The freelance developer lifestyle is often romanticized. Work from anywhere, pick your projects, set your rates. The reality is more nuanced, but it can absolutely be worth it if you go in with your eyes open.
Finding Your Niche
The biggest mistake I see freelancers make is trying to be everything to everyone. "Full-stack developer available for any project" doesn't stand out. "I build recruitment platforms" does. Your niche is your moat.
Pricing: Value, Not Hours
Stop selling hours. Start selling outcomes. A recruitment platform that saves a company €200k/year in agency fees is worth €50k to build — regardless of whether it takes you 2 weeks or 2 months.