Skills & services
How to define your first small freelance service
Set a clear deliverable, scope and handover before looking for clients.
Make the offer specific
Choose one service you can deliver well, such as editing a short clip or creating a thumbnail from supplied photos. Describe the deliverable in a sentence. “One edited vertical video using your footage” is clearer than “social media help.” List what is included and what the customer must provide.
Show a sample you have the right to share
Make a sample using your own assets or material licensed for the purpose. Label sample projects as samples. Explain the brief and the final deliverable without claiming a customer, testimonial or business result that does not exist. If you use client work later, obtain permission before displaying it.
Set expectations before starting
Specify file format, duration or dimensions, turnaround, revision limit and acceptance criteria. Explain how the customer can request changes. If source files are included, say so; if they are not, make that clear too. Confirm the working arrangement in writing before you begin paid work.
Price the whole task
Consider communication, revisions, exporting and delivery as well as the main creative work. Estimate fees and expenses separately. A low headline price can become difficult to sustain when the scope is open-ended. Use an early project to learn how much time the complete process takes, not just how quickly you can produce a first draft.
Prepare for paid delivery
Check the obligations relevant to your own residence status and work situation before accepting paid projects. Choose a legitimate payment method, document agreed terms and maintain a record of income and expenses. Deliver through the agreed channel and keep customer material private. This guide explains planning; it does not establish legal permission to work.
Useful official resources
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