11 Keys to a Successful Freelance Career

Covering these essentials will make self-employment more enjoyable and more sustainable.

Marilyn Lewis • January 16, 2018

Rawpixel.com / Shutterstock.com

Many a freelancer has plunged right into business without much preparation. Some swim, others sink.

A blind plunge might work, but it’s chancy. Nailing down the following 11 things before making the leap will help you stay afloat in your new venture.

811 Active Deals

Walmart discounts a selection of in its . Choose in-store pickup to avoid the $5.99 shipping fee, or get free shipping with orders of $35 or more. A couple of best bets:

for $129 (pictured, $70 off)

for $179.99 ($46 off)

Walmart Fall Clearance

Walmart discounts a selection of clearance items in its Fall Clearance Sale. Choose in-store pickup to avoid the $5.99 shipping ... Read more.

Updated: 5 days 13 hr ago

Refurb Surface 3 Tablets at Dell Refurb Store: 50% off + free shipping

Dell Refurbished Store cuts 50% off a selection of refurbished via coupon code "SURFACE3DEAL", with prices starting at $249.50 after coupon. Plus, the same code bags free shipping. Some exclusions apply, including clearance items. Deal ends October 31.

Note: These items are covered by a 100-day Dell warranty.

Refurb Surface 3 Tablets at Dell Refurb Store: 50% off + free shipping

Dell Refurbished Store cuts 50% off a selection of refurbished Microsoft Surface 3 Tablets via coupon code "SURFACE3DEAL", with prices ... Read more.

Updated: 2 days 16 hr ago

1850 Coffee by Folgers offers an for free when you fill out this . Choose from Light Roast, Dark Roast, or K-Cups. Deal good while supplies last. Sample arrives in four to six weeks.

1850 Coffee by Folgers Sample for free

1850 Coffee by Folgers offers an 1850 Coffee Sample for free when you fill out this short form. Choose from ... Read more.

Updated: 3 days 12 hr ago

The Original Dash Cam K-9 1080p Dashcam for $15 + free shipping

NeweggFlash offers in Silver for $14.99 with free shipping. That's tied with our mention from three weeks ago and the lowest price we could find by $51. It features a 2.4" TFT LCD and a 120° viewing angle. Deal ends October 20.

The Original Dash Cam K-9 1080p Dashcam for $15 + free shipping

NeweggFlash offers The Original Dash Cam K-9 1080p Dash Cam in Silver for $14.99 with free shipping. That's tied with ... Read more.

Updated: 7 hr 53 min ago

Lacoste Last Chance Semi-Annual Sale:: 30% to 50% off + free shipping w/ $75

cuts 30% to 50% off a selection of during its . (Select "Sale" from the menu on the left-hand side to see the deals.) Shipping adds $8 or get free shipping on orders of $75 or more. Some exclusions may apply.

Lacoste Last Chance Semi-Annual Sale:: 30% to 50% off + free shipping w/ $75

Lacoste cuts 30% to 50% off a selection of men's, women's, and kids' items during its Semi-Annual Sale. (Select "Sale" ... Read more.

Updated: August 20, 2018

New Balance Men's 1000 Cold Weather Boots for $49 + $1 s&h

Joe's New Balance Outlet offers the in Brown, , or for $49. Apply coupon code "DOLLARSHIP" to bag $1 shipping. That's a buck under our mention from two days ago and the lowest price we've seen. (It's the best deal today by $54.) They're available in most medium and wide sizes from 7 to 15. Deal ends October 18.

New Balance Men's 1000 Cold Weather Boots for $49 + $1 s&h

Joe's New Balance Outlet offers the New Balance Men's Fresh Foam 1000 Cold Weather Insulated Boots in Brown, Grey, or ... Read more.

Updated: 2 days 17 hr ago

Apple Announces New iPhone XS and XS Max from $999 to $1,499

Today, Apple announced its brand new . Both phones will feature:

A12 Bionic chip — the industry's first 7 nanometer processor

3D Touch and a speed-enhanced Face ID

Super Retina display

IP68 water-resistance rating (it's waterproof up to 6.5 feet for up to 30 minutes)

Dolby Vision and HDR10

Dual 12MP rear cameras with wide and telephoto lenses 7MP front-facing camera

Dual SIM card slots

iOS 12

As for their differences, the iPhone XS will have a 5.8" 2436x1125 OLED, while the iPhone XS Max will have a 6.5" 2688x1242 OLED (the largest one ever). Both phones will come in three colors (Gold, Space Grey, and Silver) and three capacities (64GB, 256GB, and 512GB).

