How to Start Freelancing in Nigeria: 6 Simple Steps

Looking to start freelancing in Nigeria and get paid in dollars?

Whether you’re a student or recent graduate trying to find your feet and get your finances in order, freelancing in Nigeria is a great way to achieve that.

If you start freelancing in Nigeria, you can earn 6 to 7 figures monthly working for clients in Nigeria and beyond. I know this because I was once like you, but I made my first million naira as a student from freelance writing.

In this article I will show you a step by step process to start freelancing in Nigeria without any experience.

But first…

What is freelancing?

Freelancing is simply offering skills to different clients on a short/midterm basis as a contractor without being employed by the company.

 

Who employs a freelancer?

Companies that need certain skills but don’t want to commit to full time employment employ freelancers for short term work.

 

A majority of the time, the work is done remotely. That means the freelancer doesn’t have to go to the physical location of the company. You can do the work from the comfort of your house or from a public workspace.

Do freelancers have a salary?

Freelancers don’t have a salary in the traditional sense, but freelancers get paid when they deliver the work they and the client agreed on.

 

Types of freelancing skills

Freelancing is not a skill in and of itself. Instead it is a service business model by which skilled people offer services to multiple clients. Types of freelancing depends on the skill you’re offering.

 

What kinds of freelance jobs are there?

There are endless jobs. If anybody needs a particular skill, then that is a good pointer to a likely available freelance job.

 

That said, some jobs are more in demand than others.

 

Which freelancing job is in high demand?

Here are some of the most common freelance jobs

1. Content Writing
2. Virtual Assistance
3. Website design
4. Web development
5. Graphic design
6. Marketing
7. SEO

 

How to start freelancing in Nigeria

 

Now let’s dive into how to become a freelancer in Nigeria. If I were to start all over again, here are 6 simple steps I’d take.

Step 1: Get a high income skill.

Getting a high income skill is the first step to becoming a freelancer.

 

I already listed a few skills above. If you’re low on resources, writing is one of the easiest freelance jobs to get started.

 

You just need to understand the basics like

• how to know the pain points of your target readers
• how to write attention grabbing headlines and captivating hooks
• how to appeal to the emotions of your readers
• using active voice, simple words, short sentences and paragraphs, to keep your articles punchy and engaging.

 

Then brush up on the fundamentals of SEO like keyword research so that your articles can rank on Google.

 

If you can do that, then there are people who could pay you for that skill.

 

 

Step 2: Pick a niche

The thing about high income skills is that they can be used in almost any industry. But trying to serve everyone with your skill is going to water down your value.

 

No matter the skill you acquire, picking a niche helps you narrow down to a particular industry or sub industry, so all your efforts are laser focused and appealing to a particular client group.

 

For example, say you learned how to run Facebook ads. Your niche could be Facebook ads for Fitness Coaches. Another niche could be Facebook ads for law firms.

 

I can go on and on. The key here is to find a segment of the market you can serve very well.

 

A tip for finding a niche is to think about passion + profitability.

 

What industries or sub industries are appealing to you that even if you were to work for free, you’d still enjoy it? But also, what niches are in high demand? You don’t want to lean into only passion and end up being a passionately broke skilled person. But at the same time, you don’t want to only pick a niche just for the money, else you’re more likely to burn out or give up before you see success.

 

If you’re a medical student for example, writing for healthcare companies/blogs will be a perfect fit for you. Except you don’t really fancy the medical profession.

 

Step 3: Get a portfolio and testimonials/recommendations

If you’re already experienced in your field or the skill you offer, you just have to arrange your past work into a portfolio. For example, say you previously worked at a company for 3, 5, 10, or 15 years. You can highlight your role in those companies and how you used your skill to grow the business. You can also ask for recommendations from your employers.

 

But if you’re just starting out, I advise you to work for free to build your portfolio. Then get testimonials from the people who you did free work for.

 

One mistake many people make is trying to get paid clients when they don’t have a portfolio or testimonials. Unless the person is someone who knows you and just wants to help, or you’re extremely favoured by God, you’ll be frustrated if you try to do this. Because why should they trust you? You don’t have any proof that you can do what you claim to know how to do.

 

Why should a business owner let you run their ads when you haven’t done it before? And then pay you? Why should they let you design their work or build their website if they can’t see similar things you’ve done?

 

So instead, curate your work into a portfolio if you already have experience or approach businesses and offer to work for free if you’re just starting. Then gather the work and testimonials into a place they easily visit online.

 

For example writers can use Authory or Journoportfolio. Graphic designers usually use Behance. Web developers have GitHub or live websites to prove they know what they’re doing.

 

It’s important to tailor your portfolio to your niche.

 

You can’t say you’re a SaaS writer and then your portfolio has only one SaaS article alongside many other articles across different niches. Instead it should be majorly SaaS articles.

