Can You Freelance Just on the Weekends?

Freelancing full-time is the for many dream — To set your schedule and work on things that you like. But most people either don’t want to give up on the security of a permanent job or they just want to pursue freelancing as a side business to get some extra income.

But the real question is — Can you successfully freelance just on the weekends?

Of course, you can.

Why freelance only on the weekends

Get a taste of freelancing before going all in

Freelancing isn’t for everyone. The constant worry about not being able to find a new project, chasing clients for payments, and networking with people can be a lot of pressure for some. You definitely won’t find the comfort of a day job in freelancing.

That is why, before going all in, you can start by freelancing on the weekends to see if you even like it or not.

Create connections which can be help you later

When you are just starting out as a freelancer, getting a consistent stream of work is the biggest struggle. By freelancing on the weekends, you can slowly build your network of clients. You can use these connections to get more projects later when you start freelancing full-time.

Extra income

The best part about freelancing on the weekend is that you get added income. Not to mention, since you are already getting a fixed salary from your day job, there is no pressure on you to make a lot of money through freelancing right away.

Types of freelance writing jobs you can get

If you are only going to be available on the weekends, then you have to be really strategic about the kind of projects you take. Whether you can be available for discussions with your clients during the weekdays or not should also greatly influence your decision.

Since you only have weekends to work, its best to skip the long or lengthy projects which you may not be able to finish in two days. When I was still working as a freelance writer part-time along with a day job too, I made the mistake of taking on a really big project.

Even though I knew I could handle the project, I didn’t have enough time for it. The project needed at least 5-6 days of work, but since I was only working on the weekends, it took me 3 weeks to finish it.

Here are the two types of jobs you should consider

• Writing weekly or monthly blogs
• Editing articles or ebooks

 

You know your work pace more than anyone else, and that is why, you should only take up work that you can finish during the weekends. If you are just starting to freelance and you are unsure about your pace, start timing yourself. You can use an app like Toggl to see how much time it takes for you to write or edit.

Most importantly — Your projects shouldn’t be time sensitive.

What Should You Tell Clients?

Now the question is — Should you tell your clients that you are only freelancing on the weekends?

To be honest, it’s up to you. But, you shouldn’t mention that to your clients unless there is a very good reason for it.

Though, if you cannot take out any time during the week for freelancing and your day job is more important to you, its best to clear it out with the clients.

While some clients may not mind a weekly delivery schedule, they would still want you to be available during the week to discuss the projects, since most businesses are closed on the weekends.

Tip — Even if you work only during the weekend and you have no time during the week, try and take out 15-20 minutes mid-week to check and respond to client emails.

Freelancing on the weekends can be hectic

When I was freelancing on the weekends, I had a day job where I had to put in 9 hours a day, five days a week. To say that my weeks were hectic and overwhelming would be an understatement. I had very little down time and I still don’t know how I was able to survive through all that.

Though it only went on for two months, after which I quit my day job and started freelancing full-time, so it was still manageable. Not to mention, I was 23 and I had no family responsibilities.

If you already have a day job and you also need to give time to your family, kids, and other stuff, its best to really think this through and realise how many hours you can give to freelancing every week without missing out on anything.

Do you freelance on the weekends? How is it working for you?