Assistant
- Project Manager
- Accountant / Financial Consultant
Sources: Top 25 Highest-Paying Freelance Jobs in 2025; Top 20 High-Paying Freelance Jobs 2025; Top 14 Highest Paying Freelance Jobs in 2025; Top 5 Freelance Jobs in 2025: High-Demand Fields to Earn Easily; The 10 Fastest-Growing Freelance Jobs in 2025
How to put freelance work on a resume?
The most important thing about a resume is to demonstrate your skills in the context of your experience and previous work. As a freelancer, you have a unique opportunity to work with many clients and many projects in various industries. Use that and format your resume to show what you delivered in each sector. HR professionals typically attempt to match the skills they believe are necessary in the context of the industry and similar projects with those listed on the candidate’s resume.