Whether you want to be your own boss, test drive a new career, or have a side hustle that focuses on your passion project, freelancing can be the way to go. And, if you decide to pursue freelance work, you wouldn’t be alone. In 2019, an MBO Partners’ survey found that nearly 41.1 million Americans identified themselves as freelancers, whether it was a few hours a month or a full-time arrangement. To break that down a little further, nearly 15 million workers claimed to be part-time freelancers, and 12.4 million called themselves full-time freelancers! With these kinds of numbers, it’s imperative to prepare yourself to freelance and freelance well. Use this guide to understand what freelancing is, how to find companies and jobs hiring, and the characteristics needed to succeed as a freelancer.