Making $378K A Year As A Fiverr Freelancer

Summary

Alex Fasulo, a 28-year-old freelance writer, went from working a low-paying corporate job to making $378,000 per year on Fiverr. After quitting her job, she scaled her freelance business, overcoming emotional and financial hurdles. Alex's story highlights her transition from struggling with money to achieving financial independence, offering insights into time management, money management, and entrepreneurship. Despite facing challenges as a woman in the industry, she now plans to educate others on freelancing, proving that anyone can succeed with the right mindset and persistence.

Takeaways

• 😀 Alex Fasulo, a 28-year-old freelance writer, now makes $378,000 per year on Fiverr, up from a corporate PR job that paid $36,000 annually.
• 😀 At 24, Alex was making $15K a month, but her income doubled overnight when she transitioned to freelancing, reaching $14-15K per month by 2018.
• 😀 Alex started her freelance career by offering small services on Fiverr, quickly discovering she could earn enough to cover all her bills and leave her corporate job behind.
• 😀 Her income growth was exponential, jumping from $63,000 in 2017 to $273,000 in 2018 after refining her services and gaining traction on Fiverr.
• 😀 Alex developed an efficient work system that allowed her to cut down on work hours while increasing output, optimizing her time management.
• 😀 Instead of traditional savings strategies, Alex prefers keeping her money liquid for investment opportunities and emergencies, working with a CPA to manage taxes and savings.
• 😀 She moved from New York City to Florida to reduce living costs and be more flexible with travel and work, finding significant savings in her food and living expenses.
• 😀 The pandemic caused many businesses to pivot online, leading to a boom in demand for freelance services, and Alex had her biggest month on Fiverr, earning over $36,000 in May 2020.
• 😀 Despite earning a substantial income, Alex remains cautious with her spending, focusing on experiences like travel and music festivals, and keeping her finances more fluid.
• 😀 As a woman in business, Alex faced online misogyny, with people questioning her success and resorting to insults. She uses these experiences to develop thicker skin and grow her entrepreneurial spirit.
• 😀 Alex plans to transition from freelancing to teaching, sharing her expertise and helping others build freelance careers, moving away from writing blogs to focus on education.
• 😀 Her goal is to diversify her income streams, having already invested in property and planning to use it for both personal use and a potential Airbnb business.
• 😀 Despite being financially successful, Alex emphasizes that success can come from anyone, regardless of background, and advocates for transparency in sharing earnings to inspire others.

Q & A

What was Alex Fasulo's initial income before transitioning to freelancing?

Before transitioning to freelancing, Alex was making around $36,000 per year working in a PR job. She felt out of place and unhappy in that role, which ultimately led her to quit.

How much did Alex Fasulo make in her first month on Fiverr?

In her first week on Fiverr, Alex started to earn enough to cover all her bills. By the end of the month, she was making around $3,000 per month, which was enough to support herself.

What factors contributed to Alex's income growth on Fiverr?

Several factors contributed to Alex's income growth on Fiverr, including diversifying her services, growing her gig portfolio to 12 or 13 different offerings, and climbing the platform's levels, which allowed her to charge more.

How did Alex's income change from 2017 to 2018?

In 2017, Alex made $63,000. In 2018, her income skyrocketed to $273,000, marking a significant and unexpected increase. She even mentioned doubling her income overnight, making $13,000 to $15,000 per month.

How did the pandemic impact Alex's freelancing business?

During the pandemic in 2020, many businesses moved online, creating a surge in demand for freelance copywriting services. This led to Alex's biggest month ever, where she earned over $36,000 in May 2020, despite the broader economic downturn.

What was Alex's approach to managing her finances?

Alex's financial strategy involves saving at least 50% of her income, but she admitted to not having a traditional approach. She prefers to keep her money accessible rather than locking it into retirement accounts, although she does contribute to her retirement for tax benefits.

Why did Alex choose to move from New York City to Florida?

Alex moved from New York City to Florida primarily to reduce her living expenses, especially in terms of food and drinks. Florida's lower cost of living allowed her to save more and maintain her freelance lifestyle.

What are Alex's real estate investment plans?

Alex plans to buy two properties in Southwest Florida. She intends to rent one out on Airbnb and use the other as her personal space and filming studio to produce content, such as YouTube videos.

What future career transition does Alex want to make?

Alex wants to transition from being a freelance writer to a full-time educator. She hopes to teach others how to succeed in freelancing, leveraging her extensive experience and success in the field.

What challenges did Alex face as a woman in the freelance space?

As a woman, Alex faced criticism and sexism, especially when posting about her earnings on platforms like TikTok. She mentioned receiving harsh comments, such as being accused of making money in inappropriate ways, which forced her to develop thicker skin.