The 25 Best Freelance Jobs for Building an Actual Business

The 25 Best Freelance Jobs for Building an Actual Business

Forget the “four-hour workweek” fantasy. 

The endless lists of “easy” freelance jobs are a trap. 

Real freelancing isn't a job; it's building a business of one that solves an expensive problem. 

This isn't one of those lists. It's a strategic breakdown of the 25 best freelance jobs, chosen for their high profit margins and scalability. 

Forget the race to the bottom on Upwork. This is a guide to picking a high-value skill, mastering it, and learning how to sell it.

Creative & Design Freelance Jobs

This is the home turf for many, but it's also brutally competitive. Success here isn't just about talent; it's about being a commercial artist who understands business goals.

1. Graphic Designer

A Graphic Designer creates visual assets for businesses. This goes beyond logos to include brochures, social media graphics, packaging, and sales decks. You are a visual problem-solver.

It’s a strong freelance choice because every business needs design work to look credible, from the local plumber to a global tech firm. The demand is constant.

• Average Rates: £35 – £90 / hour ($45 – $110 / hour)
• Essential Skills: Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign), Figma, understanding of typography, colour theory, and print processes.
• Reality Check: You will spend less than 50% time designing. The rest is client communication, revisions, and finding the next project. Get good at the admin, or you'll fail.

2. UI/UX Designer

A User Interface (UI) / User Experience (UX) Designer focuses on how digital products look, feel, and function. UI is the visuals (buttons, layouts), while UX is the overall experience and usability. You make software not just usable, but enjoyable.

This field is exploding because a bad user experience can kill a company. Businesses will pay a premium for designers who can reduce user frustration and increase conversions.

• Average Rates: £50 – £150 / hour ($65 – $180 / hour)
• Essential Skills: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, wireframing, prototyping, user research, and a deep sense of empathy for the end-user.
• Reality Check: You are not just making things pretty. Your work must be defended with data, user testing, and business objectives. You're just a pixel-pusher if you can’t explain the why behind your design choices.

3. Web Designer (with a Webflow/Shopify focus)

A modern Web Designer builds marketing websites, often using powerful platforms with more creative control than old-school WordPress templates. You translate a company's brand into a functional, lead-generating online presence.

Specialising in platforms like Webflow or Shopify is key. It positions you as an expert in a high-demand ecosystem, allowing you to charge more than a generalist “WordPress designer.”

• Average Rates: £45 – £120 / hour ($55 – $150 / hour); projects often billed at £3,000 – £15,000+.
• Essential Skills: Webflow, Shopify Liquid, Figma, basic understanding of HTML/CSS, and a firm grasp of conversion rate optimisation (CRO).
• Reality Check: Clients will come to you with vague ideas and expect you to read their minds. Your most valuable skill is creating a structured design process that extracts the necessary information and manages expectations from day one.

4. Video Editor

A Video Editor takes raw footage into a compelling final product for YouTube, social media, advertisements, or corporate training. You are a storyteller who works with pacing, sound, and visuals.

Video is the most engaging content format online. Companies are creating more of it than ever, and most don't have the in-house skill to make it look professional.

• Average Rates: £40 – £100 / hour ($50 – $125 / hour)
• Essential Skills: Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, motion graphics (After Effects), audio mixing, and colour grading.
• Reality Check: This work is incredibly hardware-intensive. A significant portion of your earnings will be reinvested into a powerful computer, fast storage, and software subscriptions. Price accordingly.

5. Brand Strategist

A Brand Strategist works with businesses before the design process even starts. You define the company's positioning, messaging, target audience, and competitive landscape. You create the blueprint for the brand's identity.

This is one of the highest-value creative services because it directly influences every marketing and sales decision the company makes. We know a thing or two about this at Inkbot Design.

• Average Rates: Project-based, rarely hourly. Projects range from £5,000 – £25,000+.
• Essential Skills: Market research, competitive analysis, workshop facilitation, strong communication, and the ability to synthesise complex information into a clear, actionable plan.
• Reality Check: You cannot become a brand strategist overnight. This role requires years of experience in design, marketing, or business. It’s a career to grow into, not start with.

Marketing & Sales Best Freelance Jobs

If creatives build the assets, marketers get them in front of the right people. These roles are often easier to tie directly to revenue, making them highly valuable.

6. SEO Specialist

An SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) Specialist helps businesses rank higher on search engines like Google. This involves technical site audits, keyword research, content strategy, and link building. You get your clients found by customers who are actively looking for them.

Good SEO generates “free” organic traffic, which is the holy grail for most businesses. It’s a complex, ever-changing field that companies would rather outsource to an expert.

