How to Start Freelancing Without Any Experience in 2025
In this day and age where remote work is at an all-time high, and traditional 9-to-5 employment is fading, freelancing has become an ideal career choice for a large community of freelancers. But, what if you’re new to freelancing; you have no prior experience, no portfolio, and you don’t even know where to start? No worries: you can absolutely start freelancing in 2025—even without any experience. Here are the steps to take.
- Know what freelancing is (and isn’t)
Freelancing is when you work independently for multiple clients, as opposed to working for one company. Essentially, you’re an independent contractor or agent and your time is your own. In addition: you need to manage your own time, and finances you are responsible for finding clients and creating value you will build credibility over time
💡 Reality check: although freelancing is not an instant-millionaire-generating scheme, it is one of the most flexible ways to earn an income; especially in 2025.
- Identify a skill you can offer
You don’t have to be an expert, you just need to have a skill that can be marketed. You can begin by asking the questions: What do I love to do? What could I learn quickly? What skills or services are in demand?
🔥 In-demand freelance skills outside of the following industries in 2025:
Writing and content creation
Social media content and management.
Graphic design (Canva, Affinity, Adobe)
Virtual assistance
AI Prompt Engineering
Web development (HTML/CSS/JavaScript, etc.)
Data entry and research But if you’re struggling to identify any of these relevant transferable skills, just know that you can always rethink or build even better skills into your future.
- Understand the Basics Using Free Resources
Start small and learn quickly. The internet offers thousands of free and beginner friendly courses and online education possibilities.
Recommended Sites:
Coursera
Google Digital Garage
HubSpot Academy
YouTube videos for Canva, Excel, writing, etc.
Spend 1 to 2 weeks learning the basics of one skill before networking for gigs.
- Create a simple Portfolio (Even if you don’t have a client yet)
If you haven’t had an assignment yet, create pretend projects. You can:
Write 3-5 pretend articles if you are a writer
Create 3 pretend logos if you are a designer
Develop a one-page website if you are a programmer.
Do one free service for a friend or small business.Create a portfolio for free and on your own:
Canva (easy to use portfolio templates)
Notion (very simple and easy)
GitHub (for developers)
Google Drive (with organized folder)- Create Profiles on Freelance Platforms
Now that you have something to display, it is time to go live.
The best platforms for beginners in 2025:
Fiverr. Create gigs based on services.
Upwork – send CVs to jobs that have been posted.
Freelancer.com -very competitive but with lots of variety.
Toptal – for more experienced practitioners down the road.
PeoplePerHour – if you are looking for work from UK or EU clients.Tips for your profile:
Write a short and nice bio
Use a business-style photo
Write mention the tools you know
- Start Applying (Even If You’re Going To Get Rejected)
The best way to get your first job: don’t hesitate to pitch.
Apply for lower competition job
Always make a unique proposal (don’t copy and paste)
Offer something lower for first-time clients as an intro
Tell the client you’re new but hardworking and reliable💬 Example proposal:
“Hi! I’m new to freelancing but I have had training on [Skill] and I have made us very few example projects. I would like to help you with [Their Problem]. I will provide high-quality work and unlimited edits to ensure you are happy".- Deliver Awesome Work, Then Ask for Reviews
Your first few project will be building blocks. Make sure they are good by:
Communicating clearly and professionally
Referring to deadlines and either meeting or beating deadlines, preferably beating
Going the extra mile if you canOnce the job is finished, ask the client:
"If your happy with the work, I would appreciate a short review".Positive reviews lend credibility and they come in handy when making your profile appear to better people, plus rank you higher when people search.
- Continue Learning and Level Up
In 2025 at blazing speed, freelancing is changing. AI tools, Web3 projects, remote collaborating apps etc all of these things are making here and now very different acting as a sort of agent of change.
🔥 Stick sharp by:
Learning advanced courses
Learning some of these AI tools ChatGPT, Midjourney, Notion AI
Following freelance influencers either on LinkedIn or Twitter- Steer Clear of Typical Newby Mistakes Don’t say yes to every single assignment – think quality not quantity! Don’t ghost clients or hand back half-finished work Don’t work for free (unless it’s for practice or referrals) Don’t forget your income, due dates, or deadlines.
Freelancing is a job, a business for you now, not a hobby.
- Play the Long Game
Once you have a few clients, think about:
Building your personal brand.
Establishing a freelance website or blog.
Creating a referral process.
Selling retainer packages or long-form contracts.
Affiliate marketing or developing a product. Final Thoughts
Freelancing in 2025 with no experience is not only doable, it is a smart way to start your independent career. It is easier than ever to start this independent way of life. The barriers to entry are lower than ever and opportunities are plentiful (for the most part they are online). All you need is skill, strategy, and a lot of hard work.
Go back to work today. Learn skills, pipeline well, and do awesome work. Then do it all again.
