The Best Books for Freelancers
Starting out as a freelancer? Having a reference manual on your bookshelf will make the process much easier. There are great resources — both books and ebooks — that will provide you with all the information you need to start freelancing in one place. From what you need to get started through how you can continue to grow your business, these books will provide any freelancer with a wealth of information.
How to be a Rockstar Freelancer
FreelanceSwitch’s own guide to freelancing offers a great starting point for anyone just starting as a freelancer. How to be a Rockstar Freelancer was sritten by Cyan and Collis Ta’eed, the masterminds behind FreelanceSwitch.
This ebook goes far beyond the creative aspects of the business, giving practical advice on the difficult situations a new freelancer can face: from managing your budget on a freelancer’s changing income to balancing work from multiple clients, How to be a Rockstar Freelancer lets you get down to the details of working as a freelancer without worry.
- Available as an ebook or a paperback
- 212 pages
- $29 (ebook) or $35 (paperback)
- Purchase How to be a Rockstar Freelancer
The Principles of Successful Freelancing
When you’re making the transition from being an employee to being a freelancer, you face more than a few changes in how you do things. The Principles of Successful Freelancing will walk you through those adjustments, helping you to make a smooth transition. In the ebook, Miles Burke offers an education on the business end of freelancing, with advice on maintaining balance in your life and the other emotional aspects of freelancing added in. The Principles of Successful Freelancing will help you prioritize the steps necessary to getting a freelance business up and operating.
- Available as an ebook or a paperback
- 200 pages
- $29.95 (ebook) or $34.95 (paperback) or $44.90 (ebook and paperback)
- Purchase The Principles of Successful Freelancing
The Unlimited Freelancer
Ready to take your freelancing to the next level? The Unlimited Freelancer offers a guide to expanding a freelance business and increasing your income.
James Chartrand and Mason Hipp, the authors of the ebook, explore several different strategies such as building a team and creating passive income. It’s written in a straight-forward manner — like the blog it grew out of, Freelance Folder — and it focuses on steps that you can take immediately. The Unlimited Freelancer is full of the information you need to take your freelance business to the next level.
- Available as an ebook
- 200 pages
- $29
- Purchase The Unlimited Freelancer
My So-Called Freelance Life
Michelle Goodman has been freelancing for more than 15 years and she’s used her experience to put together a guide to life as a freelancer.
Beyond the useful business advice in My So-Called Freelance Life, there are numerous stories from real freelancers, explaining how they handle their work and showing different alternatives.
The writing in My So-Called Freelance Life has plenty of humor, making it an easy read even for someone taking notes on starting a new freelance career.
- Available as a paperback
- 256 pages
- $15
- Purchase My So-Called Freelance Life
Escape From Cubicle Nation
If you’re thinking about an escape from your employer, Escape From Cubicle Nation can provide you with the plan.
The author, Pam Slim, has put together a guide to transitioning from working as an employee to running your own business.
She points out all the details of running a business on your own, even down to health insurance. And if you’re having some difficulty deciding on just what kind of freelancer you want to be, Escape From Cubicle Nation can help with making that decision as well.
- Available as a hardback
- 352 pages
- $17.13
- Purchase Escape From Cubicle Nation
Creatively Self-Employed
Written by Kristen Fischer, who has been contributing here at FreelanceSwitch for several years now, Creatively Self-Employed offers a realistic look at what you’ll encounter as a freelancer.
Complete with a variety of interviews with different freelancers, the book offers insights into what has worked for freelancers already out there — and what hasn’t.
That information can give you a headstart on your freelancing career.
- Available as a paperback
- 186 pages
- $15.25
- Purchase Creatively Self-Employed
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Awesome recommendation, I own 4 out of 6 now, and I am going to buy My So-Called Freelance Life and Creatively Self-Employed soon.
To me, the best out of the 4 which I own is How to be a Rockstar Freelancer. A very comprehensive book, and fill with Rock Quote which will really inspired you!
Don’t forget Noded by @nofont and @orvet. It changed my way of working with fellow freelancers.
http://www.noded.biz/
Thanks for enlightening me to this phenomena!
S+
Excellent resource list of book for freelancers. I read a sample chapter from Escape from Cubicle Nation by Pam Slim and it’s been on to read list ever since.
Fav’d!
I love books – and this looks like a great list. I’ve personally read one of these books and the others are on my “wish list.”
(If you ever wonder what to get a writer for Christmas, the answer is probably books. . .)
You can never learn too much!
I’ve been reading the excellent ‘Making a living – Without a Job’ by Barbara J Winter, really inspiring for getting out there and making money from doing what you love.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Making-Living-Without-Job-revised/dp/0553386603/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253018367&sr=1-1
And here is a humble e-book offering for UK-based freelancers – http://www.freelanceadvisor.co.uk/2009/02/26/go-freelance-the-guide-to-starting-freelancing
I’ve read Rockstar Freelancer, and it was good, but more for beginners. The Unlimited Freelancer looked like it was for seasoned freelancers, but was more for those wanting to expand beyond self-freelancing, which I have no interest in. Are there any in the middle? Perhaps centered on gaining more clients, etc?
