From zero to paid: the exact order to set up a freelance business, one step at a time.
Set up shop
1Build your portfolio & client hub in NotionOne free workspace for your portfolio page, project tracker, and client docs — no website needed on day one.2Open a Stripe accountInvoice clients by card or bank transfer worldwide; payment links take two minutes to send.3Get paid across borders with WiseLocal account details in USD, EUR, and GBP so international clients pay you like a local.
Find your first clients
4Win early projects on UpworkHighest volume of real budgets — specialize your profile and answer fast to break through.5Build a commission-free profile on ContraPortfolio-first marketplace that takes 0% — great as your public freelancer homepage.6Turn LinkedIn into your pipelinePost one useful thing a week in your niche; DMs from it beat any job board.
Deliver & get paid on time
7Send real contracts with BonsaiFreelance-standard contracts, proposals, and scope protection without a lawyer.8Track your hours with TogglOne-click time tracking that turns into client-ready reports.9Invoice & bookkeep with FreshBooksAutomated invoices, late-payment reminders, and expense tracking built for one-person businesses.