The hardest part of going freelance isn't the work — it's getting that first paying client with nothing to show them yet. No testimonials. No portfolio. No referrals.
This guide covers 9 methods ranked by speed. Start with the fast ones. Layer in the slower ones as you build momentum.
Before approaching anyone, make sure you have:
Your fastest path to a first client is someone who already knows and trusts you. Former colleagues, managers, ex-classmates, friends who run businesses — anyone who has seen your work before.
What to do:
Script: "Hey [name], I've just gone freelance doing [X]. I'm building my client base and thought of you immediately — either for your own business or if you know anyone who might need [specific thing]. Happy to offer a mate's rate for the first project. Worth a quick chat?"
Your previous employer already knows your work quality and has onboarded you once. Becoming a freelance contractor for them is low friction for both sides.
This is especially effective if you left on good terms and they're likely to have ongoing work your former role covered. Don't ask for your old job back — pitch a specific project or retainer arrangement.
What to offer: A fixed-price project, a trial day, or a 3-month retainer. Make it easy to say yes.
LinkedIn works well for B2B services (design, development, copywriting, marketing, consulting, finance). The key is targeting decision-makers at companies likely to need your service.
How to approach it:
Response rates: Typically 5-15% of cold LinkedIn messages get a reply. At 30 outreach attempts, that's 1-5 conversations — enough to land a client if your offer is right.
Platforms have existing traffic and take the lead-generation off your plate — but competition is high and getting your first review takes effort.
| Platform | Best for | UK-focus? | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| PeoplePerHour | Most service types | ✅ Yes | 20% on first £250, then lower |
| Fiverr | Productised services | Global | 20% |
| Upwork | Tech, writing, design | Global | 20% up to $500 |
| Contra | Tech, creative | Global | 0% |
How to get your first platform client:
Many small UK businesses desperately need freelance help but don't know how to find it. Walk into your high street, browse local business directories, or search "small business [your town]" and make a list.
A direct approach — showing up in person or calling, not just emailing — dramatically increases your conversion rate with small local businesses. They value the human contact and are more likely to trust someone local.
This works especially well for: web design, photography, bookkeeping, social media management, copywriting.
Find where your target clients hang out online and become genuinely helpful there. Not promotional — helpful. Answer questions. Share knowledge. Mention your services only when directly relevant.
UK-relevant communities:
Spend 30 minutes per day being genuinely useful. Over 4-6 weeks, you become known as the expert — and people start asking who to hire.
If you genuinely have no portfolio and no case studies, doing one project for free (or at cost) in exchange for a detailed testimonial and permission to share the work can unlock everything else.
How to do it right:
Writing articles, creating videos, or posting on social media about your area of expertise builds inbound leads over time. Slow to start but compounds well — content you create once can bring clients for years.
This works best when combined with a clear niche. "Freelance copywriter for UK SaaS companies" is searchable in ways that "freelance writer" isn't.
Quick wins: LinkedIn articles rank in Google and reach your existing network at the same time. Start there before building a blog.
Once you have one client, the most important thing is doing excellent work and making referrals easy. Ask every happy client:
Most freelancers who stick at it for 12 months find that 50-70% of work comes from referrals. The first client matters because they lead to the next five.
If you need a client in the next 2-3 weeks:
At minimum effort across all three, you'll have 2-10 conversations within 2 weeks. One of them should convert.
Before you start any work:
Many new freelancers skip these steps and regret it. One bad non-payer early on can be demoralising. See our guide to asking for a deposit →
The Client Onboarding Kit includes kickoff email templates, briefing questionnaire, project scope document, onboarding checklist, and welcome pack — everything you need to make a great first impression from day one.
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