How to make money freelance coding

So you’re setting yourself up as a freelance coder, but how do you actually make money? There are countless methods, and new ones are appearing all the time. 

Instead of going through every single option though, we’ll break down the best ones to get you started. Read on to find out what they are:

• Get certified
• Create a course
• Provide tech solutions
• Bug bounty hunting
• Freelancer websites
• Build your own software

There are several methods to making money from freelance coding. Keep reading to discover which one suits you best. 

People need evidence that you’re a suitable candidate. Think about it, would you pay someone to do a specialist job if they had no way of proving they were capable?

There are a couple of different routes you can take to get certified.

One of the easiest ways to get a certification is by completing an online course. There are loads of providers you can choose from too. Here are a few you can have a look at:

• HubSpot
• Udemy
• Skillshare
• Codecademy

Some online courses can give you a badge to attach to your profile too. When potential clients see that, they can feel far more comfortable hiring you. 

If you prefer learning in a more structured way, you might want to enroll in a college or university course. Depending on how you learn best, this can be a better option as you can access a range of tutors and modules. 

Some courses allow part-time learning, so you can work alongside your studies. Learning part-time can be a great option if you already have an understanding of coding. 

The most evident display of your skills is probably to build something. This could be an app, a program, or something else entirely. 

The point is, you’re demonstrating your skills by creating something. Then when a potential client asks for evidence, you can show them your creation. 

The thing you decide to build could depend on the sector you prefer to work in. For example, if you wanted to be involved in game design, you could build your own indie title. 

This depends entirely on your knowledge of coding, and your teaching ability. If you’re a novice, you probably shouldn’t start a course yet. But if you have a strong grasp of it, then feel free to teach others. 

Creating your own online course can be a great way to make money, especially because you can usually recycle your materials. Provided you have enough time to dedicate to each student, there’s no limit to the students you can teach. 

If you need a hand setting up your online tutoring, check out our guide. 

In this day and age, every business should have a website. That doesn’t mean that they do, or that it’s a decent one.

Know how to code a website, and you’ve just found yourself a potential client. 

Start with local businesses, find out which ones have a website, and which ones need updating.

Write a pitch, offer your services, and solve their issues. You can even charge them a monthly fee to maintain their website. 

If you manage to secure them as a client, you’ve just improved your monthly income. 

Software is rife with bugs and glitches. Left unchecked they can cause widespread damage to a company’s infrastructure and perception. 

Large companies aren’t protected from this either. In late 2021, Facebook rolled out an update that caused a worldwide outage. 

Billions of users were prevented from accessing Facebook’s platforms (Facebook, Instagram, etc). Since their offices also run on the same system, employees were unable to access the building. 

With recent examples like this, it’s no wonder that ‘bug bounty hunting’ is a growing market you can tap into. If you’re interested, here’s a few websites you can use to get started: 

• Bugcrowd
• HackerOne
• FireBounty

If you want to mix and match the work you do, using freelancing sites can let you apply to individual jobs. This way, you get to pick what to spend your time working on. You may want to check out the sites below:

• Fiverr
• PeoplePerHour
• Upwork

Of course, the drawback is there’s usually a fair few people all competing for the same job. This is exactly why you have to stand out. Being one of the first to apply can help you secure a job, as can having a strong portfolio. 

Don’t worry about others undercutting you either. Set your prices at a level that reflects your experience and knowledge. 

Earlier, we said you could build something to highlight your skills. You can also build your own software and sell it, making money that way.

Building things can be tricky though, because you need to come up with ideas. If you’re having trouble thinking of things, consider problems or issues people experience every day. 

Design a solution to those problems, and you may find success. 

Often, we can be so afraid of failing or making mistakes that we don’t take a chance. Understanding that things won’t go smoothly (especially at first) can make the process feel a lot more comfortable.

It doesn’t matter which path you choose, what matters is that you get started as soon as possible. You can easily spend months deciding what’s the best route, researching everything, and figuring out if you’re good enough yet.

Or, you can ignore all that and jump in. You might find that you learn more from doing jobs, and the more experience you get the better jobs you’ll be able to take. 

As you get started, you’ll probably want to open a freelancer business account. This can help keep your personal finances separate from your business ones.

You should probably brush up on how to invoice a client too. That way, you can make sure you get paid after a job. 

Once you start making money, you need to keep track of it. This includes how much you’re making, spending, and what taxes you have to pay.

Staying on top of your finances while also trying to grow your business can be really stressful. Instead, try automating the process with the Countingup app.

It’s the two-in-one business current account and accounting software that simplifies all things bookkeeping. You can even send fully customised invoices straight from your phone. 

Download the app for free today.