Last week, I shared my thoughts about why I think freelancing is actually safer than a 9-5 in 2025. The piece seems to have resonated with a lot of you.

Half a dozen freelancers emailed me with questions like this one:

"Hey Alex, I'm convinced freelancing is the move, but my partner and I just bought a house and I’m nervous about the idea of letting go of my steady income. How do you suggest I make the switch to full-time freelancing while limiting the risk of losing a steady income?”

I thought that was a really good question (that I get asked often), so in this blog post I’ll be sharing a tangible game plan on how to make that transition.

The key concept here is you don't have to choose between financial security and freelance freedom. You can have both, but you need to be strategic about it.

After working with dozens of freelancers who went from part-time to full-time freelance, I've refined what I call the 3-Step Transition Framework. It's not sexy, but it works without the financial panic that kills most people's dreams. So let’s jump into it!

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The 3-Step Transition Framework

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Phase 1: The “Side Hustle” Phase (Months 1-3)

Instead of jumping ship immediately, use your current job as a safety net while you build your freelance foundation. This is also the perfect time to reflect on what you’re actually good at, and start creating service packages that actually make money.

Key insight from successful transitions: "I started by taking a step back and assessing my skills: what did I do well at my day job? What made me feel content and happy in my current role?"

Real example: One marketer started with email marketing for a former colleague's startup. Just 5 hours a week, $1,500/month. Proof of concept without burning bridges.

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Your Action Steps:

1. Skills audit: Identify what you're genuinely good at and what you enjoy

2. Create your offer: Define your pricing, scope of work, and processes

3. Market validation: Find 1-2 small projects to prove demand exists

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Phase 2: The "Confidence Building" Phase (Months 4-6)

This is where you prove to yourself (and future clients) that you can consistently deliver results.

Key insight from successful transitions: "With each new successful client, I became more confident that I could eventually transition to full-time freelancing."

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Your Action Steps:

1. Scale gradually: Add 1-2 more clients

2. Raise rates: Each new client should pay more than the last

3. Build systems: Use AI tools and optimize your time to work more efficiently

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As one freelancer emailed me: "It all boiled down to beginning small, learning as I went, and progressively building a reputation that would support me in reaching my long-term goals."

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Phase 3: The Strategic Exit Phase (Month 6+)

By now, you should be matching or exceeding your 9-5 income with freelance work. You should also be REALLY busy between full-time work and freelance clients.

It’s time to transition out of your day job. In other words, putting in your two weeks!

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⚠️ The most important part of quitting is to not burn bridges. Your reputation is everything in this business, and your former colleagues and clients could (and should) become clients or referral sources.

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⚠️ It goes without saying that you should have this conversation over the phone with your manager or your CEO, especially if you have learned from them and built a relationship over time. Explain why you’re leaving (without oversharing), thank them, ensure you do a proper handoff and work until the very last day you’re getting paid. Lasting impressions matter just as much as the first ones.

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Remember these three things when putting in your notice:

- Don't complain about the company

- Don't brag about your freelance success

- Don't try to dirty poach your 9-5 clients into your freelance business

And before you actually put your notice, double check your financial safety net. You should have at least 4-6 months worth of expenses in the bank to give you some room to breathe.

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Shift Your Mindset From Employee to Entrepreneur

Old thinking: "I need job security"

New thinking: "I need skill security"

Old thinking: "My worth = my job title"  

New thinking: "My worth = the value I create"

Key insight: "It's an absolute illusion to think that a person's worth equates to their job title, organisation, paycheck, and so on. Their worth all comes down to the value they bring"

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Dealing with "The Fear"

Every freelancer faces this. One experienced freelancer put it perfectly: "When you quit your job and go freelance it can bring up ALL OF YOUR FEARS... Am I good enough? What if I never earn a penny ever again?"

The solution: Facing these fears is the biggest way to push through them. Eventually you learn that you make up most of your problems in your head, and there is no truth to most of them.

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The Bottom Line

You don't have to choose between security and freedom. The most successful freelancers build their business strategically, not desperately.

The goal isn't to escape your 9-5 as fast as possible. It's to escape it as safely and strategically as possible.

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