• Average Rates: £60 – £200 / hour ($75 – $250 / hour); retainers are common (£1,500 – £5,000+/month).
• Essential Skills: Ahrefs, SEMrush, Google Analytics, Screaming Frog, a deep understanding of search intent, and excellent analytical skills.
• Reality Check: SEO is a long game. You will spend months managing client expectations before they see significant results. Communicating progress with clear reports is just as important as your technical skills. Exploring professional digital marketing services can be the right move for businesses that need results.

7. PPC (Pay-Per-Click) Manager

A PPC Manager creates and manages paid advertising campaigns on platforms like Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and LinkedIn Ads. You aim to generate leads or sales at a profitable cost per acquisition (CPA).

This is a direct line to revenue. When you do your job well, clients see an immediate, measurable return on their investment, making your fee an easy decision for them.

• Average Rates: Often a monthly retainer (£500 – £5,000+) plus a percentage of ad spend (10-15%).
• Essential Skills: Google Ads, Meta Ads Manager, Google Analytics, Excel/Google Sheets, conversion tracking, and a highly analytical, data-driven mindset.
• Reality Check: You are managing someone else's money. One mistake—a misplaced decimal point, a wrong audience setting—can waste thousands. This job requires meticulous attention to detail.

8. Social Media Manager

A strategic Social Media Manager develops and executes a content plan that aligns with business goals. This is not about posting pretty pictures; it's about community building, brand voice consistency, and driving traffic or leads.

Many business owners know they should be on social media, but have no idea how to do it effectively. They will gladly pay someone to take it off their plate.

• Average Rates: £30 – £75 / hour ($40 – $90 / hour); retainers are standard.
• Essential Skills: Deep knowledge of specific platforms (LinkedIn for B2B, TikTok/Instagram for B2C), content creation, copywriting, community management, and analytics tools (Buffer, Hootsuite).
• Reality Check: The market is saturated with low-skilled social media managers. To stand out, specialise in a specific industry (e.g., SaaS, hospitality) and focus on metrics that matter (leads, sales), not vanity metrics (likes, followers).

9. Email Marketing Specialist

An Email Marketing Specialist builds and manages a company's email list, creates campaigns, and automates marketing sequences. You nurture leads and drive sales through one of the highest ROI channels.

Unlike social media, a business owns its email list. It's a direct line to their most engaged audience, and experts who can monetise that asset are invaluable.

• Average Rates: £40 – £110 / hour ($50 – $140 / hour)
• Essential Skills: Mailchimp, Klaviyo, ConvertKit, HubSpot, copywriting, segmentation, A/B testing, and understanding deliverability.
• Reality Check: Your success is entirely dependent on data. You must constantly be comfortable analysing open rates, click-through rates, and conversion data to improve your campaigns.

10. Lead Generation Specialist

A Lead Generation Specialist is laser-focused on filling the top of the sales funnel with qualified prospects. This can involve cold outreach, LinkedIn prospecting, building lead magnets, or managing appointment-setting campaigns.

For B2B companies, a consistent flow of new leads is their lifeblood. If you can reliably deliver qualified appointments for their sales team, you can name your price.

• Average Rates: Often performance-based; e.g., a monthly retainer plus a bonus per qualified lead or appointment booked.
• Essential Skills: LinkedIn Sales Navigator, email outreach tools (e.g., Lemlist), CRM software (e.g., HubSpot), copywriting, and persistence.
• Reality Check: This role involves a lot of rejection. You need thick skin and a process-driven approach to succeed. It's more science than art.

Writing & Content Creation Jobs

Words sell. Words explain. Words build authority. You will never be out of work if you can write clearly and persuasively.

11. Copywriter

A Copywriter writes words designed to persuade or sell. This includes website copy, ad copy, product descriptions, sales emails, and video scripts. You are a salesperson in print.

Great copywriting can double a company's conversion rate. It's one of the few skills with a direct, undeniable link to revenue, making it extremely valuable.

• Average Rates: £50 – £150 / hour ($65 – $200 / hour); many charge per project or word.
• Essential Skills: A deep understanding of sales psychology, storytelling, brand voice, and the ability to write concise, impactful sentences.
• Reality Check: Everyone thinks they can write. Few can write compelling copy. Your portfolio, with measurable results (e.g., “increased landing page conversion by 35%”), is your greatest asset.

12. Technical Writer

A Technical Writer takes complex information and makes it easy to understand. They write user manuals, API documentation, knowledge base articles, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).

This is one of the most underrated and lucrative writing niches. It requires a specific skill set—clarity, precision, and the ability to learn complex topics quickly—and companies pay well for it.

• Average Rates: £45 – £100 / hour ($55 – $125 / hour)
• Essential Skills: Extreme clarity and attention to detail, ability to interview subject matter experts, and experience with documentation tools (e.g., Confluence, GitBook).
• Reality Check: This is not a “creative” writing job. Your goal is to eliminate ambiguity, not to be poetic. If that sounds boring, this isn't for you. If it sounds satisfying, you've found a goldmine.