Update: Pricing is as follows for unlocked phones:

iPhone XS 64GB for $999

iPhone XS 256GB for $1,149

iPhone XS 512GB for $1,349

iPhone XS Max 64GB for $1,099

iPhone XS Max 256GB for $1,249

iPhone XS Max 512GB for $1,499

Preorders open at 3 am ET on September 15; the phones will be released on September 21.

Also announced today:

Apple Announces New iPhone XS and XS Max from $999 to $1,499

Today, Apple announced its brand new iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max Smartphones. Both phones will feature: A12 Bionic chip ... Read more.

Updated: September 12, 2018

TradePub offers downloads of for free. That's the lowest price we could find by $12. Deal ends October 17.

"The Stop Doing List" eBook for free

TradePub offers downloads of Matt Malouf's The Stop Doing List: More Time, More Profit, More Freedom eBook for free. That's ... Read more.

Updated: 3 days 12 hr ago

Udemy offers the for $11.99. Coupon code "RUBYONE" makes it free. That's a savings of $200 off list price. It features over 30 hours of coding lectures.

Learn to Code with Ruby for free

Udemy offers the Learn to Code with Ruby Course for $11.99. Coupon code "RUBYONE" makes it free. That's a savings ... Read more.

Updated: 2 weeks 6 days ago

ASICS Men's or Women's Gel-Sonoma 3 Shoes for $24 + free shipping

ASICS via Rakuten offers its in several colors (Black/Sulphur Spring pictured) for $29.99. Coupon code "APPAREL20" cuts that to $23.99. With free shipping, that's $2 under last week's mention and the best price we've seen. (It's a low now by $11.) They're available in select medium and extra-wide sizes from 7 to 9.5 12.

Also available are the in several colors for $23.99 via the same code. With free shipping, that's also $2 below last week's mention and the lowest price we've seen. (It's the best deal today by $11.) They're available in select medium and wide sizes from 5 to 12. Both deals end October 22.

ASICS Men's or Women's Gel-Sonoma 3 Shoes for $24 + free shipping

ASICS via Rakuten offers its ASICS Men's GEL-Sonoma 3 Running Shoes in several colors (Black/Sulphur Spring pictured) for $29.99. Coupon ... Read more.

Updated: 2 days 16 hr ago

Halloween Costumes at Hot Topic: Up to 75% off

Hot Topic cuts up to 75% off a selection of . (Click the "up to 75% off" banner to see these deals; prices are as marked.) That yields huge savings on a variety of offbeat costumes that are not easily found at most retail stores. Choose in-store pickup for orders over $10 to avoid the $4.99 shipping fee. (Pickup for items under $10 costs $2.)

Halloween Costumes at Hot Topic: Up to 75% off

Hot Topic cuts up to 75% off a selection of Halloween costumes and accessories. (Click the "up to 75% off" ... Read more.

Updated: 3 days 13 hr ago

Walmart Back to College Sale: + free shipping w/ $35

Walmart discounts select during its . Opt for in-store pickup to avoid the $5.99 shipping fee, or spend $35 or more to receive free shipping. A couple of best bets:

for $149 (pictured, $50 off)

for $279.99 ($120 off)

Walmart Back to College Sale: + free shipping w/ $35

Walmart discounts select laptops, furniture, decor, small appliances, and more during its Back to College Sale. Opt for in-store pickup ... Read more.

Updated: August 21, 2018

High Sierra RipRap Backback for $10 + $2 s&h

Costco offers its members the in several colors (Blue pictured) for $9.97 $1.99 for shipping. That's the lowest in-stock price we could find by $18. It features a 15" padded laptop sleeve, fleece-lined loft pocket, organizer, beverage pocket, and mesh shoulder straps.

High Sierra RipRap Backback for $10 + $2 s&h

Costco offers its members the High Sierra RipRap Backback in several colors (Blue pictured) for $9.97 $1.99 for shipping. ... Read more.

Updated: 13 hr 40 min ago

Serta Dream Convertible Avanzo Sofa for $507 + free shipping

Hayneedle via Walmart offers the in Java for $506.91 with free shipping. That's the lowest price we could find by $123. It converts into a bed and has a hidden storage compartment.

