Community Spotlight: Addison Freeman

The Keeper Community Spotlight series highlights awesome freelancers using Keeper, their stories, and advice to others.

Addison, thanks for being here! So, how did you get into freelancing?

Thanks for having me! To begin, I spent years as a full-time employee first in IT Consulting and then at a web development firm. I hated the bureaucratic aspect of a traditional 9-to-5, but I always loved to build and to create. Freelancing has given me the space to do it on my own terms, as a part of a lifestyle I really enjoy.

And you’re also part of a traveling band?

Yes! I’m a musician and the cellist in a four-person folk music band, The Riverside. We’ve been traveling across America for the past two years with a pretty rigorous touring schedule, so it has become a huge part of my life. All the while I kept up my freelance programming on the road.

Wow, what a combination - how do you manage both of those?

Well, it can be hectic. I generally do my development work in the mornings, and music gigs in the evenings. Sometimes one of those will spill into the other, though, and I'll have to take a work call from the back of the van, haha.

How do you find clients?

I started off using online marketplaces for new jobs, but today most of my work comes from repeat clients. It’s so much easier and less of a hassle to work with people you already trust. Then when billing and contracts come into play I’d rather not risk it with more unknowns.

Any advice for others trying to break into freelance web development?

Well, two things: the first is to find a niche. Mine, I’ve fallen into, is doing chrome extensions. I’ve gotten pretty handy with WordPress and anything involving JavaScript too but there are a lot of people building websites. If you can become really good at something unique then you’ll become the go-to professional for that service.

The second is to value your own time. I started off charging far too little and it sent a signal to my customers that my time wasn’t valuable. Since raising my fees, I feel like the work I’ve been doing has also become more interesting and I’ve been treated more like a thought partner along the way.

OK, so let’s talk about taxes. How were you dealing tracking expenses before Keeper?

Yeah, it was hit-and-miss. For a while I was trying to use Quickbooks but it just wasn’t for me. It was just a lot to get acquainted with. I have a very specific need - I just want to keep track of expenses. I don’t have a complicated payroll or inventory like a traditional business. All of the products I used were overkill for my needs, and time-consuming.

I feel like I’m in this middle ground. It’d be good to have a bookkeeper, but it would be expensive and probably overkill. I just remember thinking, “I need something simple.”

How would you describe Keeper?

It does one thing - tracks expenses - and then it gets out of the way. It’s not another app to constantly check in on. It’s an easy interface - text messages - that doesn’t require too much babysitting. It’s like hiring a bookkeeper without all the hassle.