 

A portfolio tip is to not only show the work, but also highlight how it helped the client/company/business, and the testimonials or recommendations the clients gave for the great work you did.

Step 4: Look for work (Online and Offline)

Your network.

You can inform friends, family, and previous colleagues, show them what you offer and inform them that you’re open to freelance work.

 

If people need the skill in you local area you can approach them offline and offer to work for them.

 

Freelance Platforms

There are freelance platforms where people go to hire freelancers. Upwork is one of the most popular.

You just have to set up your profile, verify your documents if asked, and then start applying to work with clients, or hope that someone stumbles on your profile and decides to work with you.

The benefit of freelance platforms is that you can access global opportunities and get paid in foreign currencies. The downside is that if you’re just starting out, it’s harder to get clients via these platforms, especially now that the market is kind of saturated.

 

Social Media

You can reach out to people on social media who need your services, show them how you can help, share your portfolio and if they like it you could clients.

Platforms include LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook.

 

Other ways.

Job boards like WellFound. They’re similar to freelance platforms. Companies list jobs, you apply and could be picked. The only thing is that on job boards they’re mostly looking for full-time employees for long-term commitments, not necessarily freelance.

 

Cold emails. You find emails of business owners who need your skill and send them emails pitching your service to them.

 

Step 5: Set up payment systems

When you start working with international clients, you’d need a way to receive your money.

 

How to receive payment as a freelancer in Nigeria?

Payment systems like Chipper Cash and Onboard wallet give you foreign USD accounts in your name, so you can easily receive your pay from abroad.

 

Other payment options include Cryptocurrencies.

 

You can also open domiciliary accounts with your local bank.

 

It’s good to have multiple options. Think of the ones with lower fees and faster payouts.

 

Learn how to use crypto wallets, open virtual accounts with different providers.

 

Step 6: Structure your business

Some people may argue that you need to structure your freelancing business before setting up payment systems and trying to get clients. I agree with them. But the truth is that in practice, many people first find their first few clients and then structure the business later as they try to scale. You don’t have a business if you don’t have clients. So don’t waste time trying to structure the business when you don’t have clients yet.

 

But as soon as you have, it’s good to draft contracts that state the scope of work, deliverables, timelines, and payment terms.

 

Also consider things like setting your rates. You may decide to bill clients per project, or by the hour.

 

How much do freelancers charge per hour?

This depends on your skill, your experience and the market demand. If more people are looking for you, your rate should be higher. It could be as low as $5 per hour, and as high as $100 per hour.

Optional Step 7: Build a personal brand

When you’re known for something, your value goes higher and people will be willing to pay you more.

Building a personal brand is an asset that will help you access better opportunities and get paid hire than the market average.

 

Optional Step 8: Continuously Upskill and Network

The market moves rapidly. Always stay ahead by getting additional skills that people are in need of. Don’t get too comfortable else you could become irrelevant.

 

Also network with others in your industry, not just the people you hope to work for. Join relevant groups in your industry. Many gigs are passed around amongst friends and previous colleagues, before they ever see the light of day on job boards or freelance platforms.

 

Some things to consider before you start freelancing in Nigeria

Ease

People often ask “Is it difficult to start freelancing?” “How stressful is freelancing?”

The truth is that it’s easy to start. But starting doesn’t automatically mean success. Nothing good comes easy, so you’d have to put in the work. But at the same time, it’s not so difficult that you can’t do it. Yes it can be stressful at times trying to juggle multiple projects, communicate with clients, and deliver what you promised, but it’s oftent rewarding.

 

Profitability

All skills are not equal. Some increase your chances of getting paid big bucks. Some highly paid skills in freelancing include copywriting, marketing, and programming.

The type of freelancers who earn the most are those who are really good at what they do, and have lots of testimonials about their work. But that shouldn’t discourage you. Pick an online skill that pays the most like Copywriting and you’d be among the highest paid freelancers in Nigeria?

Which skill is best for freelancing for beginners?

Writing is one of the best freelancing skills for beginners. You don’t need much resources to start. With just your smartphone and free courses, you can land your first client. Writing jobs are among the easiest freelancing jobs to get.

Even as a student in Nigeria you can get freelance writing jobs like I did when I was in school. Later in this article I’ll talk about how to get freelance jobs as a Nigerian student.

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Can I learn freelancing on my own?

Yes and No. I say yes because you don’t necessarily have to pay for a course or mentorship at the start. There are helpful free resources on YouTube and across the internet. By using them and applying the lessons, you can start freelancing on your own.

 

But, it may take longer to see success, and you’re more likely to give up easily if things don’t start working quickly when you’re alone. But getting a mentor and joining a freelance community can ease the process for you, help you avoid beginner mistakes, and start making money faster.

 

Can I start freelancing in Nigeria with no experience?

Beginners often ask “What qualifies you as a freelancer?” “Who is eligible tp be a freelancer?” Maybe they’re wondering if you need to go to a special school and write exams, or perhaps you need to have decade of experience before you can start freelancing. That’s far from the truth.