Serta Dream Convertible Avanzo Sofa for $507 + free shipping

Hayneedle via Walmart offers the Serta Dream Convertible Avanzo Sofa in Java for $506.91 with free shipping. That's the lowest ... Read more.

Updated: September 7, 2018

Python Programming Bible Online Course for free

Udemy offers the for $11.99. Coupon code "FREECOUPON" makes it free. That's tied with our mention from three weeks ago, $100 off list, and the best price we could find. It includes lifetime access to over six hours of on-demand video and 13 articles.

Python Programming Bible Online Course for free

Udemy offers the Python Programming Bible Online Course for $11.99. Coupon code "FREECOUPON" makes it free. That's tied with our ... Read more.

Updated: 1 week 2 days ago

Lucky Brand takes up to 75% off select and (Prices are as marked.) Shipping adds $5, although orders of $25 $75 or more get free shipping. Men's and women's jeans start at $19.99, T-shirts start at $9.98, and dresses start at $21.99 $29.98.

Note: Many of these styles are final sale and cannot be exchanged/returned.

Lucky Brand Sale: Up to 75% off + free shipping w/ $75

Lucky Brand takes up to 75% off select men's and women's styles (Prices are as marked.) Shipping adds $5, although ... Read more.

Updated: August 19, 2018

Adidas at eBay: Extra 20% off + free shipping

adidas via eBay discounts a selection of its . Plus, take an extra 20% off when you add to cart. Better yet, all orders bag free shipping. While we've seen stronger discounts from their eBay storefront this year, there are still best-ever (or close) prices to be found here. Deal ends October 21.

Note: See DealNews' coverage of the .

Adidas at eBay: Extra 20% off + free shipping

adidas via eBay discounts a selection of its men's, women's, and kids' apparel and shoes. Plus, take an extra 20% ... Read more.

Updated: 1 day 22 hr ago

Clarks Private Sale: Up to 60% off + free shipping

takes up to 60% off select as part of its . Plus, all orders receive free shipping. Deal ends October 24.

Clarks Private Sale: Up to 60% off + free shipping

Clarks takes up to 60% off select men's and women's shoes as part of its Private Sale. Plus, all orders ... Read more.

Updated: 3 days 7 hr ago

Sony PlayStation Classic Console preorders for $100 + free shipping

Best Buy is offering preorders of the for $99.99 with free shipping. It's the only major retailer currently offering this newly-announced console. It will include 20 bundled games, two controllers, and a HDMI cable.

It's due for release on December 3.

Update: and now match this preorder price.

Update 2: It's now out of stock at Best Buy, but can still be preordered at and for $99.99 with free shipping.

Sony PlayStation Classic Console preorders for $100 + free shipping

Best Buy is offering preorders of the Sony PlayStation Classic Console for $99.99 with free shipping. It's the only major ... Read more.

Updated: 2 weeks 6 days ago

iPhone XR Announced, Priced From $749 for $749

Today, Apple announced its new . A spiritual successor to the iPhone 8, although more similar to the iPhone X, it features:

A12 Bionic chip (shared with the higher-end iPhone XS)

6.1" Liquid Retina 1792x828 LCD display

Advanced Face ID

single-lens, 12MP rear camera with depth control and Smart HDR

7MP front camera with Animoji and Memoji

dual SIM card slots

iOS 12

six color choices, including a (Product) RED version

It's available with three capacity options: a 64GB model for $749, a 128GB model for $799, or a 256GB model for $899. All three will be released on October 26, with preorders launching on October 19.

Also announced today:

iPhone XR Announced, Priced From $749 for $749

Today, Apple announced its new Apple iPhone XR Smartphone. A spiritual successor to the iPhone 8, although more similar to ... Read more.

Updated: September 12, 2018

In select areas, takes $10 off orders of via coupon code "KINDNESS". That's tied with our mention from July as the best deal we've seen on smaller orders from Walmart Grocery. This service allows customers to have their groceries delivered or ready for pickup depending on ZIP code. Coupon ends October 31.

Walmart Grocery Coupon: $10 off $50

In select areas, Walmart Grocery takes $10 off orders of $50 or more via coupon code "KINDNESS". That's tied with ... Read more.

Updated: September 16, 2018

Clearance Hats at Lids for $5 + pickup at Lids

Lids discounts a selection of ( pictured) to $5. Opt for in-store pickup to avoid the $4.99 shipping charge. (Orders of $50 or more also bag free shipping.) That's a savings of up to $23 and the best deal we've seen from Lids this year.

