Share the article!
7 step guide to getting started as a freelance consultant
Life as a freelance consultant is a wild ride that, unlike a permanent salaried job, gives you the opportunity to choose your business partners across industries and companies.
However, the freelance life is not for everyone, but if you are ready to fight for your clients – especially at the beginning – a life with lots of freedom and flexibility awaits you ahead.
Consultant is a popular choice within the freelance field, and freelance consultants are in high demand (almost) regardless of the industry you are pursuing. Of course, this provides great earning potential, as there are many problems that cry out for solutions.
In this article, we go through 7 practical steps that can help you become your own boss and put freelance consultant on your business card.
What is a freelance consultant?
Let's start by looking at what kind of size it actually is, what a freelance consultant does and where you can typically make your money.
A freelance consultant is a professional person who offers his expertise and advice to companies (and sometimes individuals). As a consultant, you are typically associated with a company that needs support regarding strategy and financial decisions. However, freelance consultants are brought in for all kinds of tasks, so there is ample opportunity to find a niche where you can flourish. More on that later.
As in all other industries, there are consultants both as newly hatched students and experienced senior profiles. You are therefore not limited by your seniority – either one way or the other – when you want to offer your knowledge as a consultant.
Use Factofly for your administration - no CVR number, pure job satisfaction
Be a freelancer without hassle and get paid without your own CVR number with Factofly. We help almost 4,000 others with an everyday life without administration.
How do you become a freelance or self-employed consultant?
So far so good. The definition of a freelance consultant may not be new news to you, so let's go to the waffles and see how the cave actually gets started and becomes an independent consultant.
Here we have collected 7 steps that can inspire you to pursue a career with yourself as a captain. It's not for everyone, but if you have the discipline to set your own deadlines, an amazing world awaits.
1: Identify your niche
The first step to being successful with your freelance business is to clearly identify and (not least) define your niche.
Basically, you have to zoom in on what expertise and/or experience you have that can create value for a company. And preferably so much value that they are willing to pay for what you deliver.
We are only scratching the surface here, but do you want to go in depth with how to find yours freelance niche, then we have written a more detailed guide that you can read here.
2: Build a network
Networking is so crucial to moving from hustling from customer to customer to building a solid deal flow.
Build your network by attending networking events, being active on social media, and participating in online communities related to your niche. When you want to position yourself as a thought leader on social media, make sure you have a clear and consistent brand. It will help you get clients to come to you, and of course build relationships with other consultants in your field.
Use Factofly for your administration - no CVR number, pure job satisfaction
Be a freelancer without hassle and get paid without your own CVR number with Factofly. We help almost 4,000 others with an everyday life without administration.
3: Create a portfolio
A portfolio is a collection of your best work, and not necessarily your most recent. You use your portfolio to make your client understand what you can do and why you are the right person for the job.
As you build your portfolio, be sure to highlight specific examples of how you've helped other businesses. Speak the language of the company: it means numbers and results.
If you are green and have no previous experience as an independent consultant, you can also include examples from your previous jobs that demonstrate your skills and results. If it is completely wrong, you can also show other people's work as an example of what you can deliver.
If you choose to discard this card, you must clearly communicate that it was not you who did the given work.
4: Determine your pricing strategy
As a freelance consultant, you cannot avoid setting a pricing strategy. And it can turn out to be quite a complicated exercise!
Here you must consider whether you would like to sell yourself on an hourly or project basis. Or maybe you'd like retainer or value-based pricing in the mix.
It is of course also important to give the competition a look and find out where you stand in comparison.
It's not an easy exercise, and one you'll most likely be doing over and over again. We have written a detailed guide to pricing, which you can refer to here.
5: Market yourself and find your first customer
Once you've built your network, your portfolio and determined your pricing strategy, it's time to market yourself and get some clients.
Marketing and sales are two good friends, and important mechanisms to get customers to the buy button. There are customers everywhere, from obscure Facebook groups to your old employers.
Start by reaching out to your network, former colleagues or former clients who may need your services. It might also be a good idea to offer a free consultation or trial project to get your name out there and show what you can offer.
