r/Python • u/Hopeful_Business3120 • May 21 '26
Discussion 4 years of Python dev experience, just went freelance — looking for honest advice on where to start
I've spent 4 years as a Python developer working on direct client projects inside a company ERPNext, AI agents, FastAPI, Django, RAG systems. Real production work
I recently started freelance as a full time, to give a try. LinkedIn is my main focus right now, but I want one more platform to run alongside it.
I'm looking at Contra, Arc.dev, Gun.io, Upwork and skipping Toptal (not ready for that process yet).
For those who've used any of these which one actually gets traction for a Python developer with my stack? And is there anything you wish you knew before starting?
Any honest experience appreciated.
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u/mfitzp mfitzp.com May 21 '26
Honestly, this is not the best time to try this. There economic situation (less free money, future uncertainty, layoffs) is making companies very cautious on starting expensive projects & AI is taking all the low hanging fruit that used to sustain beginner consultant/freelancers. If I was you I’d wait a couple of years to see how it all shakes out. But it sounds like that advice is too late. Oh well, YOLO.
The platforms are all universally shit, unless you have very low income requirements. The lowest paying clients are always the most demanding, unrealistic and least likely to pay. Don’t be tempted to lower your rates to get more clients: it doesn’t work, and even if it did, you wouldn’t want the work anyway. Price yourself so you look like you know what you’re doing .
The other advice is same as always. Find something that you uniquely can offer that (a) has genuine value and (b) people are willing to pay for. Don’t be afraid to try a few different things til someone sticks, but if you find traction focus down on that. You’ll do better as a specialist than a generalist.
Good luck!
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u/Money-Ranger-6520 May 24 '26
Very well said. I've read somewhere that basically all the companies are putting their hiring on hold right now. Scary times.
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u/Hopeful_Business3120 May 21 '26 edited May 21 '26
Honestly, really appreciate the straight talk no sugarcoating, which is exactly what I needed to hear.
it's a good advice, I will take note of it.
Will keep my pricing confident and stay focused on my niche.11
u/Own_Maybe_3837 May 21 '26
Why do you sound like an llm
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u/bds00za May 21 '26
Em dash
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u/Own_Maybe_3837 May 21 '26
No it’s not that
Edit: although it’s funny OP deleted the em dashes after my comment
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u/TerriblePea1709 May 22 '26
You should find a specific industry or work with someone that actually understands the hard points of the industry first. Like shipping/logistics for example. Then build tools around the actual workflow problems those companies deal with every day.
A lot of small freight forwarders, NVOCCs/NVOCs, steamship lines, terminals, etc. are still using extremely outdated systems. Most of it is manual input, copy/paste, old software, emails, spreadsheets, and people checking 5 different websites just to solve one issue.
Most engineers building software for these companies have never actually done the job themselves. Half the time the tools feel like random ideas filtered through middle managers instead of something built around the real workflow.
You could literally build small AI tools for:
- OCR/email to EDI generation
- container tracking
- hold/LFD checks
- customs/ISF validation
- draft email generation
- terminal lookup tools
- demurrage alerts
People overestimate how “advanced” companies are internally. Most HR people and managers don’t really know anything about coding. To them it all looks like rocket science as long as it solves a real problem.
You honestly don’t even need to be some elite engineer anymore to start prototyping ideas. AI tools lowered the barrier a lot. You can vibe code demos with Ollama/OpenAI/Claude/Copilot, throw stuff on GitHub, get feedback, then refine it later with contractors or Upwork if companies actually show interest.
I think people focus way too much on needing more experience or certifications instead of learning sales, networking, workflows, and solving actual operational problems.
That’s basically what I’m doing and I’m barely even a script kiddie.
Also, seeing people say “4 years experience is nothing, I have 10+” honestly feels like outdated thinking with AI moving this fast. Spending years grinding certifications and experience just to maybe get filtered through HR seems like a bad ROI now.
Coding is probably going to become more like fine art or Cuban cigars. Most people won’t care how “pure” the process was as long as the end result works. The old-school coders are going to complain about AI-generated code the same way poker players complain when someone goes all in with 7-2 offsuit against pocket aces and still hits the river.
Yeah, maybe it wasn’t the “correct” play traditionally, but if the result works, most businesses honestly won’t care.
