Originally published on 10 September 2025, back when Freelance Forward was running on Brevo. Updated and republished for our growing community.
Hey Freelance Friends!
Reference: MSN Article
The Story
When courtrooms shut down in 2020, Derrick Morgan Jr., a young US attorney, found himself staring at empty calendars and shrinking paychecks. Then came a random call from his cousin asking for help with a trademark filing. Derrick did the work for free, and that “pro bono favour” unlocked a new career path.
He listed his services on Fiverr (yep, the same platform we hype every week 👀), earned just $180 in month one, then scaled: $5K by month three, $10K by month four, and now over $40,000 a month helping small businesses protect their brands.
The kicker? He built this with zero upfront capital, just skills, hustle, and smart tools.
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It’s the platform behind some of the world’s most-read newsletters, built for writers who want clean publishing, real growth tools, and monetisation that doesn’t feel bolted on as an afterthought. No duct tape. No fighting your software.
Freelance Forward runs on Beehiiv for a reason. It stays out of the way and lets the writing do the work.
If a newsletter is even a quiet idea at the back of your mind, this is the infrastructure part done right.
Step-by-Step Blueprint (You Can Copy)
Start with Service, Not Sales
Derrick’s first gig was free. It gave him confidence, proof of concept, and a portfolio piece.
Free Tools to Try:
Canva Docs (for polished client work): Canva Docs
Notion Portfolio Page (free template): Notion Personal Portfolio
Your move: Offer a free trial, mini audit, or small favour to show off your skills.
Leverage Marketplaces (Don’t Reinvent the Wheel)
Instead of trying to find clients from scratch, he tapped into Fiverr’s massive audience of entrepreneurs.
Platforms SA Freelancers Can Use:
Fiverr: Fiverr Sign-Up (Used to be our main sponsor ✨)
Upwork: Upwork
Malt (Europe-focused): Malt
Your move: Pick one, set up a killer profile, and start small.
Build a Relatable Brand
Clients loved Derrick because he wasn’t a stiff lawyer in a suit, he was approachable, affordable, and clear. That’s why they chose him over “big firm” attorneys.
Free Tools for Branding:
Your move: Show your human side in your gig descriptions, portfolio, and social media.
Scale Smart (Not Alone)
When demand grew, Derrick brought in a paralegal + AI assistant to handle repetitive work. He worked on the business, not just in it.
AI Tools You Can Use Free:
ChatGPT Free Plan (drafts, client replies): ChatGPT
Clockify (Time Tracking): Clockify
Trello (Free Project Board): Trello
Your move: Automate admin, outsource small tasks, and keep your eyes on growth.
Buy Time with Flexibility
Derrick moved part-time to Mexico City for lower living costs, freeing up 40% of his income to invest. That’s how you scale your freedom.
SA-Relevant Finance Tools:
Grey.co (International Banking for Freelancers): Grey.co
22seven (Budgeting App): 22seven
Investec Youth Account (Low-fee investing): Investec
Your move: Reduce overhead, increase margin, reinvest profits.
Key Takeaways for SA Freelancers
Start with service (give before you charge). Use existing platforms (don’t fight for traffic). Build a human, relatable brand. Automate + delegate early. Design your life around freedom, not just money.
— Your Freelance Forward Fam ✌🏼
Tool of the week
Notion
Nothing screams “rookie freelancer” louder than sending a client a random Google Doc link full of typos, broken formatting, and your cat’s name in the file title. Enter Notion, the freelancer’s Swiss Army knife. It’s not just a note-taking app, it’s your portfolio, CRM, project manager, and brain dump all in one sleek space.
With Notion, you can spin up a public portfolio page in minutes, track all your clients in a clean Kanban board, or even build a lightweight project dashboard that makes you look like a legit agency, even if it’s just you and your laptop at a coffee shop. And the kicker? It’s free. Yep, you can use all the basics (pages, templates, databases) without paying a cent. That means you can look premium without spending your hard-earned gig cash.
Works perfectly with your Fiverr or Upwork hustle. Showcase your wins → track your leads → manage your projects → all in one place.
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The content in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or professional advice. Pro Freelance and Freelance Forward are not affiliated with or endorsed by the platforms or tools mentioned (unless stated otherwise), and we are not liable for any losses, damages, or issues arising from your use of them. Always do your own research before making decisions related to your freelance business.
