5 Simple Ways To Make More Money As A Freelancer In 2025

Introduction.

Freelancing has exploded over the past few years.

More people are choosing to work for themselves, control their time, and skip the 9-5. But here’s the thing: while freelancing gives you freedom, it also means you’re responsible for your income.

You don’t get a steady paycheck. You have to chase clients, manage your marketing, and plan for your future—all at once.

The good news? Making more money as a freelancer isn’t about working longer hours. It’s about working smarter.

You can earn more without burning out if you know where to focus. I’ve been freelancing for years, and I’ve tested all kinds of strategies.

Some worked great, some flopped hard. So I’m sharing the five methods that made a real difference to my income—and could help yours, too.

Let’s get into it.

1. Raise Your Rates—And Stick To It

This one seems simple, but a lot of freelancers struggle with it. I used to feel weird about asking for more money.

I’d think, What if the client says no? What if they find someone cheaper? But here’s the truth: if you’re delivering quality work, you should be charging more.

How to do it:

Start by checking what others in your niche are charging. Sites like Upwork’s Rate Calculator or Glassdoor give a solid starting point.
Don’t just raise your rates randomly. Explain your value. “I’ve improved my skills,” or “I’m getting results faster” are both solid reasons.
Practice saying your new rate out loud. Confidence matters more than you think.

Quick stat: A 2024 report by Payoneer showed that freelancers who regularly adjusted their rates earned 28% more than those who didn’t.

2. Find Better Clients, Not Just More

You don’t need 20 clients to make a good income. You need the right ones—clients who value your work, respect your time, and pay well.

Tips to find them:

Stop relying only on job boards. Instead, build a strong LinkedIn profile and actually connect with people. Not just “likes”—comment, share your work, and be helpful.
Ask for referrals from past clients who were great to work with. A short message like “Do you know anyone else looking for [your service]?” can open doors.
Pitch companies you want to work with, not just the ones posting jobs. A friendly email or message can go a long way.

Bonus resource: Check out Freelance to Freedom for strategies on attracting high-value clients without cold pitching every day.

3. Offer Productized Services

A “productized” service is just a fancy way of saying you sell a fixed service at a fixed price. Instead of charging hourly or creating custom packages every time, you sell the same thing, over and over.

This helped me avoid endless back-and-forth emails and saved hours every week.

Example:

Instead of saying, “I offer web design,” you could offer “A 5-page WordPress website built in 10 days for $1,500.” Clear, simple, and easy to sell.

Why it works:

Easier for clients to understand
Saves you time on proposals
You control the scope, not the client

Want help packaging your service? Try The Futur’s Productize and Profit guide.

4. Build a Simple Digital Product

You’re already an expert in something. Why not create a small product that helps others and brings in extra cash?

This could be:

A template (contracts, social media plans, pitch decks)
A mini-course on something you know well
An ebook or guide

You can sell it on your website, Gumroad, or even Etsy depending on the niche. It won’t make you rich overnight, but if you build the right thing, it adds up over time—and it keeps earning even when you’re not working.

Real talk: My first digital product made $87 in the first month. Now it brings in over $500/month with barely any effort. Not huge, but it’s steady and passive.

5. Use AI and Tools to Work Faster (Not Harder)

There’s no need to fear AI. It’s not replacing you—it’s helping you do your work faster. When you use the right tools, you save time and energy for the creative parts.

Tools I use daily:

ChatGPT for first drafts, email replies, and outlines
Notion to stay organized
Grammarly to make sure my writing is sharp
Toggl Track to see where my time goes

Cutting down admin time lets you take on more of the work you actually enjoy—and that pays better.

Tip: If you’re spending more than 1 hour a day on emails, invoices, or organizing your schedule, it’s time to automate something.

FAQs

How much should I raise my rates each year?

A 10–15% yearly increase is reasonable if your skills have grown or demand for your service has gone up. Always align rate changes with value delivered.

I don’t have time to create a product. Is it worth it?

Start small. A $10 PDF or a Canva template can be created in a weekend. Once it’s live, it keeps earning.

Should I use job boards like Upwork or Fiverr?

They’re okay for starting out or filling gaps. But long-term, building a direct client base is more profitable.

Final Tips & Resources

Before wrapping up, here are a few tools and guides that really helped me earn more as a freelancer:

Indie Hackers: Great for seeing what other freelancers and creators are building
Freelance Writers Den: If you write for a living, this community is gold
HoneyBook: Helps you manage clients, contracts, and payments in one place

And don’t forget to track your progress. Each month, check how much you earned, where your time went, and what actually brought in results. This keeps you focused on what matters.