What Is the Best Age to Freelance?

Let’s talk about excuses. About it being too early, too late, or not the right moment to start something new. When is it the right moment to start freelancing? What is the sign that we are supposed to get to make changes in our life? Right. There are hardly any external signs. Most of them come from “within,” which is a nicer way of saying that you have to take responsibility for your decisions. It isn’t too early or too late. It’s just that you don’t feel ready for changes. Either because you are scared or because you don’t want to leave your comfort zone. And they’re both very understandable reasons. You just have to stand up to them – instead of wondering what the best age to freelance is. Now, enough with the butt-kicking. 😉

There’s no such thing as “the” best age. At least I’m not the one to tell you what the right moment for you is… It’s up to you to choose when you want to make big changes in your life. What I can help you with is with changing your mindset. So if you think that you are too old or even too young to start freelancing, let me show you some benefits of both younger and not-so-young people to pursue a freelance lifestyle:

Pros of freelancing at a younger age

Young people don’t usually have so many financial responsibilities as older people. If you haven’t built a family yet, you’re not that attached to regular paychecks or school tuitions that you have to take care of.
If freelancing is for you synonym for working while traveling the world, make it now before your future spouse confesses that he doesn’t like planes, or that he can’t stand the idea of a nomading lifestyle.
You may have started your first job, but let’s be honest here. First jobs are mostly the first step to get some experience; they’re not the real deal, so quitting doesn’t have to be a drama.
Besides, you most likely have the energy to keep your day job and work on your business at night!

Hey, you’re young. You have more flexibility and more chances for pivoting. You have time to try, fail and repeat. Whether you want to keep trying to have a freelance life, or you realize that it isn’t something for you, the fact is that, if you don’t try, you’ll never know! So you try and realize that you’d rather go with the security that an employed life offers, so what? Then ditch the freelance idea altogether and go back to your roots 😉

Pros of freelancing at an older age

Older people usually have more authority than younger folks. When you freelance, your source of income comes from customers who expect professionalism and quality. They’re not your boss, who tells you what to do. In fact, your customers contact you as the expert who shows them the path. Not the other way around.
Work experience is something that your future customers will want from you. 100%. And that is something that you can only get if you’ve worked a couple of years in a specific field. Specialization is an advantage, my friend!
I bet you have a wider network and more resources than you did when you were younger and a beginner in the professional world, so consider your contacts and resources as part of your freelance toolbox.
Although your financial responsibilities may be high, you’re probably financially independent – at least from your parents. This means that you know what your savings are and what you can afford. You can even keep working part-time while getting up your business up and running.
Also, if both you and your spouse are working, he could support you for a couple of months during your transition into freelancing.

I know, I know, you may feel ridiculous wanting to start something new at your age. But if you’ve come so far with reading, it means that something inside you is telling you to go for it. So use your age as an asset for your future customers, not as an obstacle for you to start. Your experience in managing different situations in life is something that only years can teach you. Do not forget that 😉

How do you know whether you are ready to start freelancing?

I hate to disappoint you again, but there’s no “being ready” to start freelancing. This is something that you have to want. But there are a couple of questions that you can ask yourself – and that may help you decide:

Are you fed up with your job?
Do you love it to make decisions and think of strategies?
Are you a planning freak?
Would you like to be in control of your time? Work with your own schedule?
Would you like to be location-independent? Work from wherever you want?

If you’ve answered yes to two or more of these questions, don’t overthink it and start planning your next steps! The free Roadmap to Self-Employment may help you! And if you have any questions, feel free to write them in the comments section below 😉