Did you know that about 21% of the Kenyan adult population prefers working online due to its flexibility over the 9-to-5 job ( Kenyan Wall Street)? This study was conducted in early 2021, and the number was promising to be even higher by 2025. Online work in Kenya, or rather freelancing, is increasingly becoming popular, especially for young adults and graduates just getting started with their Careers.
With technology, the rise of Mobile Apps, Websites, Artificial intelligence, and so on, the need for remote jobs in Kenya is constantly evolving and attracting quite a number of Kenyans, given that this niche is not yet fully exploited. The best thing about freelancing is that you can still try it even if you have a typical day-to-day Job due to its flexibility. However, with so many opportunities to get started with freelancing, it is not as easy as it seems, as still many of us lack the proper knowledge and skills to navigate the world of working remotely successfully.
Many face fear and anxiety while wanting to explore this route because of their lack of experience. The Good news is that when it comes to getting started with freelancing, it is actually easier for you to get a job without even a single experience. But then it also narrows down to whether you want to put in the effort and work to achieve the right skills needed for you to apply for various opportunities.
If this doesn’t make sense to you by now, this is where this comprehensive guide comes in; we will walk through how to become a freelancer in Kenya in 2025.
What Is Freelancing?
A better explanation of what freelancing is really is that it is a kind of self-employment since it does not require one to be involved with full-time employment in order to be paid. Therefore, Freelancing is a work arrangement where you offer your services to your client on a project basis in a given time duration
Being a freelancer is much like being your boss, and it presents numerous benefits, including:
- It Provides great work flexibility as you can work from anywhere so long as you can access the internet
- It Presents higher salaries depending on the projects available as compared to fixed salaries for Traditional Jobs
- There are many job opportunities that you can work on as long as you have the needed skills, in addition to networking with clients and freelancers in the industry.
How To Start Freelancing
Getting started with freelancing is not hard but not easy at the same time, as it requires you to invest your time in having the skills in demand. It is an art that one acquires by reading and practising. So, to help you get started easily, below are the seven-step processes that you should consider taking a look at this year.
Identifying Your Skills
The secret to succeeding in any remote job as a freelancer is having the right skills and attitude needed for the role that you are interested in. As for this, it all narrows to yourself. Think of something that you can easily provide without struggling.
When you identify your skills, you also need to categorize them into hard skills, which include technical capabilities such as Writing and coding, or soft skills, which might involve time management, Good communication skills, Problem-Solving skills, and such.
Lastly, search and see whether the skills that you possess are what clients prefer. Many freelancing sites provide you with a talent marketplace where you can see the Jobs available and what people are trading. For example, research done by Upwork in Demand in 2024 revealed that some of the most in-demand skills lie in the fields of Data Science and analytics, Coding and web Development, Sales and marketing, Accounting and consulting, etc.
Choosing Your Niche
Once you identify your skills and understand market demand, choose a niche that aligns with your interests and potential clients’ needs. To be a successful freelancer, you need to be a good problem solver, as clients are always looking for someone who can solve their problems. Therefore, instead of going for many things at once, limit yourself only to a narrow area, especially on something that you think you are good at or you can be an expert at.
Building Your Online Presence
The way the world of freelancing works is, at least, that you have to have some proof that shows you are kinda good at what you claim to be an expert at. And this, by the way, applies to whether you have or without any experience. To stand out, you can start by creating an amazing portfolio that shows the past projects that you have worked on and delivered successfully.
Even if you don’t have any experience, you can include the personal projects that you are working on; for example, if I was looking for a writing gig, I could write a few articles and put them on the platform to show that I am truly the right candidate. The same is true if you are a Graphic designer, web developer, etc.
Some of the best platforms that you can use to host your portfolio for potential clients are Behance or Dribbble. To win clients, make sure that your portfolio stands out with features such as one you work, two some of the testimonials from the people you have worked with, Mockups and so on
Marketing Yourself
Having a portfolio does not help you win clients, but rather, marketing yourself contributes much to your freelance journey. If you have joined any Frelalnce platform, a good way to market yourself is by setting up your profiles on these various accounts. When you are creating your profile, make sure to have the following in check:
- Choose a clear and Professional Profile Picture to build trust.
- Write a very attractive Bio that stands out; you can achieve this by including your skills and what makes you unique in your area of interest.
- List the services that you offer and be very specific so as to attract the right clients.
