So you want to stay home and raise your kids, but let’s be real you need to pay the bills. You’re not the only one with this dilemma. Childcare is expensive, impersonal, and can often do more harm to your child’s development than good. Freelancing for stay-at-home moms may be the best solution to get the best of both worlds.
Freelancing is working for yourself and setting your own schedules. You don’t have to pay a sitter, you don’t have to go into an office, and you have the freedom to take time off when necessary, even if it’s just a day off with your children. You can work full-time while your kids are in school, or you can freelance part-time while they’re sleeping and on the weekends.
Mothers and even stay-at-home fathers are increasingly turning to freelance for this reason. According to research, there were 59 million people in the U.S. freelancing, and that number has been growing over the years.
With so many people switching to the gig economy, you might wonder how freelancing is changing work. For one, you can see now that contract jobs are no longer just for writers, artists, and technical experts. Also, you might wonder how will freelancing change the workforce for traditional and non-traditional workers?
During COVID-19, more companies turned to freelance contracts to cut costs. Instead of paying for all the supplies and offices for each employee, businesses are finding it’s easier to outsource to freelancers who have their own setup and don’t want to go into the office. This means there are a lot of work opportunities for moms. This evolution in work is perfect for freelancers for stay-at-home moms.
Freelancing is a type of work where you perform a service for one client at a time. It’s done on a contract basis, and you choose the hours, the compensation, and the schedules. These arrangements are perfect for mothers who need to care for their children. You can work around your childcare or maternity leave schedule, and freelancing provides the flexibility that modern moms need.
Few freelancing options require a degree, so much contract work is available to those without advanced training. There are freelancers in nearly every field, and freelancing opportunities exist for almost every specialization.
Whether you have multiple degrees or no degrees, you may still be wondering what skills you already have that can help you make money. Well, check out my free freelancers’ starter guide for moms for some ideas.
Freelancing has no set hours and comes with a lot of freedom, and it’s perfect for those who want to work from home. Other benefits of working from home include:
However, some people might find some negatives with freelance employment. Some cons of freelancing are:
Despite the negatives, when mothers who work from the home answer, “Why freelancing is the choice for me?” the number one reason that outweighs any con is being able to be home with their children. In addition, many women start to freelance when on maternity leave and choose not to return to full-time work.
There are many freelancing for stay-at-home moms jobs that are in demand today. A few options include:
There are many opportunities and freelance jobs to choose from, and you can work as little or as much as you want. You can stay at home with your children while still earning an income.
What’s the difference between the two? You can freelance with an LLC. That way, you can write off materials for your business related to freelancing. You can also benefit from tax benefits that are available for small businesses. If you want the financial advantages of an LLC over a sole proprietorship, start a business to freelance to make money.
Freelancing can be lucrative, too. Depending on your skillset and the service you offer, you could make $20 an hour or more. It’s impossible to give a concrete answer because of the wide range of freelance options.
When you freelance, the sky is the limit. You can make as little or as much as you want if you have the skills buyers need. It’s also a great way to supplement your income if you already have a part-time job while your children are at school. However, many mothers choose to go from part-time to freelancing full-time.
Parents with young children could hone many types of skills to earn money freelancing even when their children are sleeping. These include:
These are only a few freelance skills that could help parents become successful freelancers. If you have a specific skill, there are many ways to use freelancing to make money.
For example, if you have a degree in English or liberal studies and know how to write, there are many freelance options available, such as:
If you need help to find freelance jobs, there are many websites available to advertise your skillset.
But what if you’re a mother that wants to start freelancing to make money but doesn’t have the skills listed above? You’re in luck. You can learn many of the proficiencies listed above for free through online resources. Some skills you might want to know include:
These are only a few skills you need to know if you want to make money freelancing. You can find online resources for free to learn these skills and others, such as Lynda, Udemy, and Coursera.
The first step is to decide what type of freelancing you want to do. After narrowing down the best skill set for you, choose your starting position. For example, you can start as a virtual assistant and then take the individual jobs you complete, securing additional freelance work and increasing how much money you earn from home.
Everyday tasks virtual assistants complete include:
You need to take a few steps to find more clients. To do this, create a resume and portfolio showing the skills required for each additional gig. Next, market yourself on online job boards and social media channels. Finally, look for freelance jobs related to your skillset.
You made a brave and personal decision to stay-at-home to raise your family, but you never wanted to lose your ambition, your income, or your desire to create and make an impact. Or maybe you love being at home and are finding it hard to comfortably live on one impact, so you need to work.
I 100% understand that feeling because I’ve been there.
Freelancing is a great way to make money while you’re at home with your kids. You can even supplement income if you already have a part-time job or work for an employer that doesn’t offer maternity leave benefits. You don’t have to work full-time outside the home with children to earn money. As long as you’re willing to learn new skills and market yourself well, you can make your own schedule and work part or full time at home. Not only will you be there for your children when they get home from school, but you could also even be making money for them at the same time!
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