Becoming a freelancer is something many developers look for considering the dynamics of their job. Today´s technologies have contributed to making it easier, especially in the U.S., where the workforce has reached 34%.

While this is not an option for everybody, those app developers who wish to become freelancers need to take into account several aspects it implicates like the competition, selling yourself, having a plan or knowing how much to charge, to name a few.

Of course, there are people that have started freelancing without have even planned it. An opportunity to work this way outside their job hours could have presented to them and now people contact them due to their great work.

However, this is almost never the case, as many decide to take the risk and start promoting their services or have made a plan to become a freelance developer. Whatever the situation, you need to start working on improving your professional profile, promoting yourself, choosing the right projects and enhance your communications skills.    

Make sure to read: Personal Branding for app developers

Improving your profile

Working by your own means you´ll have to convince people that you are really capable for the job. This means you will have to build a reputation in order to promote yourself.

We’ve talked before about the importance of creating a powerful portfolio, in which you demonstrate your skills as a developer. Nowadays, this is your best presentation letter and something that can really put in you in the map.

However, soft skills are also required for this matter. You might be a really good developer, but if you want to stand out from the rest you´ll have to work on your communication skills to sell yourself and, mainly, considering you must follow up tasks and deliver results as a remote worker.

Getting Hired   

It is important you start “moving around” in your field. Your work speaks for yourself, however, word of mouth is a common way to find new projects, therefore, the importance of building a profile.

You can also be active on your social media accounts to let people know what you do, that you are looking for opportunities and how they may contact you.

There are mixed opinions about freelancing platforms like Upwork or Freelancer, but you can always give it a shot. Of course, you must be also aware of finding out about a client’s reputation first. After all, you don’t want to waste your time with non-viable projects or other inconveniences dealing with them.

Attending to events is one of the best things you can do, as you head to a good place to meet new people, finding new projects or discussing own ideas.

 The value of your work

One situation freelance developers face is putting a price to their job. This certainly depends on the experience of every developer, as some experienced developers get to charge somewhere between $60-$90 / hour.

On the other hand, as a beginner, it is more than likely you find yourself in a highly competitive market where you´ll have to start with a 10$-$15 (or less) per hour rate. However, this also would depend on the type of project or country you live in.

Working with Android has its advantages. For instance, compared to other mobile platforms, the Google Play Store has the lowest registration fee: a one-time $25 payment.

Besides, just like in Apple’s App Store, there is a 30% commission on the sales of an app, however, at the beginning of this year,  a decrease to 15% have been implemented in subscription products, as long as you have retained users for a 12 months period.    

Important aspects you should be aware of in case this is part of your job too.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are several points you must evaluate in order to define if being a freelancer is something for you or not. Many professionals who have opted for this type of work have no regrets as they´ve become their own bosses and are able to manage their own time.

Although the competition could be hard, we encourage you to do it, as there are now several ways to achieve it. For this, here’s a list of tips and tricks for starter Android app developers.