Our Guide to Freelancing

Who Can Work as a Freelancer?

Freelancing is a form of work that fits most industries, and technically, most people can work as freelancers.

If you are a self-employed freelancer, meaning you work and invoice without a company, the requirements are very few. You need to be of legal age, have a work permit in Sweden or be an EU citizen, and you must not be under a business prohibition. If you can meet these requirements, you are free to become a self-employed freelancer. We believe that the freelance industry actually suits more people than the classic employment form. By freelancing, you can adapt your work life to your own life, instead of constantly trying to fit the puzzle pieces of life around traditional working hours.

Which Industries Can You Freelance In?

Looking back in time, there were a few professions primarily associated with freelancers, such as journalists, DJs, and photographers. But much has changed since then, and today you can freelance in practically any industry. It is rather the form of work that changes; you do the same thing, but instead of being employed, you are your own boss and freelance. An employer becomes a client, with whom you negotiate things like your freelance pay.

As a freelancer, you can also choose if you want and have the capacity for more than one assignment. Perhaps you want many smaller projects running simultaneously, or you prefer to work on one and the same assignment full-time. This is entirely up to the freelancer. This way, even those with multiple skills can combine different professions. Read more about freelancing in Sweden.

Diversify Your Clients

“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket” is an expression we have probably all heard. The expression, though old, tries to summarize the concept of risk spreading and diversification. When it comes to job security, it may be worth considering having several different clients you work for. Whether it involves different clients within the same sector, different sectors, or different regions, it provides a certain level of security. Security in the sense that each company and sector reacts differently to the same event, as was made clear during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dare to Charge the Right Amount

We understand that it can sometimes feel tough to dare to charge for the service you provide. For many, the price is the biggest worry during a negotiation. It’s not about charging a lot but rather about charging the right amount. Daring to charge will definitely boost your confidence as a good and professional freelancer, but we understand that it is easier said than done.

Since January 1, 2023, Cool Company has been connected to a collective agreement, which among other things means that if you are self-employed with us and are between 25 and 66 years old, 4.5 percent of the fee on your invoice will automatically be set aside for occupational pension. It is a security for life after working life, but make sure to account for this when setting your price.

Gather Recommendations and Feedback from Clients

After completing an assignment, it is important to get feedback on the work performed. A recommendation that you display increases trust among your potential customers.

Although feedback can sometimes contain negative aspects and be difficult to receive, it provides tremendous insight into how your work can become even better for your next assignment. So, after each completed task – send out a request for feedback and nurture it well. Why not publish the feedback on social media, in your quote, or in your email signature? Hubspot, an American CRM system, mentions on its website that 88 percent of consumers trust user reviews as much as personal recommendations.

Reduce Unnecessary Admin

Freelancers tend to charge a higher hourly rate than those with traditional employment. The higher hourly rate is partly because the number of billable hours is rarely 100 percent of a workweek. The reasons for this are many, but one reason is that a certain portion of your time will be consumed by administrative tasks.

Typically, you cannot charge your client for the time you spend on administrative tasks such as scheduling, answering emails, bookkeeping, and sending invoices. Therefore, it is important to review which administrative tasks take up a lot of your time and then try to streamline and minimize these.