5 Sites That Make It Easy To Kickstart Your Remote Or Freelance Career

• Some workers facing return-to-office mandates and those who have been laid off are turning to freelance work.   
• Freelance job websites are gaining popularity; Upwork and Fiverr generated nearly $550 million in revenue in 2020 — a 37% increase from the year before.  
• Those who need to kickstart their freelancing career have many tools available that can make it easier, including these 5 sites to help find freelance jobs.  

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Many employees who can’t stand the idea of going back into the office are looking for ways to keep their flexibility.  

Others who have lost their jobs in recent mass layoffs are eager for alternate income streams while they search for full-time work.

The good news for these employees is that companies with pared back workforces will need to turn to freelancers to fill temporary project needs.  

In fact, Upwork and the Freelancers Union suggested that most U.S. workers will be freelance by 2027.

This shift is already happening; Upwork and Fiverr generated nearly $550 million in revenue in 2020 — a 37% increase from the year before.

Launching a freelance career can feel daunting if you don’t know where to start, but there are sites that make it easier.  

Here are some of the best sites to find remote jobs:  

Flexjobs

FlexJobs was founded about 15 years ago — long-before remote work was the norm.   

This site screens companies and the positions they offer before publishing them on the site, and ensures that they filter out scams and fake companies.  

To support users through the job process, FlexJobs also offers its members access to tools and resources such as resume reviewing, career coaching, and educational guides.   

FlexJobs is not free, and offers four subscription options: one week, one month, three months, and one year, starting from $6.95 per week.

Fiverr  

Fiverr connects freelancers with clients and guarantees that freelancers will be able to collect payment when the job is complete. This is one of the main benefits of platforms like Fiverr, as there’s no need to worry that the client won’t pay up because payment is processed in advance by the platform.   

This platform categorizes freelancers according to their specialization and ratings from their previous employers.   

All gigs start at $5.00, but can range into the thousands.  

Signing up is free, but Fiverr takes 20% of the purchase amount on every order from sellers.  

Upwork

Upwork has an in-app communication channel that employers can use to talk to or video call freelancers. It also allows the client and the freelancer to share documents and files within the platform.

A huge benefit this platform offers is that payments are built-in to the system; linking your bank account is made easy, and payments are automatically transferred into your account.

Today, Upwork is the largest freelance marketplace platform in the world. Between 2017 and 2021, the company’s total revenue increased by 248%, growing from $202.3 million to $503 million. 

Upwork posts three million jobs per year, and has registered over 12 million freelancers, as well as over five million clients.   

Guru  

Guru has more than two million freelancers and 800,000 employers listed. The site’s massive database has freelancer verification, and secure payments means that the process of hiring and being hired is reliable for both employers and freelancers.   

Freelancers who use this site can bid for long- or short-term projects and set a fixed price for each project. The site ensures freelancers get paid timely with SafePay protection. 

Guru is free to join as a freelancer or an employer, but it takes a fee from both parties on every paid invoice. Guru offers paid membership plans as well that include more tools for users to use.   

Remote.co 

Remote.co is primarily a resource for companies hoping to grow their remote teams, but it also offers freelance jobs.   

It also has a section dedicated to entry-level remote jobs. This site has an impressive resource center with advice for remote workers as well as freelancers.  

Advertised positions on this site are categorized according to their industry to make them easier for job seekers to find.