[zikzak]

Do you get most work through marketplaces like this or via people you wish have a connection with? I'm really interested in knowing if you could make a "good" living on these marketplaces if you want to sustain a middle class lifestyle as an adult with kids in Canada or the US (let's leave it the most expensive real estate regions). I briefly reviewed this space several years ago and didn't think it would pay enough to even remotely compete with more traditional employment, especially when you consider factors like "doing your taxes" and healthcare.

[acruns]

I am a full-time freelancer (cloud arc not dev). I started cold turkey last April when my firm lost tons of gigs. I started on market places and through that built relationships with other firms that didn't have a cloud architect and they have come back to me with additional work. I have also landed gigs through contacts. Once I got the ball moving it has been mostly non-stop. The taxes and insurance aren't as bad as you might think. The back end work of invoices, taxes, expenses, contracts, so on can all be managed in one app so it isn't a nightmare. It's nice to be able to spot concerning projects and turn them down as opposed to being forced into a project you know is going to be a nightmare. I bill @ 110/hr with no problem. It has also let me spend time giving away my services to some non-profits and startups. I don't think it's right for everyone but I enjoy it.

[rurp]

Thank you for sharing. I would love to know which app you use for invoices, contracts, etc.

[zikzak]

Thank you for this, I have been out of the freelancing game for over 10 years and wasn't sure what it was like these days.

[leifg]

In the meantime I stopped freelancing but I had 5 longer running gigs in total (+ a few shorter term gigs).

All of these gigs I got through different channels.

Only 1 was through a platform, but it was one of those higher playing platforms where you had to go through an application process which included building a project without being paid (I was living in the US while I was working through this platform)

So in essence: I think it's possible but not on all platforms.

[ssijak]

The platform you are talking about is probably Toptal https://www.toptal.com#connect-unmatched-coders-now ?

I work through them and am very satisfied. Though I do not live in the US, rates I can get through Toptal are much higher than local rates. And if you are from US you can set even higher rates. Also there are US only jobs. So I guess if you dont live in the expensive part of the US it is doable.

[ipaddr]

Toptal is not really aimed at the North American market. Last time I applied I could only book interviews at 3-5am.