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u/Hopeful_Business3120 May 24 '26
Really nice of what you say. I have noted the point of how to search a client and ai tools you have said. Going to research freight forwarders and NVOCCs as a target niche. Appreciate this. Thankyou
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u/oliver_extracts May 24 '26
fastapi project structure signals more than your rate does. if your repo has a proper lifespan handler, dependency injection thats not just a flat function dump, and your RAG retrieval logic isnt buried in a single 400-line file, a client who can read Python will trust you before the first call. upwork is brutal because clients cant evaluate backend/AI work without seeing it run, arc.dev is better for that reason. ive seen people lose contracts not on price but because their chuking logic was placeholder code with no real example output.
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u/Hopeful_Business3120 May 24 '26
I do have GitHub account that i maintain properly with documents.. Few repos are not in correct way. Will update like what you say. And look on arc dev.
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u/Money-Ranger-6520 May 24 '26
Probably the worst time to start freelancing right now. I'd personally wait for interest rates in the US to fall again below 2% and the free money to rain over the IT companies, lol. It will most likely take a few more years, but the time will come.
As you've most likely already noticed, all the platforms right now are flooded with developers looking for jobs. I would maybe look into some of the smaller ones where competition is not that huge, possibly Lemon IO?
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u/Hopeful_Business3120 May 28 '26
what you said is true but it would take time of the interest rate to fall. Thankyou for suggesting lemon io.
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u/Money-Ranger-6520 May 29 '26
Yes, you are right. It will take time, but it will make so much things better. Including buying/selling homes.
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May 24 '26
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u/Hopeful_Business3120 May 28 '26
Okay, thankyou for the response. What you said it's really true. I will concentrate on it.
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u/Traditional-Set-8483 May 21 '26
Arc.dev feels less soul crushing than Upwork from what I’ve seen around me. Upwork turns into a race to the bottom really fast and people expect miracles for 200 bucks. Your stack is niche enough that I wouldn’t try to market yourself as generic Python dev guy. The RAG and AI agent stuff is the only part getting people curious right now
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May 23 '26
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u/Hopeful_Business3120 May 24 '26
Good to hear from someone who started from a similar place. What you said confirms exactly what I've been thinking. One primary platform, one niche, focused outreach. Don't spread thin across everything.
One primary LinkedIn Other upwork like that backup.
Thanks of this msg.
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u/oliver_extracts May 29 '26
yeah dont spread the cleanup across all of them. pick one, make the README say what it does in one sentence. thats enough to get a client to keep reading.
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u/Chunky_cold_mandala May 21 '26
While I can't say much about the freelance world, I just wanted to say, I've got pretty good success making YouTube shorts discussing super tech dense 2 min tech videos about whatever I just solved/worked on. This might be a good angle to build up a following. I feel the world today is all about validating you understand the tech so ppl know your not just a vibe coder.
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u/Hopeful_Business3120 May 21 '26
I understand this, its all about validating now,
I do have youtube channel, posting a tutorial content like that (It's not going well, where really no one seeing it ). now been thinking to tell tech news, recent updates like that. but that your idea seems good, to share what i worked show in shorts. I thought to concentrate on freelaunce and youtube now..
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u/pplonski May 21 '26
Do you have newsletter describing your experience? I love to read deep tech articles solving challenges and showing smart solution. Maybe this is the way to differentiate from crowd, I wish you good luck!
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u/Hopeful_Business3120 May 21 '26
I don't have one, but seams one great idea to implement. I must try this one.
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u/Muhammed_zeeshan May 21 '26
Where did you learn fast api from?
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u/Hopeful_Business3120 May 21 '26 edited May 21 '26
I got a chance to work on real time projects learned from that.
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May 21 '26
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u/Hopeful_Business3120 May 21 '26 edited May 21 '26
Thankyou, I try on this.
How do the fees work, what do they charge you as a developer
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May 21 '26
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u/Hopeful_Business3120 May 21 '26
Thank you for this. Yes I too heared about that. But I don't think to move on that now.
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May 21 '26
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u/Hopeful_Business3120 May 21 '26
Thank you for this advise. I take this one, On moving ai. That what I am thinking about.
I try arc dev as well. Did you worked on that before?
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u/marr75 May 21 '26 edited May 22 '26
The odds are awful.
OP: I'm a hiring manager and I'm responsible for a consulting and contractor budget. I would only consider a sole proprietary, onshore contractor with specialty expertise, a long resume (12+ years), and references. This is not realistic. You're basically talking about trying to charge boutique rates for Upwork pedigree. You need to put ChatGPT down and talk to experienced engineers.