Being a freelancer is rewarding, allowing you to work at your own pace and giving you the freedom to fit work around your personal obligations. But it can also be very tough at times.
Being your own boss may be enjoyable, but it means that you are responsible for every aspect of your business, from marketing your services and keeping up with the latest trends to networking in your field and taking care of your taxes.
Whilst it may be stressful, there are ways to make life easier and techniques you can use to improve your administration skills and boost your business. Here in this guide, I’ve listed the best books for freelancers currently available.
Packed with expert knowledge and invaluable tips, they will help you develop your talents and take your freelancing career from strength to strength.
The Freelancer’s Bible
One of the best books about freelancing for everyone from consultants to solopreneurs, this excellent guide to managing and growing your business was written by Sara Horowitz.
The founder of the organization that became the Freelancers Union in 1995, she then launched the Freelancers Insurance Company in 2008 and her work has appeared in multiple publications.
Her book The Freelancer’s Bible is easy to read, filled with essential information that is delivered in a relatable way. It contains many tools for success, with practical, step-by-step guidance on a wide range of freelancing matters, including dealing with insurance, taxes, and the virtues of going solo rather than working as a consultant through an agency.
Another very helpful aspect is that there is a website and an entire online community associated with this book, which gives you an extended network of support. Freelancing can be a lonely life, so this is a great way to feel part of a network.
The 4-Hour Workweek
Considered by some to be the go-to handbook for anyone looking to maintain a perfect work/life balance, The 4-Hour Workweek is easily one of the best business books for improving your efficiency.
Its author is #1 New York Times bestselling author Tim Ferris, a serial entrepreneur and angel investor. He has guest lectured in entrepreneurship at Princeton University since 2003 and his tried and tested advice has changed the lives of many, equipping them for success in record time.
The overall premise of the book is simple – stop working harder and work smarter instead.
This is something many freelancers need to hear, as it is easy to become bogged down in the details of managing your own business when outsourcing some of the more basic tasks could lead to increased success in the long term.
You’ll find plenty of actionable steps in this book and lots of real-world examples to check out.
The Small Business Start-Up Kit
Perhaps one of the most daunting tasks in setting up your own business is dealing with the many legal aspects involved. The Small Business Start-Up Kit is one of the best freelancing books to give you the confidence to move ahead, as it clearly explains how to deal with the countless bureaucratic obstacles you are likely to come up against.
Written by Peri Pakroo – a business author and coach who has started, participated in, and consulted with start-up businesses for more than 20 years – it is an invaluable resource.
Not only will it save you lots of time and energy dealing with the intricacies of law and small business, but it will also save you a fortune in legal fees.
It covers absolutely everything you can think of from day one of setting up your business, including choosing the right business name and paying taxes. For such a weighty and comprehensive subject, it is remarkably easy to read.
Your Money Or Your Life
Whilst not solely written for freelancers, Your Money Or Your Life is a valuable resource nonetheless. Praised by Oprah and Grant Sabatier, the founder of ‘Millennial Money’ on CNBC ‘Make It’, the book sets out a nine-step program that is designed to improve your relationship with money.
Recently updated, it covers subjects like managing multiple revenue streams, index funds, freelancing, monitoring your finances online, and tackling tough, money-related conversations.
The advice in it is practical and very useful, with guidance for getting out of debt, saving effectively, investing your savings, and controlling your spending through good habits and mindfulness rather than by following strict budgets.
The book is simply written, with a straightforward and friendly approach that doesn’t feel condescending. It is also refreshing, approaching finances from a holistic point of view and prompting you to rethink your relationship with money.
The Nuclear Effect
The Nuclear Effect may be one of the best books about freelancing for online entrepreneurs, but some of its principles for scaling and growing businesses can be applied no matter what type of freelancer you are.
Its author is Scott Oldford, a mentor, investor, and creator of a range of systems that help business owners generate sustainability. It is this that gave rise to the book’s title, with a nuclear chain reaction being one of the most powerful forces known to man.
Oldford compares the way in which its energy feeds other reactions to the way that kind of energy can be used in business, creating infinite possibilities for perpetual growth.
In the book, you will learn all about the relationship between human behavior and online marketing. You are then given the steps to apply that information to your real-world business and tips on how to adjust the system to work for you.
The Essential Guide To Freelance Writing
Starting out on your own as a writer can seem incredibly challenging.
You may have the talent to produce excellent articles, but who do you pitch them to? Which sort of publication is right for you, and should you commit to a writing career full time? How should you negotiate contracts in order to get the success you desire?
The Essential Guide To Freelance Writing is one of the best freelancing books for writers facing all these questions and is packed with insider tips to help you achieve your dreams.
Written by award-winning journalist Zachary Petit, its style is humorous and honest and the guidance given is candid and to-the-point.
After all, who better to advise on a potential career in professional writing than someone who has already dealt with the many stumbling blocks you are likely to encounter and overcome them all?
7 Steps To High-Income Freelancing
The problem for many new freelancers is lacking the confidence to really sell themselves effectively.
7 Steps To High-Income Freelancing is designed to help you overcome that hurdle by not only showing you how to find high-paying clients, but also how to attract them, impress them online, and gain even more referrals in the future.
It is written by successful freelancer Lori De Milto who started out with no marketing knowledge at all but gradually built her skills until she was able to command a six-figure income every year.
The book is extremely well written, without all the padding and hype you sometimes come across in entrepreneurial guides. Instead, the solid and concise advice is practical, straightforward, and easy to implement, with plenty of actionable tips.
The seven steps it sets out will make your life as a freelancer both easier and more lucrative, and the author even shares details of some of her mistakes so you know the pitfalls to avoid too.
The 1-Page Marketing Plan
Marketing is everything when it comes to running your own business – and one of the best freelancing books for selling your skills is this fascinating guide from Allan Dib.
Easy to understand, The 1-Page Marketing Plan is free from the typical business jargon and written in plain English. The chapters are well laid out, with a summary at the beginning of each so you know just what you will be learning.
Each chapter is packed with effective ideas and tips, prompting to ask yourself questions that you might not have considered before and leading you to look at things in an entirely new way.
Ultimately, this helps you create a strong marketing program – one that will bring in the customers you need and lead to the success you want.
Final Thoughts On The Best Books About Freelancing
This list of the best books for freelancers contains something for everyone, with good business principles that will stand the test of time no matter what your area of expertise.
Whether you are just starting out or are looking to take your freelancing business to new heights, I hope one of these excellent books shows you the steps to take for a more profitable future.
Want to learn more about freelancing and business? Read one of the following guides:
