Should You Freelance on Fiverr?
There are many pros and cons to every online freelancing marketplace and Fiverr is no exception. Fiverr is a good place for people who want a little side income while they build their business elsewhere or want a creative challenge from time to time. While it doesn’t work for everyone, many have earned a decent amount from the marketplace.
To determine if freelancing on Fiverr is for you, consider the following pros and cons:
Pros of Freelancing with Fiverr
The following are benefits from working with Fiverr:
Fiverr Helps You Find Work
It can be difficult to find work as a freelancer. Fiverr makes it easier by allowing you to come up in searches made by prospective clients. If you can create a compelling profile and portfolio, people are likely to contact you from time to time to complete work. While people may not be paid what they are worth, they have the chance to find work in the field that they wish.
Fiverr is a Good Side Gig
Many people frequently earn hundreds of dollars per month completing small tasks for people. While it takes a lot of patience and a lot of work, if you choose to market something you love, you can make money off of a hobby. It is also a good platform for people who want to save for a significant purchase or pay off credit card debt.
You Don’t Have to Bid or Apply for Work on Fiverr
While some freelance marketplaces may take a smaller commission of your work, you generally have to chase down work opportunities by making bids. This can take a lot of time and effort with zero to few results. With Fiverr, the client will find you and contact you, eliminating the extra time it takes to find side gigs.
You Will Be Given a Variety of Tasks
Once you have your shop up and going, you can potentially be contacted my many different clients with various needs. You will always be given a new challenge and the opportunity to step up and deliver your best work. For people who love to try something new or want to stretch and practice their skills, this platform is perfect for getting new ideas and being paid for them as well.
Fiverr Has Decent Support
If you have problems with your account or with a client, Fiverr is easy to contact and happy to help you. They have extensive forums where sellers can also help each other. People are generally very informed and happy to assist you in figuring things out.
It doesn’t take long to set up an account and you can theoretically start earning money from the platform right away.
You Can Earn Tips on Fiverr
Not only can you earn tips from Fiverr, but the platform also reminds the client to consider it. If you go above and beyond for a customer, they are likely to want to give you a little extra for your time. Many people on Fiverr are able to make up for their lower prices due to generous tips.
Cons of Freelancing with Fiverr
The biggest con of working with Fiverr is that you don’t have total control over your business. Here’s how:
Can You Earn What You’re Worth on Fiverr?
Fiverr is known for budget deals. Even those who charge more than $5 are often undercutting themselves to compete with the other low prices online. While there are a few exceptions with popular shops, most freelancers on Fiverr don’t earn what they are worth on Fiverr.
How Much Does Fiverr Take in Commission?
Fiverr takes a full 20% of any sale that you make on Fiverr. As most freelancers don’t make much on Fiverr in the first place, this extra cut can make it more difficult for people to earn a living using the platform. When setting up your services, remember that you will only be making 80% of whatever you charge.
It can also take a while at first for you to be able to access the money you have earned through the platform.
Is it Easy to Find Work on Fiverr?
When you are just starting out, getting clients can be difficult. People will often thoroughly read reviews and will pick freelancers with high ratings. As a newcomer, it can be frustrating to be overlooked so often and many people end up lowering their prices even further.
Sadly, some people resort to cheating the system by paying people to write fake reviews for their account. Many of these scammers find other ways to scam people on Fiverr, making the platform as a whole less trusted, creating a spiral that makes it even harder for budding entrepreneurs.
Due to these factors, it isn’t always easy to find consistent work on the platform. When working with Fiverr, you should see it as a way to earn side income, at least until you grow your profile and clientele.
Fiverr Can Close Down Your Shop Without Notice
Shockwaves were sent through the gaming community in 2018 when Voiceover Pete’s Fiverr Profile was closed despite the fact that he had over 250 open orders, taking issue with some of the content he had previously worked on. He ended up moving to Patreon and continues to work on YouTube.
The platform is free to choose who they let work on the site and that can be frustrating for freelancers who have spent a good deal of time growing their business on Fiverr.
Can You Put Personal Website Information on Your Fiverr Profile?
One of the terms of having a Fiverr account is that you can’t market to clients that you’ve made on the platform from outside of Fiverr. This means you can’t use Fiverr as a means to find customers for your personal brand. While this is an understandable policy, it can be frustrating to freelancers who already feel underpaid.
Fiverr Doesn’t Make It Easy to Work with Clients
People can make orders with you without previously contacting you to see if you have time, think that the service is something you can do, or without giving you adequate details about what they want. This can be very frustrating for the freelancer, who has to spend more time chasing the client to figure out what they need before getting to work.
Clients are also not required to pay if they don’t like your work even if you spend hours on it. Some people set up multiple orders with multiple freelancers and only pay the one whose work they like best.
