
7 step guide to getting started as a freelance consultant
Life as a freelance consultant is a wild ride that, unlike a salaried job, allows you to choose your collaborators across industries and companies.
Freelancing isn't for everyone, but if you're ready to fight for your clients - especially in the beginning - a life of freedom and flexibility awaits you.
Consulting is a popular choice in the freelance field, and freelance consultants are in high demand (almost) no matter what industry you're chasing. This, of course, provides great earning opportunities as there are many problems crying out for solutions.
In this article, we go through 7 practical steps to 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 a freelance consultant actually is, what they do and where they typically earn their money.
A freelance consultant is a professional person who offers their expertise and advice to companies (and sometimes private individuals).
As a consultant, you will typically be assigned to a company that needs support with strategy and financial decisions.
However, freelance consultants are hired for all kinds of tasks, so there's plenty of opportunity to find a niche where you can flourish. More on that later.
Just like in any other industry, consultants come in both fresh graduates and experienced senior profiles. You are therefore not limited by your experience - one way or the other - when you want to offer your knowledge as a consultant.
Use Factofly for your administration - no VAT 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 independent consultant?
So far so good. The definition of a freelance consultant might not be news to you, so let's cut to the chase and look at how the heck you actually get started and become an independent consultant.
We've put together 7 steps to inspire you to chase a career with yourself as its captain. It's not for everyone, but if you have the discipline to set your own deadlines, an amazing world awaits.
And when your business is so packed with new business that you're thinking about going from solo consultant to agency, read our guide on the math behind it here.
1: Identify your niche
The first step to succeeding with your freelance business is to clearly identify and (not least) define your niche.
Basically, you need 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're only scratching the surface here, but if you want to go deeper into how to find your freelance nichewe've written a more detailed guide you can read here.
2: Build a network
Networking is pretty crucial to go from hustling from customer to customer, to building a solid deal flow and having a full pipeline.
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 thoughtleader on social media, make sure you have a clear and consistent brand. This will help you drive customers to you and, of course, build relationships with other consultants in your field.
Use Factofly for your administration - no VAT 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, not necessarily your most recent. You use your portfolio to help your client understand what you can do and why you are the right person for the job.
When building your portfolio, make sure to highlight concrete examples of how you have helped other businesses.
Speak the language of business: 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 show your skills and achievements.
If you get it wrong, you can also show others' work as an example of what you can deliver.
If you choose to discard this card, you need to clearly communicate that you are not the one who did the work.
4: Determine your pricing strategy
As a freelance consultant, there's no getting around a pricing strategy. And it can be quite a complicated exercise!
Consider whether you want to sell yourself on an hourly or project basis. Or maybe you want retainer or value-based pricing in the mix.
Of course, it's 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're likely to do again and again. We've written a detailed guide to pricing that you can refer to here.
5: Market yourself and find your first customer
Once you've built your network, portfolio and pricing strategy, it's time to market yourself and land some customers.
Marketing and sales are two good friends and important mechanisms for driving customers to the buy button. Customers are everywhere, from obscure Facebook groups to your old employers.
Start by reaching out to your network, former colleagues or former customers who might need your services.
You may also want to offer a free consultation or sample project to get your name out there and show what you can offer.
When you want to become a magnet for new customersyou can read more about this exercise here.
6: Get your contract in order and be ready to take responsibility
As a freelance consultant, you are responsible for delivering results and meeting customer needs.
It also means you need to be ready to take responsibility if something goes wrong.
Make sure you have a contract in placethat outlines the agreement and be honest and open in your communication with your customers.
7: Make it easy for yourself
When you're on the threshold of a life as a freelance consultant, there are suddenly 100 things to keep track of. And many also get caught in a busy spiral where they spend tons of time creating logos and fixing websites.
The more time you can allocate to finding and delivering work, the more fun freelance life becomes.
Especially when it comes to company form and subsequent administration and bookkeeping, many run into a brick wall.
Few people chase the dream of being a boss with the same 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 company registration number, so you can focus fully on creating great solutions for your customers.
You're up and running in minutes and can even get your money out immediately - without your customer losing their payment deadline.
Use Factofly for your administration - no VAT number, pure job satisfaction
Be a freelancer without hassle and get paid without your own CVR number with Factofly. We help almost 12,000 others with an everyday life without administration.
What does a freelance consultant earn?
When comparing your own freelance consultant salary to the hourly salary of a full-time colleague in the same industry and with the same amount of responsibility, as a rule of thumb, multiply that hourly salary by 2.5.
Of course, there are all sorts of caveats to consider, but as you are responsible for all social security costs, pension, sickness cover etc., that's what your rental price should be.
Looking at the freelance portal Worksomewe can get an indication of what the range is in different freelance consulting areas. Of course, these are "public" prices that should also attract customers. The range 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 450 and 1,250 DKK per hour.
What does a freelance marketing consultant earn?
A freelance marketing consultant typically ranges between 350 and 1,100 DKK per hour.