 

The only thing you need to start freelancing is a skill people need, and the ability to deliver the results they want.

 

For example, you can learn graphic design within a month and land a client 2 weeks after that.

 

The key here is to be able to deliver great work. So if you’ve mastered a skill, you’re free to freelance.

 

Is freelancing a risky career?

I’m going to be honest with you. Yes, freelancing can be risky at times. Especially during the early phase. Freelancers often have something we call feast and famine seasons. Basically, sometimes everything is rosy and we’re even rejecting jobs, we’re getting our worth and just enjoying freelancing. Then all of a sudden work begins to slow down, to the extent that it feels like we’re now begging for work, living off our savings, and thinking about quitting the whole freelancing thing and getting a regular job.

 

The good thing is that in such moments you could get a regular job while you freelance. As a matter of fact, you can even freelance while working full time. Clients don’t really care how you live your life. The only thing is that you should be able to deliver what they expect of you at the time agreed on.

 

I know medical doctors who are freelance writers.

 

But think about this, is there really any job or business that doesn’t have risks?

 

Freelancing and job security

The risks with freelancing are not different from the risks with every other job or business.

Job security isn’t guaranteed. Freelance jobs can last from a few weeks to even a whole year. The downside is that you never really know when the client may decide not to continue working with you, even if you do great work. There are circumstances beyond control. The business may be struggling, maybe there’s a new management, etc.

But like I said, even regular jobs could be terminated at any point. So in life, nothing is really guaranteed.

But if you sit through the uncertainties and continue to deliver excellent work, you’d not suffer as much as in the earlier stages.

 

Some freelancing Platforms

Let’s look at some places where freelancers get paid.

 

Upwork

Upwork is the number one freelancing platform in the world. It is an American company.

 

The aim of Upwork is to connect clients with freelancers across the globe.

 

Freelancers create profiles and can then apply for jobs or be contacted directly by clients. As a freelancer on Upwork, you can also bring your own clients to the platform.

 

Upwork is free to join and it accepts everyone. They only charge about 10% of your earnings as their fee.

 

As a Nigerian freelancer you can join Upwork too and get paid when you land clients and deliver the work.

 

Almost all kinds of freelancing jobs can be found on Upwork. From design to writing, programming, project management, virtual assistance, the list is endless.

 

Fiverr

Fiverr is another popular freelancing platform. It is similar to Upwork. You also don’t need to pay to join Fiverr and it has similar jobs to those on Upwork.

 

Fiverr is also open to everyone and you can join even as a Nigerian and get paid in dollars when you get clients and deliver the work.

 

Toptal

Recently I came across Toptal. I haven’t used them before, but they seem to be nice.

 

Nigerian Freelancing Mentors to learn from

I recently saw someone asking “Who is the best freelancer in Nigeria?”

 

That’s not a question anybody can answer. But, I can highlight freelancers that are killing it, from whom you can learn.

 

Here are a few of them.

1. Gbenga Adebiyi
2. Adeife Adeoye
3. John Iwuozor

 

And my humble self, Tari Yousuo.

 

How to identify a fake freelancer?

There are some people who parade themselves online as freelancers only to sell courses or rip people apart.

Here are some things to look out for.

No portfolio.

The person can’t point to agencies/clients he or she has worked with.

No proof of earnings.

 

How not to fail as a freelancer in Nigeria

Be good at what you do and be able to deliver results.

Keep to deadlines.

Get a mentor or mentors.

Network with other individuals and clients.

Continuously upskill.

Manage your finances well and prepare for dry spells.

Build a personal brand.

 

Frequently Asked Questions about Freelancing

Do freelancers pay tax in Nigeria?

Yes you’re to pay taxes. Get a TIN number and treat yourself as a business. Pay the appropriate tax to the relevant authorities. Upwork asks for TIN during registration, but they don’t deduct taxes from you. It is your duty to be a good citizen and pay taxes.

Are freelancers millionaires?

Yes, millionaires in naira. But being a freelancer doesn’t automatically turn you into a millionaire. The kind of jobs you do and the kind of clients you work with determine how much you’re paid.

As a successful freelancer in Nigeria , you can expect to make at least $500 to $2,000 monthly.

 

Can you make a living from freelancing?

If you’ve found your feet and built a client base, you can live well off of freelancing. Afford your dream vacations, build houses, buy cars and all whatnot.

Which freelancing platform is best for beginners?

I don’t advise beginners to start with freelancing platforms because there’s usually high competition.

Instead, tap into your network, social media, especially LinkedIn and Twitter, and use cold DMs.

You can draw some of those clients to the freelancing platform to build your reputation there.

But if I’m to recommend a platform for a beginner to start freelancing in Nigeria, I’d say go to Upwork.

 

Start Freelancing in Nigeria Without Trial and Error

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