Back in 2024, I was just a regular student in India, scrolling through Instagram Reels after classes — watching videos of people my age earning online.

“I made ₹50,000 just from freelancing!”
“Left my job, now working from Goa as a freelancer!”

At first, I thought it was all fake. But one day I asked myself:
“What if… I could do this too?”

No paid course.
No fancy laptop.
No uncle in the industry.

Just free tools, YouTube videos, and the willingness to learn. That’s how I got started. And if you’re wondering how to start freelancing in India from scratch in 2025 — this blog is for you.

I’ll walk you through the same steps I took — from knowing nothing to getting paid as a freelancer (while still in college). No fluff. Just real talk.

Step 1: Understand What Freelancing Actually Means

When I first heard the word freelancer, I honestly thought it meant working “for free.”
But here’s what it really means:

Freelancing = You offer a skill to people or businesses, and get paid per project.

You’re not tied to one boss or company.
You don’t need a degree.
You just need a skill that helps someone else.

It could be:

• Designing Instagram posts
• Writing blogs or captions
• Editing reels
• Building websites
• Managing social media accounts

And yes — you can start with zero experience.

Step 2: Pick One Skill to Start (Don’t Try Everything)

Here’s where most people mess up — including me at first.

I thought I had to learn everything:
Design, coding, video editing, writing, and more.
I ended up confused and burnt out.

What actually worked?

I asked myself:
“What do I already enjoy doing?”
For me, it was playing around with WordPress and helping friends with website stuff.

That became my starting point — WordPress development.

Your turn:

• Like writing? Try content writing.
• Like design? Try Canva or poster design.
• Love editing? Try reels or YouTube Shorts.

Pick one skill. Start small. Learn deeply.

Step 3: Learn That Skill Using Free Resources

No need to buy courses right away. I started with:

• YouTube – Tutorials for everything (I watched “WordPress website tutorial for beginners”)
• Blogs – Like HubSpot, Neil Patel, or Medium articles
• Practice – Made demo websites just for fun

Choose one platform. Give yourself 7 days to build something.

Even if it’s bad — it’s progress.

Step 4: Build a Simple Portfolio (Even Without Clients)

You’re probably thinking:

“But who will hire me? I don’t have clients or experience!”

I’ve been there.

Here’s what I did:
I made 2 fake projects — a café website and a tech blog.
Used dummy text. Took nice screenshots. Wrote a small intro for each.

That became my first portfolio.

You can do the same:

Skill	Sample Portfolio Idea
Writer	Write 2-3 blog posts
Designer	Create Insta posts for a fake brand
Editor	Edit a 30-sec reel using free stock videos
Coder	Build a landing page or personal site

Put all your samples in a Google Drive folder.
Add: Screenshots, tools used, what the project was about.

Now you have something to show when someone asks, “What can you do?”

Step 5: Find Your First Freelance Client (Without Fiverr)

Most beginners jump to platforms like Fiverr or Upwork on Day 1.

I did too.
Waited weeks… Nothing happened.

But you know where I actually got my first client?

From a WhatsApp group.

I shared my demo project in a college group.
A senior messaged:

“Hey bro, can you build this kind of site for my uncle? He’ll pay you.”

₹2,000 — my first ever income from freelancing.

Here’s where to find clients as a beginner:

• WhatsApp & Telegram groups – Share your skills with friends and local businesses.
• Instagram & LinkedIn – Post what you’re learning or building.
• Fiverr / Upwork – Okay for long-term. But don’t depend on them at the start.
• Local shops – Ask nearby businesses if they want a poster, website, or help with social media.

Start with people around you. They trust you more.

Step 6: Set Your Pricing (Start Low, Then Grow)

My first paid website? ₹2,000.
I had no idea what to charge. I was scared to ask for more.

But that’s okay. Start low. Focus on learning and getting feedback.

My pricing journey:

• 1st site: ₹2,000
• 2nd site: ₹3,000
• 4th site: ₹6,000
• 5th site: ₹12,000 (with blog, contact form, and SEO setup)

Pro Tips for Pricing:

• Use packages:
  • ₹2,000 for 1-page
  • ₹5,000 for full site
  • ₹10,000+ for premium setup
• Always take 50% advance
• Track time so you don’t underwork

You’ll feel more confident as you grow.

Step 7: Balance Freelancing with College Life

Freelancing sounds flexible — but it still takes time.

In my second semester, I had 1 client deadline + 1 internal exam in the same week.
I barely slept. That’s when I learned:

“Treat freelancing like a subject in college.”

My daily routine (simple version):

Time	Activity
7–9 AM	College study / class prep
10–5 PM	College hours
6–8 PM	Freelance projects or learning
9–10 PM	Update portfolio, reply to clients, scroll LinkedIn

Weekends = Project work + content creation + learning new tools

Start with 1 hour per day. That’s enough to grow.

Free Tools I Used (and Still Use)

Starting with ₹0 means smart tool choices.
Here’s what helped me:

Tool	Use
Canva (Free)	Social posts, logos, banners
Google Drive / Docs	Store files, client notes
Blogger / WordPress.com	Demo sites & blogs
Pexels / Pixabay	Free images & videos
CapCut	Video editing for reels
Google Forms	Collect client requirements

Don’t wait for the “perfect” tool. Just start.

Final Thoughts: Start Freelancing Today — From Scratch

If you’re still reading this, maybe you’re like I was in 2024.

A student. No clients. No money. No direction.

But here’s the truth:
You don’t need everything figured out. You just need to begin.

Start with:

• One skill
• One sample project
• One person who needs your help

Your first client might come from a group chat.
Your first ₹2,000 might feel like a jackpot (it did for me).
Your first “thank you” message from a client will feel better than any marksheet.

Freelancing is not about getting rich overnight.
It’s about learning, growing, and becoming independent — one project at a time.

Need Help Getting Started?

📩 DM me on Instagram: @ft.selvakumar
I’m always happy to help beginners. After all, someone once helped me too.