7 step guide to getting started as a freelance consultant
Life as a freelance consultant is a wild ride that, unlike a salaried job, allows you to choose your collaborators across industries and companies.
Freelancing isn't for everyone, but if you're ready to fight for your clients - especially in the beginning - a life of freedom and flexibility awaits you.
Consulting is a popular choice in the freelance field, and freelance consultants are in high demand (almost) no matter what industry you're chasing. This, of course, provides great earning opportunities as there are many problems crying out for solutions.
In this article, we go through 7 practical steps to 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 a freelance consultant actually is, what they do and where they typically earn their money.
A freelance consultant is a professional person who offers their expertise and advice to companies (and sometimes private individuals).
As a consultant, you will typically be assigned to a company that needs support with strategy and financial decisions.
However, freelance consultants are hired for all kinds of tasks, so there's plenty of opportunity to find a niche where you can flourish. More on that later.
Just like in any other industry, consultants come in both fresh graduates and experienced senior profiles. You are therefore not limited by your experience - one way or the other - when you want to offer your knowledge as a consultant.
Use Factofly for your administration - no VAT 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 independent consultant?
So far so good. The definition of a freelance consultant might not be news to you, so let's cut to the chase and look at how the heck you actually get started and become an independent consultant.
We've put together 7 steps to inspire you to chase a career with yourself as its captain. It's not for everyone, but if you have the discipline to set your own deadlines, an amazing world awaits.
And when your business is so packed with new business that you're thinking about going from solo consultant to agency, read our guide on the math behind it here.
1: Identify your niche
The first step to succeeding with your freelance business is to clearly identify and (not least) define your niche.
Basically, you need 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're only scratching the surface here, but if you want to go deeper into how to find your freelance nichewe've written a more detailed guide you can read here.
2: Build a network
Networking is pretty crucial to go from hustling from customer to customer, to building a solid deal flow and having a full pipeline.
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 thoughtleader on social media, make sure you have a clear and consistent brand. This will help you drive customers to you and, of course, build relationships with other consultants in your field.
Use Factofly for your administration - no VAT 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, not necessarily your most recent. You use your portfolio to help your client understand what you can do and why you are the right person for the job.
When building your portfolio, make sure to highlight concrete examples of how you have helped other businesses.
Speak the language of business: 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 show your skills and achievements.
If you get it wrong, you can also show others' work as an example of what you can deliver.
If you choose to discard this card, you need to clearly communicate that you are not the one who did the work.
4: Determine your pricing strategy
As a freelance consultant, there's no getting around a pricing strategy. And it can be quite a complicated exercise!
Consider whether you want to sell yourself on an hourly or project basis. Or maybe you want retainer or value-based pricing in the mix.
Of course, it's 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're likely to do again and again. We've written a detailed guide to pricing that you can refer to here.
5: Market yourself and find your first customer
Once you've built your network, portfolio and pricing strategy, it's time to market yourself and land some customers.
Marketing and sales are two good friends and important mechanisms for driving customers to the buy button. Customers are everywhere, from obscure Facebook groups to your old employers.
Start by reaching out to your network, former colleagues or former customers who might need your services.
You may also want to offer a free consultation or sample project to get your name out there and show what you can offer.
When you want to become a magnet for new customersyou can read more about this exercise here.
6: Get your contract in order and be ready to take responsibility
As a freelance consultant, you are responsible for delivering results and meeting customer needs.
It also means you need to be ready to take responsibility if something goes wrong.
Make sure you have a contract in placethat outlines the agreement and be honest and open in your communication with your customers.
7: Make it easy for yourself
When you're on the threshold of a life as a freelance consultant, there are suddenly 100 things to keep track of. And many also get caught in a busy spiral where they spend tons of time creating logos and fixing websites.
The more time you can allocate to finding and delivering work, the more fun freelance life becomes.
Especially when it comes to company form and subsequent administration and bookkeeping, many run into a brick wall.
Few people chase the dream of being a boss with the same 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 company registration number, so you can focus fully on creating great solutions for your customers.
You're up and running in minutes and can even get your money out immediately - without your customer losing their payment deadline.
Use Factofly for your administration - no VAT number, pure job satisfaction
Be a freelancer without hassle and get paid without your own CVR number with Factofly. We help almost 12,000 others with an everyday life without administration.
What does a freelance consultant earn?
When comparing your own freelance consultant salary to the hourly salary of a full-time colleague in the same industry and with the same amount of responsibility, as a rule of thumb, multiply that hourly salary by 2.5.
Of course, there are all sorts of caveats to consider, but as you are responsible for all social security costs, pension, sickness cover etc., that's what your rental price should be.
Looking at the freelance portal Worksomewe can get an indication of what the range is in different freelance consulting areas. Of course, these are "public" prices that should also attract customers. The range 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 450 and 1,250 DKK per hour.
What does a freelance marketing consultant earn?
A freelance marketing consultant typically ranges between 350 and 1,100 DKK per hour.