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Masum Billah
Masum Billah

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5 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Freelancing as a Web Developer


Hey Dev Community

After sharing my journey in my first post, I thought I’d dive into something that could help those of you just starting your freelance or dev-for-hire journey.

I’ve been freelancing as a self-taught developer for a while now building sites with React, Tailwind CSS, and the MERN stack. I’ve worked with local clients, sold templates, and even built tools for small business owners.

But I made a lot of mistakes early on. Here are 5 things I wish I had known when I started freelancing as a web developer.

1.Charge for Value, Not Time

I used to charge hourly, and honestly? It was a mistake.

Most clients don’t care about your hours, they care about results. If you can build them a fast, modern website that helps them convert more visitors or automate part of their business, that’s valuable.

✅ Focus on the problem you're solving
✅ Price based on outcomes, not just hours

2.Always Use a Simple Contract

It doesn’t have to be fancy. But skipping a contract (even a basic one) can lead to scope creep, payment issues, and misunderstandings.

A solid freelance contract should include:

  • Deliverables
  • Timeline
  • Payment terms
  • Revisions policy

Use tools like Bonsai or even a Google Doc template.

3.Have a Starter Template Ready

I built a custom React + Tailwind boilerplate that I now use for almost every client project. It saves hours of setup time and helps me stay consistent.

You can do this too. Create your own “starter kit” with:

  • A layout structure
  • Tailwind config tweaks
  • Common components (buttons, modals, etc.)

Not only does it save time — it makes you look more professional.

4.Communication > Code

Good communication beats perfect code every time in freelancing.

  • Update clients regularly
  • Set clear expectations
  • Ask questions instead of assuming

Being a great communicator builds trust and gets you repeat work. Underpromise, overdeliver.

5.Learn Business Skills (Not Just Dev)

I love coding — but freelancing is a business. You’ll need to:

  • Market yourself
  • Handle client relationships
  • Understand basic finances

Even learning how to write better proposals or showcase your work can make a huge difference.

My Go-To Stack for Freelance Projects

For those wondering, here’s what I typically use:

  • Frontend: React + Vite or Next.js
  • Styling: Tailwind CSS
  • Backend: Node.js + Express + MongoDB (if needed)
  • Deployment: Vercel, Render, or Netlify
  • Extras: Figma, Notion, Gumroad (for productizing)

Want to See More?

I’m planning to share:

More lessons from client work

Simple code tutorials (React, Tailwind, etc.)

Freelancing tips & templates

If you found this helpful, feel free to connect or drop your own freelance lessons in the comments

🌐 My Portfolio

🛒 My Template Store

🐙 My GitHub

📩 Email: billahdotdev@gmail.com

Let’s keep learning & building!

— Masum Billah (@billahdotdev)

Top comments (6)

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kaike_m profile image
Kaike Maróstica

Hey man, I really liked your article!
I'm starting my web dev freelancer career this October, after years of studying, and found your journey very similar to mine, since I don't have a tech background either, but I too had a commerce and began programming by curiosity (and ended up liking it).
Looking forward for you next posts!

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billahdotdev profile image
Masum Billah

Thanks a bunch for checking out my article! If it made things even a tiny bit easier for you, I’m really glad.

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kaike_m profile image
Kaike Maróstica

It sure did! If I'm not asking much, I would really like to send a message/email to you with some doubts that I have about the market itself... Some veteran's experience would help me a LOT and I promise It isn't that much haha

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a-k-0047 profile image
ak0047

Thank you for sharing this article!
I started freelancing last year, so I’ll definitely keep these points in mind.

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billahdotdev profile image
Masum Billah

Thank you for reading! It’s always rewarding to know that something I’ve written may have been even a small help to someone.

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kushyarr7 profile image
Kushyar Rashidzadeh

Gotta keep those in mind, Thanks!