5 critical steps to become a freelance artist in US

Have you been thinking about becoming self-employed as a freelance artist? Do you have certain in-demand skills and wish to work independently? Then becoming a freelance artist might just be the right fit for you.

Before walking up the steps to becoming one, let’s start by answering some questions. Who's a freelance artist? What does he do? How to find jobs and where? And steps to become a freelance artist in us. Its advantages and monthly challenges etc.

Who is a freelance artist?

steps to become a freelance artist in us, find clients

Any artist who works independently without any commitment to a particular employer is a freelance artist. He works for himself by creating art for clients and charging a fee in return. Such an artist is free to take on as many clients as he can and independently plan work hours.

Thanks to advanced telecommunications systems, and the internet, anyone, especially freelance professionals can work remotely. This means that from the client acquisition process to getting paid, everything can be done from the comfort of your home. The best part is, unlike working full-time, freelance artists can get paid anytime in the month.

In summary, being a freelance artist is all about being an entrepreneur and running your own business with your skills and talent. Simply put, being a freelancer means you get to select what you work on and establish your own hours. You are effectively your own boss. Freelance artists and independent contractors can shift from job to work without the inconveniences of traditional, salaried jobs.

Despite the pandemic, this sense of adaptability and entrepreneurship appears to be prospering. To become a successful freelance artist, you must first develop a business plan and identify your niche, which could include content writing, web design, or graphic design. You must discover your greatest capabilities so that you can capitalize on those skill sets and related markets.

It's time to start advertising your services once you've determined your specialization. Freelance artists can promote themselves on various freelance websites and through any channel, including local directories and their social media presence. The idea is to demonstrate to people what you have to offer – and why you should be hired.Begin increasing your client base as your marketing efforts acquire momentum.

In a competitive market, For many artists, the size and quality of their client base often determines their success in the art world. If your work is of high quality, happy clients can help you build your reputation through word of mouth, shout-outs, and referrals.Any freelance artist worth their salt will want to identify oneself as a real firm or corporation in the midst of marketing and growing a customer base.

This not only allows you to sell your services as a legitimate business, but it also allows you to keep your cash and legal documents distinct from your assets. Design and writing have profited immensely from the gig economy in today's difficult work environment. Freelance artists have filled and will continue to fill roles that many businesses see as either temporary gigs or long-term collaborations.

Why become a freelance artist?     

like minded individuals, junior year

Freelancing is common among people who work in the creative space like artists, writers, designers, and so on. Most artists go freelance because of the independence they experience with their time, control, and energy.

The freedom to choose what projects to work on and what projects to decline is exhilarating. As a freelance artist, being your own boss means you have complete control over your working hours and project selections. You decide when to take some time off from work as long as you are comfortable not working at the moment.

Challenges of a freelance artist

Being a freelance artist isn't all roses and chocolates. There’s a great deal involved; from client management to time management and even financial management. Learning how to deal with clients and manage people is an essential skill in freelancing.

Self-discipline and motivation are essential for freelancing since you have no boss to answer to. You are always going to self-organize and self-optimize to meet up your client's deadline. In addition, there's always a fluctuation in cash flow since no two projects have the same charges. Some clients may delay payments and there’s no specific time to expect payment.

Sometimes, payment is made according to milestones completed which makes cash flow more irregular. At other times, you might not have ongoing projects and the clientele might experience a dip.

This period is ideal for digital artists to self-invest, acquire new skills in graphic design, web design, or content writing, and optimize their workspace for better efficiency. If you have an online space, it would also be a great time to network to meet new clients or collaborate with other freelancers to move your business forward.

Freelance Business Vs. Hobby

This is a habit worth rebuilding for individuals who have been drawing as a hobby and want to take it into the world of freelance artists. Because hobbies are typically done in one's spare time, keep in mind that having your own freelancing business will be exactly that - a business.

And if you treat your business like a hobby, you will quickly discover how costly it is to maintain. Freelancing, like working, is a set amount of time in which you must acquire clients, market your work, complete the tasks assigned to you, and be paid.

If you want to live a life that you can design, you must create the system that pays for it and take it seriously. Making art as a hobby, on the other hand, should be prioritized to assist in preserving creativity. Make time to be creative as well, but don't allow it interfere with your actual work.

5 Critical steps to become a freelance artist in the United States

many freelance artists

With the internet creating an increased need for visual content, art skills continue to be in high demand.  Whether you want to work full-time or part-time as a freelance artist, here are some critical steps you need to follow:

1. Think it through and have a plan

Being a freelance artist is one part, creating art is another. And then, there is running a business. A huge chunk of your energy will essentially be channeled towards running and growing your business/clientele.

You have to make decisions on how you’re going to make money as an artist. Brainstorming ideas, and looking at what other artists in the freelance space are doing is a great way to start. You'll have to figure out what type of skill to offer. You could decide to be a graphic artist, cartoonist, illustrator, fine artist, etc.

This strategy, known as niching down, allows you to focus and cater to specific sectors within the freelance art market. Having one to three niches is an excellent way to plan your business. It will also help you make more money by creating more job opportunities for you.