Lastly, to make clients easily see your profile, make sure that it is optimized for search; you can try using Keywords related to your niche. For example, as a content writer, I would use terms like SEO content writer, blog post writer and so on. If you are having a hard time coming up with relevant terms related to your Skills, ChatGPT might be able to help you in this case.
Networking and Finding Clients
Freelancing was not a well-explored market in previous years in Kenya. However, with the significant adoption of technology and global availability, finding the right clients can be quite challenging at times. Still, it is not as hard as it sounds.
You can use various social media platforms to win clients; a good example is LinkedIn, known for connecting with professionals and even Job searches. To stand out, create a very professional profile, as we have covered in the article, to help you find the right clients.
In addition, join various Facebook groups in Kenya based on the Job you are searching for to find common people. Also, try to take a look at the various Job boards in Kenya, such as MyJobMag or even BrighterMonday, to find clients.
Finding clients also means that you have to prioritize building relationships rather than focusing on money and work first. Close and Mutual relationships can establish trust with your clients, hence leading to referrals that can provide you with many opportunities if they arise.
Continue Enhancing Your Skills
It is clear by now that having the right skills is what will make you succeed in the world of freelancing. Therefore, you should remember that clients are always on the lookout for people who stand out with the increasing competition. How can you stand out? First, start by committing yourself to learning constantly; there are very many online platforms today, like Coursera, Udemy, and Brilliant, that you can leverage to upskill in what you are interested in and even earn certifications upon completion as an added advantage.
Joining Professional Communities
A better way to find Work and continue learning is to look for people with whom you share a common objective. This platform will not only give you a chance to grow from a beginner to an experienced freelancer but also a chance to be seen by Clients who are in the forms. To stand out, don’t be afraid to engage your colleagues, ask questions, engage in community discussions, share what you even Know and, most important, accept to be always corrected.
How to scale a freelance business
As much as freelancing provides you with the flexibility to work anywhere and at any time to be so good, you need to understand how to manage it very well. Below are some of the things that you should also keep in check always:
Setting Rates and Invoicing
When it comes to paying, you need to understand how it works, you may not want to overcharge or also be underpaid at the same time. Therefore, to be safe, research over and over again to understand the rates for similar freelancers in your niche pay. When you are getting started, it is safe to start with a much lower pay than the rest so as to win clients. Then, with time, you can revise your charges as your worth increases.
Also, master how to create proper invoices for your clients. There are many tools online, including PayPal, that can assist you with that. A good invoice as a freelance should have the following details:
- Your name and contact information
- Client’s details
- A detailed list of services provided
- Payment terms and due dates
Time Management
When working on various projects as a freelancer, prioritize delivering projects before the set due time as per the terms of the agreement with your client. Late submissions may cement your reputation as unworthy, leading to negative reviews and even the loss of future clients. Therefore, to stay updated, you can use tools like Trello or Asana, which are known for enhancing productivity by helping you track the progress of tasks and deadlines.
FAQs
How do I start freelancing with no experience?
You do need to have experience to be good at freelancing in Kenya. As we have seen in the article, the steps to becoming good at freelancing involve following a seven-step process, which is:
- Identifying Your Skills
- Choosing Your Niche
- Building Your Online Presence
- Marketing Yourself
- Networking and Finding Clients
- Continue Enhancing Your Skills
- Joining Professional Communities
Does freelancer pay through Mpesa?
Freelance is a Remote Job site in Kenya that offers various work; however, if it pays via M-Pesa, the answer is No. If you are considering a remote site that pays via M-Pesa in Kenya, it is Upwork. However, many related sites still accept virtual cards. Here, you can use the M-Pesa Global Card.
What freelance jobs can I do without experience?
They are as follows:
- Content Writing
- Data Entry
- Virtual Assistance
- Social Media Management
- Transcription
- Graphic Design
- Online Tutoring
- Voiceover Work
- Selling Digital Products
- Website Testing
Do freelancers pay tax in Kenya?
Yes, Freelancers in Kenya are required to file their income tax by June 30th every year. Although it is hard to Track, at times, KRA has resorted to taxing the various freelance platforms directly. Thus, the earnings of freelancers in Kenya are usually subtracted from their pay to account for Tax.
Wrapping-Up
Well we hope that this article has given you a Jumpstart concerning Freelance business in Kenya. The best part with online working is that you can even start even if you have no prior experience, making it easy for many to join n so long you are willing to follow the Steps that we have covered in the Guide. We wish you all the best in your Freelalcning journey; however, if you need any assistance with getting started, please comment below in the comment section, and we will guide and assist you.