13. Content Strategist

A Content Strategist plans a company's entire content ecosystem. You decide what to create, who it's for, what format it should be in, and how it will support business goals. You make the editorial calendar and the content marketing funnel.

Many companies create content randomly, with no overarching plan. A strategist provides the “why” that ensures their efforts generate a return.

• Average Rates: £60 – £175 / hour ($75 – $220 / hour)
• Essential Skills: SEO, keyword research, audience analysis, content auditing, and project management.
• Reality Check: This is a leadership role disguised as a writing job. You need to be able to think like a marketing director and confidently present your plans to executives.

14. Ghostwriter (for Executives)

A Ghostwriter creates content—articles, books, LinkedIn posts, speeches—for someone who gets the credit. You capture and translate their unique voice, ideas, and expertise into polished content.

Busy executives and entrepreneurs want to build their brand but lack the time or skill to write. You provide the leverage they need to become thought leaders.

• Average Rates: Highly variable. LinkedIn posts might be a monthly retainer (£1,500 – £4,000+). A book project could be £20,000 – £70,000+.
• Essential Skills: Excellent interview skills, the ability to mimic different writing styles, discretion, and reliability.
• Reality Check: Your name is not on the work. You have to be completely comfortable with your client getting all the praise. If your ego can't handle that, stay away.

15. Grant Writer

A Grant Writer specialises in writing applications for funding from foundations, corporations, or government bodies. They primarily work with non-profits, educational institutions, and research organisations.

This highly specialised skill can bring millions of dollars into an organisation. A successful grant writer who builds a track record of winning proposals is worth their weight in gold.

• Average Rates: £40 – £90 / hour ($50 – $110 / hour), or a percentage of the grant awarded.
• Essential Skills: Meticulous research, persuasive writing, budget development, and an almost superhuman attention to detail and deadlines.
• Reality Check: The work is methodical and often bureaucratic. You're working with dense guidelines and rigid submission portals. It's a job for process-oriented people.

Tech & Development Freelance Jobs

If you can build or fix things in the digital world, you have a skill perpetually in high demand.

16. Web Developer (WordPress/Jamstack)

A Web Developer builds the functional backbone of a website. While a designer focuses on the look, a developer makes it work, handling custom features, integrations, and performance.

While platforms are making web creation easier, developers are always needed to handle complex customisations, fix problems, and optimise for speed and security.

• Average Rates: £50 – £125 / hour ($65 – $160 / hour)
• Essential Skills: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP (for WordPress), or modern frameworks like React/Vue (for Jamstack), and version control (Git).
• Reality Check: You will spend a lot of time fixing other people's messy code. Learning how to debug efficiently is a critical, non-negotiable skill.

17. E-commerce Specialist (Shopify/Magento)

An E-commerce Specialist builds and optimises online stores. This goes beyond initial setup to include app integrations, theme customisation, conversion rate optimisation, and improving site performance.

Online retail is a multi-trillion-dollar industry. Store owners are desperate for experts to help them increase their sales by even a few percentage points.

• Average Rates: £60 – £150 / hour ($75 – $190 / hour)
• Essential Skills: Deep expertise in a specific platform (Shopify is a great place to start), understanding of the sales funnel, and knowledge of e-commerce analytics.
• Reality Check: Your value is tied directly to your client's sales. If they invest £5,000 in your services, they expect to see that back (and more) in increased revenue. You have to be comfortable with that pressure.

18. No-Code/Low-Code Developer (Webflow/Bubble)

A No-Code Developer uses visual development platforms like Bubble, Webflow, or Zapier to build complex web applications and automations without writing traditional code.

This rapidly growing field empowers non-technical founders to build MVPs (Minimum Viable Products) and internal tools much faster and cheaper than traditional development.

• Average Rates: £45 – £120 / hour ($55 – $150 / hour)
• Essential Skills: Logical thinking, database design principles, API integration, and deep mastery of one or two specific platforms.
• Reality Check: “No-code” doesn't mean “no-skill.” These are complex tools that require hundreds of hours to master. You're still a developer; you're just using a different language.

19. Mobile App Developer

A Mobile App Developer designs, builds, and maintains applications for iOS and Android devices.

While the “gold rush” of simple apps is over, there is still massive demand for skilled developers who can build high-quality, niche business applications. The barrier to entry is high, which keeps rates high.

• Average Rates: £60 – £160 / hour ($75 – $200+ / hour)
• Essential Skills: Swift or Objective-C (for iOS), Kotlin or Java (for Android), or frameworks like React Native or Flutter.
• Reality Check: This isn't a field you can dabble in. It requires a significant, ongoing commitment to learning complex programming languages and navigating the strict requirements of the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

20. Cybersecurity Consultant

A Cybersecurity Consultant helps businesses protect their digital assets from threats. This can involve security audits, penetration testing, policy creation, and incident response planning.

