HACKER Q&A
📣 Goten1974

How can I increase my revenue by the end of the year?


I’m a freelance web designer/developer, but I currently generate most of my income due to one big long-standing contract. This pays my bills, but I’m approaching a house purchase next year and the total amount of income I bring in in 2020 will massively affect the mortgage I can get.

Next to my main contract I have some stuff on the internet generating some regular revenue via Adsense.

I can’t renegotiate my contract at the moment, and I can probably maneuver my Adsense stuff a bit to make it more efficient.

Are there some other ways I could use my skill set that could help me improve my financial situation? Given the short time frame I’m looking for things that I can do with my skill set but don’t require a long time to spin up, and ideally generate significant returns.

Any suggestions?

  👤 ta1548177231 Accepted Answer ✓
Launder money. Get a friend to buy $100k of services from you. Then give them the money back.

This will cost you the taxes, so up to you if it's worth it.

👤 duxup
Do you want to have a mortgage that is larger than your income otherwise might support?

I'm not sure that's a wise choice.

As for your skills, we would need to know what they are to even have a clue what you could do with them...

👤 claudiulodro
The most straightforward way would be to find and take on additional freelance contracts, wouldn't it? Why is that not the first thing on your list? Alternately (and it might be trickier), you could raise your freelance rates. Those two levers seem like the most direct way you could increase your revenue.

Advertising (especially programmatic advertising) isn't having a good year.

👤 alexmingoia
Why do you want to get a mortgage that you may not be able to service? Consider whether you’re creating unnecessary problems for yourself.
👤 juddlyon
Here's some ideas.

Ask the existing client for referrals if you can.

Set up a landing page at Carrd or Github Pages or wherever with your experience/skills if you don't already have a website. Make sure your LinkedIn is up to date.

Reach out to digital agencies and software shops for overflow work. They always need help. It's not great for building your name and isn't terribly lucrative but you can definitely drum up projects fairly quickly. And they will be repeat clients since they have a client roster to tap into.

Almost every tech these days has a Slack or Discord with an informal job board. Monitor and respond.

Reach out to established freelancers. The good ones are busy and get more leads than they can service.

Upwork isn't terrible if you target the high end and pick a specialty. Do not try to compete on price or list yourself as a jack of all trades.

Reach out to recruiters and let them know you're looking for additional contracts.

Post on the monthly HN Looking for work thread.

Good luck!

👤 rotterdamdev
I'd put that mortgage aside for 2 years, we are heading into a global recession. Prices will plummet.
👤 jnwatson
What's your skill set?