Going Freelance in Tech

Tech freelancing offers freedom and better income, but it adds a second job on top of the first one: finding clients, pricing, contracting, invoicing, getting paid. Many quit because they never took this part seriously.

This guide continues on from Becoming a web developer in Africa.

01 — Positioning

Being chosen for a reason

"I do everything" attracts no one. A skill + sector pairing ("mobile payment integration for e-commerce merchants", "fast WordPress sites for law firms") is what makes word of mouth possible.

02 — First clients

Where you can actually go

• Your close network, former employers, agencies that subcontract.
• Content that demonstrates expertise (case studies, articles).
• Freelance platforms to get started, while keeping the goal of moving beyond competing on price alone.

03 — Pricing

Day rate and flat fee

Start from your target annual income, divide it by the days you can actually bill (after removing time off, prospecting, admin work). A flat fee suits clearly defined scopes; otherwise, a day rate protects you from scope creep.

04 — The contract

Written, always

• Scope, deliverables, deadlines, acceptance conditions.
• Price, payment schedule, a deposit up front.
• Ownership of the code and access rights upon delivery and payment.
• What isn't included, and the rate for out-of-scope requests.

05 — Getting paid and lasting

Cash flow and workload

A systematic deposit, milestone invoicing, a reliable way to receive international payments, a cash reserve. And an even workload: turning down one project too many beats missing both.

06 — Frequently asked questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Should you set up a company right away?

Depending on the country, a simple status is enough to get started. What matters is being able to invoice legally and get paid, including from abroad.

How do you set your first rate?

From your target income and your real billable days, not by copying a rate seen elsewhere. You adjust it later with experience.

Platforms or direct clients?

Platforms help you get started; the goal is to build a reputation that gets you direct clients, who pay better and stay loyal longer.

07 — Resources & links

Where to go, concretely