As data breaches become more common and costly, even small businesses recognise the need for expert security help. The demand for these skills far outstrips the supply.

• Average Rates: £80 – £250+ / hour ($100 – $300+ / hour)
• Essential Skills: Network security, ethical hacking, knowledge of compliance standards (like GDPR), and specific certifications (like CISSP).
• Reality Check: The stakes are incredibly high. You are responsible for protecting a company's most sensitive information. This career path requires high trust, ethics, and continuous learning.

Business, Finance & Admin Jobs

These are the essential roles that keep a business running smoothly. For entrepreneurs who want to focus on their core product or service, skilled freelance support is necessary.

21. Freelance Bookkeeper

A Bookkeeper manages a company's daily financial records. They categorise transactions, reconcile bank accounts, and prepare financial statements. They ensure the numbers are clean and accurate.

Every single business needs bookkeeping. It's not optional. Many small business owners are bad at it and hate doing it, creating a permanent market for freelance experts.

• Average Rates: £25 – £60 / hour ($35 – $75 / hour)
• Essential Skills: Expertise in accounting software (QuickBooks, Xero), extreme attention to detail, and a solid understanding of accounting principles.
• Reality Check: This is a volume game. Most clients will be on a small monthly retainer. To build a significant income, you must be highly efficient and manage a portfolio of many clients.

22. Business Consultant / Strategist

A Business Consultant provides expert advice to help a company improve its performance. This can be in areas like marketing, operations, or management.

This role is for seasoned professionals. If you have a decade or more of proven success in a specific industry, you can package that expertise and sell it for a high price to other companies looking to follow in your footsteps.

• Average Rates: £100 – £400+ / hour ($125 – $500+ / hour); often sold as day rates or project fees.
• Essential Skills: Deep, verifiable experience in a specific domain, strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and excellent communication.
• Reality Check: Your reputation and track record are everything. You can't just declare yourself a “consultant.” You need the case studies and results to back it up.

23. Project Manager

A Project Manager is responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget. They are the glue that holds a team together.

As more companies use remote teams and freelancers, the need for dedicated project managers to coordinate everything has skyrocketed. They bring order to potential chaos.

• Average Rates: £45 – £110 / hour ($55 – $140 / hour)
• Essential Skills: Asana, Trello, Jira, excellent communication, risk management, and the ability to lead without direct authority.
• Reality Check: You often have to have difficult conversations about missed deadlines and scope creep. You need to be assertive and diplomatic in equal measure.

24. Virtual Assistant (Executive Level)

An Executive Assistant (EA) is a strategic partner to a busy executive or entrepreneur. They go far beyond scheduling and email, handling project coordination, client relations, and research tasks.

A great EA doesn't just take tasks; they anticipate needs. For a swamped founder, a proactive, reliable EA is one of the best investments they can make.

• Average Rates: £30 – £70 / hour ($40 – $85 / hour)
• Essential Skills: Discretion, proactivity, tech-savviness, and mastery of communication and scheduling tools.
• Reality Check: The term “Virtual Assistant” has been devalued by low-cost gig sites. Position yourself as an “Executive Assistant” or “Operations Assistant” to attract higher-quality clients who understand your value.

25. Online Business Manager (OBM)

An OBM is the COO for a small online business. They manage the company's day-to-day operations, including project management, team management, and metrics tracking, freeing up the owner to focus on growth.

This is a step up from an EA. It's a leadership role for experienced professionals who understand how an online business's pieces fit together.

• Average Rates: £50 – £125 / hour ($65 – $160 / hour); almost always on a monthly retainer.
• Essential Skills: Project management, people management, knowledge of digital marketing, and a strategic, systems-thinking mindset.
• Reality Check: You are taking on significant responsibility for the health of your client's business. This role requires high commitment and a genuine partnership with the business owner.

Stop Looking for a Job. Start Building a Business.

There it is—a list of titles. But a title is meaningless.

Don't fixate on which one is “best.” Instead, ask yourself:

• Which of these problems am I genuinely interested in solving?
• Which skill do I have the discipline to become truly excellent at?
• Who would pay for this skill, and how can I reach them?

The most successful freelancers aren't jacks-of-all-trades. They are masters of one. They pick a lane, go deeper than anyone else, and learn how to articulate the value of their expertise.

Forget the beach. Focus on building something real.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

If you’re a business owner reading this, you know that finding, vetting, and managing a team of specialised freelancers can be full-time. If you’d rather just get the results without the headache, perhaps we should talk.

Inkbot Design offers comprehensive digital marketing services integrating strategy, design, and execution. See what we offer or request a quote to start the conversation.