Clearance Hats at Lids for $5 + pickup at Lids

Lids discounts a selection of clearance hats (San Francisco Giants '47 MLB Summerland Cap Hat pictured) to $5. Opt for ... Read more.

Updated: 6 days 11 hr ago

Versace Shoes at Nordstrom Rack: 70% off + free shipping

Nordstrom Rack takes 68% to 75% off select , with prices starting from $175 $179.97. Plus, all orders bag free shipping. A couple of best bets:

for $175 (low by $33)

for $179.97 (pictured, $445 off)

Versace Shoes at Nordstrom Rack: 70% off + free shipping

Nordstrom Rack takes 68% to 75% off select Versace sneakers and dress shoes, with prices starting from $175 $179.97. Plus, ... Read more.

Updated: September 3, 2018

Tomshine 24 LED Wall Lamp for $17 + free s&h from China

TomTop offers the for $16.99 with free shipping. That's $16 off and the lowest price we could find. It features up to 11,500-lumens. Deal ends October 31.

Note: this item ships from China and may take 4-6 weeks to arrive.

Tomshine 24 LED Wall Lamp for $17 + free s&h from China

TomTop offers the Tomshine 24 LED Wall Lamp for $16.99 with free shipping. That's $16 off and the lowest price ... Read more.

Updated: 3 days 11 hr ago

TradePub offers for free. That's the lowest price we could find by $22. Deal ends October 17.

"Hands-on DevOps" eBook for free

TradePub offers Sricharan Vadapalli's Hands-on DevOps eBook for free. That's the lowest price we could find by $22. Deal ends ... Read more.

Updated: 1 week 3 days ago

Bose QuietComfort 25 Acoustic Headphones for $140 + free shipping

Altatac via Rakuten offers the for iOS or for $164.99. Coupon code "SAVE15" drops it to $140.24. With free shipping, that's $8 under our mention from March and the lowest price we could find now by $31. They feature Bose Active EQ and TriPort technology, an in-line microphone and remote, and rotating earcups. Deal ends October 15.

Bose QuietComfort 25 Acoustic Headphones for $140 + free shipping

Altatac via Rakuten offers the Bose QuietComfort 25 Acoustic Noise-Cancelling Wired Headphones for iOS or Android for $164.99. Coupon code ... Read more.

Updated: 12 hr 20 min ago

Lululemon We Made Too Much Sale Deals from $29 + free shipping

discounts a selection of and in its . (Prices are as marked.) Plus, all orders receive free shipping. Men's shorts start from $44, women's tops from $29, women's shorts from $29, and men's shirts start from $29.

Note: These items are final sale and cannot be returned or exchanged.

Lululemon We Made Too Much Sale Deals from $29 + free shipping

Lululemon discounts a selection of women's and men's apparel and accessories in its We Made Too Much sale sections. (Prices ... Read more.

Updated: 3 days 19 hr ago

It's 41 days until Black Friday, and 73 days until Christmas, and you know what that means: Everything will be going out of stock before you know it. Beat the crowds by doing a hefty mid-October shop, and take a look at the five best deals from the last week:

for $1,299 + free s&h

for $28 + free s&h w/beauty item

for $30 + free s&h

: 30% off + $10 off $50 + free s&h

The 5 Biggest Deals of the Week

It's 41 days until Black Friday, and 73 days until Christmas, and you know what that means: Everything will be ... Read more.

Updated: 1 day 11 hr ago

LEGO Life Magazine 1-Year Subscription for free

LEGO offers its for free. Simply sign your child up for an account and you'll receive five print issues throughout the year.

LEGO Life Magazine 1-Year Subscription for free

LEGO offers its LEGO Life Magazine 1-Year Subscription for free. Simply sign your child up for an account and you'll ... Read more.

Updated: August 25, 2018

Python Programming Bible Course for free

Udemy offers the for $10.99. Coupon code "FREECOUPON" cuts it to $0. That ties last week's mention and yields a saving of $11. It includes lifetime access to six hours of video and 13 articles.

Python Programming Bible Course for free

Udemy offers the Python Programming Bible Course for $10.99. Coupon code "FREECOUPON" cuts it to $0. That ties last week's ... Read more.

Updated: September 12, 2018

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