When you want to become one magnet for new customers, you can read more about that exercise here.
6: Get a handle on the contract and be ready to take responsibility
As a freelance consultant, you are responsible for delivering results and meeting the customer's needs. It also means that you must be ready to take responsibility if something goes wrong. Make sure you have one contract in place, which describes the agreement, and be honest and open in your communication with your customers.
7: Make it easy on yourself
When you are on the threshold of a life as a freelance consultant, suddenly there are 100 things you have to manage. And many also get caught in a busy spiral where they spend oceans of time creating a logo and correcting a website.
The more time you can allocate to finding and delivering work, the more fun the freelance life will be.
Especially when it comes to corporate form and subsequent administration and bookkeeping, many run into a wall. Few people chase the dream of themselves as a boss, with an equally burning desire to meet VAT deadlines and have (expensive) meetings with accountants.
Factofly has made it incredibly easy to get paid without having your own CVR number, so you can focus fully on creating great solutions for your customers.
You are up and running in a few minutes, and can even get your money paid out immediately – without your customer missing their payment deadline, mind you.
Use Factofly for your administration - no CVR number, pure job satisfaction
Be a freelancer without hassle and get paid without your own CVR number with Factofly. We help almost 4,000 others with an everyday life without administration.
What does a freelance consultant earn?
When you compare your own freelance consultant salary with the hourly salary of a permanent colleague in the same industry and with the same amount of responsibility, as a rule of thumb, you must multiply that hourly salary by 2.5.
There are, of course, all sorts of caveats that must be taken, but since you yourself are responsible for all social costs, pension, cover during illness, etc., that is why your price must go up to the rent.
We look at the freelance portal Worksome, we can get an indication of what the range is within various freelance consultant areas. These are of course "public" prices that must also attract customers. The tension here can therefore be moved upwards for a more realistic picture of the market.
What does a freelance IT consultant earn?
A freelance IT consultant is typically between DKK 450 and DKK 1,250 per hour.
What does a freelance marketing consultant earn?
A freelance marketing consultant typically makes between DKK 350 and DKK 1,100 per hour.
7 step guide to getting started as a freelance consultant
Life as a freelance consultant is a wild ride that, unlike a permanent salaried job, gives you the opportunity to choose your business partners across industries and companies.
However, the freelance life is not for everyone, but if you are ready to fight for your clients – especially at the beginning – a life with lots of freedom and flexibility awaits you ahead.
Consultant is a popular choice within the freelance field, and freelance consultants are in high demand (almost) regardless of the industry you are pursuing. Of course, this provides great earning potential, as there are many problems that cry out for solutions.
In this article, we go through 7 practical steps that can help you become your own boss and put freelance consultant on your business card.
What is a freelance consultant?
Let's start by looking at what kind of size it actually is, what a freelance consultant does and where you can typically make your money.
A freelance consultant is a professional person who offers his expertise and advice to companies (and sometimes individuals). As a consultant, you are typically associated with a company that needs support regarding strategy and financial decisions. However, freelance consultants are brought in for all kinds of tasks, so there is ample opportunity to find a niche where you can flourish. More on that later.
As in all other industries, there are consultants both as newly hatched students and experienced senior profiles. You are therefore not limited by your seniority – either one way or the other – when you want to offer your knowledge as a consultant.
Use Factofly for your administration - no CVR number, pure job satisfaction
Be a freelancer without hassle and get paid without your own CVR number with Factofly. We help almost 4,000 others with an everyday life without administration.
How do you become a freelance or self-employed consultant?
So far so good. The definition of a freelance consultant may not be new news to you, so let's go to the waffles and see how the cave actually gets started and becomes an independent consultant.
Here we have collected 7 steps that can inspire you to pursue a career with yourself as a captain. It's not for everyone, but if you have the discipline to set your own deadlines, an amazing world awaits.
1: Identify your niche
The first step to being successful with your freelance business is to clearly identify and (not least) define your niche.
Basically, you have to zoom in on what expertise and/or experience you have that can create value for a company. And preferably so much value that they are willing to pay for what you deliver.