I’m thinking to buy Rockstar Freelancer, it looks pretty cool…
Wow. This sounds like an awesome list. I don’t have even one of them. I have some awesome books, but none of these!
Thanks for the list, Thursday!
Very good set of books. Some of them on my wishlist already. I really enjoyed “How to be a Rockstar Freelancer” – it actually changed everything for me and motivated me to start my own business.
I also liked “Go It Alone” by Geoff Burch – different style, but also very motivating book.
Awesome list, I have actually only read one. I may give the others a shot when I have finished reading the books I am reading now.
Don’t forget “Talent is not Enough: Business Secrets for Designers”…outstanding resource.
http://www.amazon.com/Talent-Not-Enough-Business-Designers/dp/0321278798/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254401863&sr=8-13
I’m always strapped for time. If you had to choose just one of the freelance books above to get stuck into, which one would it be?
For you goodreads.com users, here are the books in one handy list: http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1209241?shelf=freelance-switch
Currently reading Escape From Cubicle Nation and loving it! I was glad to see it on the list as it makes me even more excited to check out the other books you mentioned.
Thanks for this list. I’ve been looking for other freelancers opinions on good reads for a while.
I’ve been setting up my own Web Development business for the last 3 months and have found ‘From Acorns’ by Casipan Woods a great read. Less about freelancing as a web developer but great advice and well written.
These have been added to my wish list, thanks!
Sounds interesting thanks for this post fellow freelancers!
Thank you for the inspiration
When I was starting out as a freelancer, my dear editor who was sending me off into the unknown freelance world gave me a precious gift: the book “Get a Freelance Life” by mediabistro.com and written by Margit Feury Ragland. It’s been an invaluable resource and I consult it frequently when I’m feeling uncertain or even just insecure.
I also own My So-Called Freelance Life, which I also find helpful, but I find the first text more valuable.
For copywriters or other editorial pros, any Bob Bly or Peter Bowerman books are very valuable.
Ilese Benun also has a great book out for designers: http://www.marketing-mentor.com/designers-marketing-and-pricing/home.html
Thank you for listing my book, too. It’s not really a how-to; it’s more of a collection of anecdotes and advice about freelancing in a creative field.
Great list thank you (though I have read few already)
Hey… Any suggestions for free ebooks on this topics.
Have read the first three and would recommend:
“How to be a Rockstar Freelancer”
above any that I’ve read on freelancing for the web. Really compliments the Sitepoint Web Design Kit which has all the documents etc. Found the others to start recycling the same point after three (good) chapters.
Nice list. I ran into a similar post about best books for entrepreneurs at delicious today. I think I grab the last book on your list. It looks useful.
May puchase some these books!
I would also say free agent nation is a good read too!! Here it is on amazon http://bit.ly/3FJAl2
I also highly recommend Barbara Winter’s “Making a Living Without a Job”. I teach workshops on creative self employment and will add these books to my resource list. Thanks for the compilation!
Try Flying Solo (http://www.flyingsolo.com.au) – great website, lots of useful tips and tricks, and they also have a book and annual “live” event. Definitely worth a look.
HTH
Andy Bell
Great list! Thanks for the recommendations. “My So-Called Freelance Life” looks good — the title alone is really compelling!
Ryan
“How to be a Rockstar Freelancer” is an absolute must when you are considering or just started the freelancing business… Great and easy reading with lots of motivation.
Amber,
For books on how to get more clients as a freelancer, try CJ Hayden’s Get Clients Now or Robert Middleton’s Infoguru Manual.
I also have a free (rather large) ebook on how to get more clients at http://www.clientbreakthrough.com
It’s targeted at consultants, coaches & trainers – but will work for pretty much any freelancer.
It’s free until the end of the year.
Rgds
Ian
This is not exactly a “freelance in practice” book, but how good is the book Free Agent Nation by Dan Pink? Specifically from a freelancer’s perspective?
I read several books of these collection. My suggestion is, if you’ve already started your freelance career, you don’t need to buy any book. Practical experience is above all. But if you want to start your career as freelancer, then it might be helpful to read anyone among them.
If you’ve started as a freelancer already you don’t need a book?
Wow – that’s got to be the worst advice I’ve ever read!
Experience is important, but there’s no way your months of experience can match the probably hundreds of years of experience you can tap into from books. Sure, not all of it will be relevant. But an awful lot of it will be.
Personally I’ve been working for myself for over 2 years and I still read at least a book a week on related topics – and I’m still learning.
Ian
Excellent resource list of book for freelancers. Thanks for sharing
Thanks for suggest this one “How to be a Rockstar Freelancer”.. I’d like to be rockstar freelancer.
Great reading list. Freelancing is a great step to becoming a Part Time Entrepreneur
I suggest “The Entrepreneurial Linguist”. Its a great resource for translators.
please kindly send a copy of creatively-self employment book to my mail.thanks
I’ve read how to be a rockstar freelancer, some good points to be taken. Although I cant speak for every book in the list you can never have too much knowledge on the subject if it’s your career path.
I have read creativity self employed-book.this is really helpful.