Your First $10k in Remote Contracting
So, you want to land your first $10k as a remote contractor. Maybe you’re tired of the office grind, or maybe you’re already freelancing but haven’t hit that milestone yet. Whatever the reason, you’re in the right place. Let’s break down what actually works — minus the “just hustle harder” nonsense.
Where to Start: The $10k Mindset (and Math)
First things first: $10k isn’t as intimidating as it looks. If you charge $50/hour, that’s 200 hours — or about five weeks at 40 hours/week. But most folks don’t start at $50/hour, and you probably won’t be booked solid right away. So, let’s be real: aim for smaller, faster wins.
Think:
- 10 projects at $1,000 each
- 20 projects at $500 each
- One retainer at $2,000/month for 5 months
Pick what feels doable. I started with $450 bug fixes and $700 landing pages. They add up fast.
“My first contract was a WordPress speed fix for $300. It took three days (because I overcomplicated everything). That client came back a month later with a $1,200 redesign. Over-delivering works.”
Finding Your First Clients: Practical Approaches
Forget mass-blasting Upwork proposals or DMing LinkedIn strangers with “Sir, do you need website?” messages. The win is in specificity and conversation.
1. Tap Existing Networks
Reach out to:
- Former colleagues or managers
- People you’ve helped for free (even with tech questions, design feedback, whatever)
- Slack communities (not just job boards)
Script for reaching out:
Hey [Name],
Hope you’re well! I’m taking on a couple of small web dev projects this month (remote/contract). If you know anyone who needs help with [your specialty], can you connect us? Happy to send more info. Thanks!
2. Scope Down, Not Up
Most new contractors try to win “full site builds” or “app revamps”. That’s risky. Instead, offer tiny, well-defined projects:
- Speed optimization for Shopify stores ($250-500)
- Onboarding email setup ($200 flat)
- Landing page copy tweaks ($100/hour, 2-hour minimum)
People are more likely to say yes when the risk (and spend) is small.
3. Over-Communicate (But Don’t Be Annoying)
The #1 reason clients love working with remote contractors? Clear, regular updates. Here’s what I send for every small project:
- A kickoff email (“Here’s what I’m doing, and when”)
- Daily or every-other-day updates (“Here’s what’s done, here’s what’s next”)
- Final wrap-up (“Here’s what we agreed, here’s what’s delivered, here’s how to test it”)
You can automate most of this. Just set reminders and reuse your own templates.
From Job to Reference: How to Get Repeat Clients
When you finish a project, don’t disappear. That’s the biggest mistake I see. Instead:
- Send a follow-up a week later: “Just checking in — anything else you need?”
- Ask for a testimonial or LinkedIn recommendation (give a template to make it easy)
- Offer a maintenance package or retainer (“I can check in monthly for $X”)
Testimonial Request Script
Hi [Name],
It was great working together! If you’re happy with the result, would you mind sharing a short testimonial? Here’s a quick template, but feel free to tweak:
“We hired [Your Name] for [project]. Communication was [positive adjective], and the results were [outcome]. Would recommend for [future clients].”
15-Minute Quick Start: Your Action Checklist
| Step | Tool/Example |
|---|---|
| 1. List 5 people who trust you | Notes app, Google Sheets |
| 2. Write your “small project” offer | Notion, Google Docs |
| 3. Send the outreach script above | Email, Slack, LinkedIn |
| 4. Prep kickoff and update emails | Gmail templates, TextExpander |
| 5. Deliver, follow up, ask for testimonial | Gmail, LinkedIn, Google Forms |
Favorite Tools (No Sponsors, Just What Works)
- Calendly: For scheduling intro calls without back-and-forth
- Notion: For project tracking and sharing timelines
- Trello: Kanban boards to keep projects bite-sized
- TextExpander: For scripts and quick replies
- Google Drive: Share deliverables and keep a testimonial folder
Pro tip: If you get stuck, join remote work Discords or Slack groups. “Anyone need help with X?” beats cold emails every time.
Real-Life Story: The Unlikely $1,800 Fix
About a year ago, I saw a post in a designer’s Slack channel: “My client’s site is slow. Anyone here fix WordPress?” I DM’d her, offered a $300 audit. She said yes, I sent a bullet-point report. She forwarded it to her client, who then hired me for a full theme cleanup — $1,500 more. Lesson: Helping other freelancers often leads to gigs, not just direct clients.
“I never thought a random Slack message would pay my rent for two months, but here we are.”
What worked? Being helpful, specific, and making it easy for someone to say yes — no high-pressure sales, no over-promising.
Links & Resources
- Indie Hackers – Great for finding early clients and partners
- Workfrom – Remote work community, job boards, and Slack invites
- TextExpander – Automate your scripts and emails
- Notion – Keep your offers, scripts, and client info organized
- LinkedIn – For recommendations and networking
- Cal.com – Free alternative to Calendly
Final Thoughts
That first $10k is a mix of hustle, luck, and focus on small wins. Don’t get hung up on building a fancy portfolio or landing a unicorn client. Start with what (and who) you know, keep your offers tight, and follow up like a pro. Small projects snowball. Clients talk. $10k will sneak up on you faster than you think.
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