We are only scratching the surface here, but do you want to go in depth with how to find yours freelance niche, then we have written a more detailed guide that you can read here.
2: Build a network
Networking is so crucial to moving from hustling from customer to customer to building a solid deal flow.
Build your network by attending networking events, being active on social media, and participating in online communities related to your niche. When you want to position yourself as a thought leader on social media, make sure you have a clear and consistent brand. It will help you get clients to come to you, and of course build relationships with other consultants in your field.
Use Factofly for your administration - no CVR number, pure job satisfaction
Be a freelancer without hassle and get paid without your own CVR number with Factofly. We help almost 4,000 others with an everyday life without administration.
3: Create a portfolio
A portfolio is a collection of your best work, and not necessarily your most recent. You use your portfolio to make your client understand what you can do and why you are the right person for the job.
As you build your portfolio, be sure to highlight specific examples of how you've helped other businesses. Speak the language of the company: it means numbers and results.
If you are green and have no previous experience as an independent consultant, you can also include examples from your previous jobs that demonstrate your skills and results. If it is completely wrong, you can also show other people's work as an example of what you can deliver.
If you choose to discard this card, you must clearly communicate that it was not you who did the given work.
4: Determine your pricing strategy
As a freelance consultant, you cannot avoid setting a pricing strategy. And it can turn out to be quite a complicated exercise!
Here you must consider whether you would like to sell yourself on an hourly or project basis. Or maybe you'd like retainer or value-based pricing in the mix.
It is of course also important to give the competition a look and find out where you stand in comparison.
It's not an easy exercise, and one you'll most likely be doing over and over again. We have written a detailed guide to pricing, which you can refer to here.
5: Market yourself and find your first customer
Once you've built your network, your portfolio and determined your pricing strategy, it's time to market yourself and get some clients.
Marketing and sales are two good friends, and important mechanisms to get customers to the buy button. There are customers everywhere, from obscure Facebook groups to your old employers.
Start by reaching out to your network, former colleagues or former clients who may need your services. It might also be a good idea to offer a free consultation or trial project to get your name out there and show what you can offer.
When you want to become one magnet for new customers, you can read more about that exercise here.
6: Get a handle on the contract and be ready to take responsibility
As a freelance consultant, you are responsible for delivering results and meeting the customer's needs. It also means that you must be ready to take responsibility if something goes wrong. Make sure you have one contract in place, which describes the agreement, and be honest and open in your communication with your customers.
7: Make it easy on yourself
When you are on the threshold of a life as a freelance consultant, suddenly there are 100 things you have to manage. And many also get caught in a busy spiral where they spend oceans of time creating a logo and correcting a website.
The more time you can allocate to finding and delivering work, the more fun the freelance life will be.
Especially when it comes to corporate form and subsequent administration and bookkeeping, many run into a wall. Few people chase the dream of themselves as a boss, with an equally burning desire to meet VAT deadlines and have (expensive) meetings with accountants.
Factofly has made it incredibly easy to get paid without having your own CVR number, so you can focus fully on creating great solutions for your customers.
You are up and running in a few minutes, and can even get your money paid out immediately – without your customer missing their payment deadline, mind you.
Use Factofly for your administration - no CVR number, pure job satisfaction
Be a freelancer without hassle and get paid without your own CVR number with Factofly. We help almost 4,000 others with an everyday life without administration.
What does a freelance consultant earn?
When you compare your own freelance consultant salary with the hourly salary of a permanent colleague in the same industry and with the same amount of responsibility, as a rule of thumb, you must multiply that hourly salary by 2.5.
There are, of course, all sorts of caveats that must be taken, but since you yourself are responsible for all social costs, pension, cover during illness, etc., that is why your price must go up to the rent.
We look at the freelance portal Worksome, we can get an indication of what the range is within various freelance consultant areas. These are of course "public" prices that must also attract customers. The tension here can therefore be moved upwards for a more realistic picture of the market.
What does a freelance IT consultant earn?
A freelance IT consultant is typically between DKK 450 and DKK 1,250 per hour.
What does a freelance marketing consultant earn?
A freelance marketing consultant typically makes between DKK 350 and DKK 1,100 per hour.
