Laid Off? Here’s a Step-by-Step Plan to Start Freelancing Fast

Publication Date

March 28, 2025

Summary

This is the exact roadmap I’d follow to rebuild consistent income through freelancing – with simple steps, free tools, and a low-lift approach designed to get results without burning out

⏭️ Laid Off? Here’s What to Do Next: A Step-by-Step Freelance Roadmap

1. Pick a Niche (Even If It’s Temporary)

You don’t need to find your forever-niche right away. You just need a focus—something to help you identify the types of clients and projects you want to go after.

A niche makes your outreach easier, faster, and more effective.

⚡️ Free workshop + workbook to help you pick a niche →

2. Choose 1–3 Services to Offer

Don’t overcomplicate this. Choose services that:

You enjoy
You’re at least decent at
Businesses are already paying for

This makes it easier to create a focused portfolio, write your website copy, and talk about your offer confidently.

⚡️ Free workshop + workbook to help you pick services →

3. Build a Portfolio with 3+ Pieces Per Service

Create 3 sample projects per service to showcase your skills. These should:

Reflect the kind of work you want to get paid for
Speak to your ideal client’s goals or pain points
Not include real client names/logos unless you have permission

⚡️ Free workshop + workbook on portfolio building coming soon →

4. Set Up Your Business (Without Overwhelm)

Don’t let the legal and financial stuff slow you down. Focus on the essentials:

EIN or business registration (depending on your state)
Business bank account
Bookkeeping system
Contract template

⚡️ Use this free Business Setup Checklist →

5. Optimize Your Online Presence

No need for perfection—just make sure your digital footprint looks legit. Focus on:

A clear, client-facing LinkedIn profile (Need help? I offer $25 profile critiques)
A simple 1-page site (Notion or Canva is perfect)
A professional email signature
10–20 LinkedIn posts you can schedule or post over your first month

6. Build a List of 200+ Potential Clients

This part can feel intimidating, but it’s where things start to click. Be specific. Think:

Niche industry
Company size
Marketing team structure
Current hiring or funding status

⚡️ I walk through this in a quick tutorial inside the Freelance Resource Library →

OR you can try my Big Fish Method to start →

7. Start Your “Getting Clients” Routine

The key to freelance income is consistency—not just luck.

Your weekly routine should include:

Sending LinkedIn connection requests
Writing intro messages + follow-ups
Posting value-driven content
Booking coffee chats or discovery calls

⚡️ Get all of this in The Get Clients Guidebook + LinkedIn Webinar →

🙋‍♀️ FAQ: Freelancing After a Layoff

Q: How quickly can I replace my income after getting laid off?

A: It depends on your outreach consistency, niche, and network. Most freelancers I coach land their first client within 30–90 days.

Q: What if I don’t have any past clients or portfolio pieces?

A: Start with samples (they’re called “spec pieces” in the freelance world). You don’t need past clients to create a compelling portfolio – just focus on demonstrating your skill with strategic, niche-specific samples that are perfect for your ideal client. I teach this in my free Portfolio Workshop.

Q: Do I need a website before I start pitching clients?

A: Nope! A strong LinkedIn profile or a 1-page Notion site is more than enough to get started.

Q: I’m not sure I can do this on my own. Where can I get support?

A: Check out my free bootcamp, resource library, and community. I also offer 1:1 coaching, a service that gets clients for you, and an affordable website service. Not sure which is right for you? I’m always happy to point you toward the right workshop, template, or guide for where you’re at – just shoot me an email!