Building and growing my own business as a freelancer working from home

Celeste G.

Back in 2014, I wanted to be able to work from home because I had 3 kids at the time and wanted to be around more for them. I had some experience working as an instructional designer and creating online courses for students at the university I graduated from, as well as a degree in Mathematics. So I decided to take those skills and find people who needed short term help on projects or others who wanted a freelancer to do some overflow work from time to time. My first freelance job only paid $50 for probably a full days work, but it helped me begin to get an online reputation for quality work on a freelancing site. Soon I had a longer term contract that paid fairly well, and slowly was able to work my way up to several regular clients and consistent part time work. During this time, I learned how to negotiate for higher rates, manage client expectations, and when to turn down job offers, as well as juggle multiple projects, and market myself effectively in the freelance world. Over several years, my clients became increasingly better quality, and I was able to begin working full time. Now I have an employee myself, so that I can pass off extra work to him, and I have been through the hiring process several times since I worked with independent contractors as well. Most of what I have learned came through trial and error and running things by my husband who has served as my business coach. I also talked to a small business development center to take things to the next level a couple of years ago.

Side hustles, burnout, and building income streams around your interests

Micah L.

From October 2020 to September 2021, I was unemployed and navigating a really tough job market. To stay afloat during that time, I tapped into the gig economy and explored side hustles. I started with Shipt deliveries, then leveraged connections from college to land freelance work in PR and copywriting. Once I landed a full-time job in September 2021, I stepped back from side hustles to focus on my new role. But when I was unexpectedly laid off again (and then re-hired a week later), I jumped back in. I began freelancing in social media for a skincare brand—work I kept doing for a full year, even while transitioning into my current job in May 2023. These days, I also post my own skincare content online, which lets me combine a personal passion with creative work. I’ve learned that side hustles can be a powerful way to make progress toward your financial goals (whether it’s saving for a car, building an emergency fund, or just having extra money for travel or fun purchases). They can also be an outlet for creativity and personal interests that your full-time job doesn’t fulfill. While side hustles can be great, balancing everything takes strategy, boundaries, and self-awareness to avoid burnout. I’d love to help others find that balance and build side income in a way that feels sustainable.