Experienced developer, but no freelance portfolio — how hard is it to get started?
Hey everyone!
I’ve been working as a software developer for a few years, mostly in established companies, and lately I’ve been thinking about exploring freelancing on the side — especially web apps and Shopify/e-commerce development.
I’m pretty comfortable on the technical side, but the business side is completely new territory for me. I don’t really have a freelance portfolio yet since most of my experience comes from company projects, so I’m curious how much of a barrier that actually is when trying to land the first few clients.
I’d love to hear from people who made a similar transition. How did you get your first clients, and at what point did freelancing start becoming meaningful income for you?
I’m also curious about Shopify specifically. It seems like an interesting niche, but I’m still trying to understand what kind of development work businesses actually pay freelancers for and whether it’s a good space to specialize in.
Not necessarily looking to quit my job tomorrow — mostly trying to understand what this path realistically looks like from people who are already doing it.
Would love to hear your experiences!