2. Get your first Clients

Now that you’ve gotten a plan, the next step is to get your first set of clients. Being a freelance artist is quite different from being an in-house artist. You don't work for a company in an office or studio and wait for clients or jobs to come to you.

As a freelance artist, you need to take the initiative to go after clients. If the thought of initiating conversations or sending proposals bothers you, then freelancing isn’t for you.A good way to begin your search for clients will be to start from your local network; friends, family, fellow freelancers, and so on.

You also have to be willing to receive tons of rejection as most clients may not be responsive. But it gets better over time. You could also utilize freelance job sites but this depends on the kind of art you want to market. In the United States, about 30% of workers engage in freelancing part-time.

While about 35% of the working population are full-time freelancers. The remaining 35% take on traditional jobs.Creating outstanding artwork for others might lead to word-of-mouth advertising as well. Here are some suggestions for attracting new customers:

  • Reaching out to your network: Discuss your company strategy with friends, family, and coworkers, and inform them about the services you plan to provide. Your network may be interested in your artwork or may know someone who is.

  • Advertising your artwork on social media networks can draw web traffic and lead to new clients, especially if people enjoy or share your piece. Create an online portfolio on a portfolio site and a brand social media page to share work updates and engage with potential customers in your local area.

  • Using freelance websites and job boards: Do some research and explore various freelance websites to post your work and connect with other fellow artists through online communities. These programs take jobs from other businesses and provide project chances.

  • Creating free work for firms with a huge presence or in need of long-term work: To assist grow your name as an artist, try creating free work for companies with a large presence or in need of long-term work.

  • Approaching firms with ideas: If you notice a company that could benefit from your services, approach them with a proposal, and they may decide to take you up on your offer.

3. Work on building a portfolio

A potential client seeks not just claims but concrete proof in your portfolio site, demonstrating your previous successful projects as a digital artist. While an effective portfolio is simple, it's how you show a client your words are more than just that.

You have to display previous jobs including all pro bono work as samples for clients. You need not spend much energy on making your samples too sophisticated. Part of being a freelance artist is earning the trust of potential clients which lies in your ability to communicate.

4. Deliver quality work on time

Every job comes with a deadline and this is where you prove yourself. Your ability to consistently create and deliver quality work within the working hours stipulated enhances your reputation as your own boss in the freelance market. The goal is to keep your clients satisfied.

5. Find more clients

Building clientele as a freelance artist is cyclic. Sustaining your business heavily depends on gaining more clients. Therefore, you must be willing to do the chase. Many artists in the United States leverage freelance websites and job boards within online communities to expand their clientele and engage with fellow artists. Some of these are Upwork, Fiverr, flex jobs, glassdoor, and Linkedin jobs.  

Tools you need as a freelance artist?

As you work and earn, you’ll notice that earnings are quite random. There is no organized pattern for your earning. It’s up to you to organize your finances to stay on top of expenses. Some of the tools you need are paystubs generator and most importantly an invoice generator.

These are tools to help you track your finances, clientele, and government documentation. Paystubsnow helps you create both with time to spare. Don’t think you need to provide clients invoices as a freelance artist, here are 5 reasons why you should. Other things you can do with paystubsnow is create W-2 and 1099 forms.

Blog Post FAQ

A pay check stub is crucial in a freelance artist's profession as it provides a record of income and helps in managing financial matters easily. It is a document that outlines the details of an artist's pay including deductions, taxes, and net income. Having a comprehensive pay check stub supports you in filing taxes effectively and can also protect you from any disputes regarding your revenues.

A freelance artist, just like any other independent contractor, may not receive typical pay stubs you might expect from regular employment. This can create issues when you need proof of income for loans or leases. Fortunately, a pay stub generator can be a useful tool to manage and present your income appropriately.

With a pay stub generator, you can create professional pay stubs that record your earnings, deductions, and net income per project or period of time. This not only helps you with your personal financial management but also proves to be beneficial when you need evidence of income or employment status.

Remember, it's essential to input accurate information based on your actual income and keep the generated pay stubs on record.

PayStubsNow offers a reliable pay stub generator service for this purpose, ensuring accurate, professional, and quick solutions for your income verification needs.

For freelance artists in the US, utilizing paystub templates can prove to be extremely beneficial. Not only do these templates make it easy to provide proof of income, but they can also be used to systematically track your income from different clients over time. This can be extremely useful during tax season or when applying for loans or other financial products that require proof of income. By using these paystub templates, a freelance artist can maintain financial transparency, streamline their accounting processes, and have an organized record of their earnings at their disposal.

A paysub maker is a powerful tool for freelance artists. As a freelancer in the US, it is crucial not only to generate income but also to keep track of your earnings and expenses for tax purposes. This is where a paystub maker comes in handy. After you invoice a client and get paid, you can use the paystub maker to generate a paystub that outlines the details of your transaction, including gross income, deductions, and net income. This not only helps you to keep your financial records in line but also assists in proving your income when applying for loans or credit.

A valuable tool for managing your earnings as a freelance artist is through an online paystub. You can use my online paystub generated from Paystubsnow to observe all your income details, including deductions and taxes. It provides a comprehensive, organized record of your income, which is essential for budgeting and financial planning. Furthermore, an online paystub is also vital when you need to provide proof of income for a loan or lease application.