Freelancing at 50?

[@kparag01]

You are only person who cares about people at 50. Thanks

[@christianlanoire7541]

As long as you want to learn there is no age to start, do it.

[@merefield2585]

Loved your argument about working more effectively gives you the ability to undercut the competition whilst doing it in less time. You nailed that one, thanks.

[@bloodnick4u]

I don't know, he just gets coffee! Perfect ending👌☕

[@DBoyTommie]

Thank you. There really is a need for more advice like this. Things are changing fast, and most of us really aren't ready for it.

[@leonarddavis8732]

This is a great video. I would appreciate more discussions on this topic. I am 52 and I'm halfway through your CSS foundations tutorial.

[@taariqq]

Perfect ending! Very relatable talk. Thank you.

[@dividsky]

I'm 50 and I totally agree. I'm then a web professional since I'm covering the hole domain very good. The only downside is money.

[@photomanipul8or]

Hi Stefan, It's amazing to come across your KZbin videos with all the great advice. I remember purchasing your Complete Web Designer course in 2011, learned a lot. Happy to subscribe and look forward to more videos.

[@StefanMischook]

Ahh ... you bought the 2011 edition!

[@TerrenceLP]

You make a great point that I don't think will stick with the new generation. Always understand the way a business makes money and apply your technical knowledge of systems and processes. Technology will change, but how to run a business and market business changes at a much slower pace. For close to 10 years the standard Wordpress install with minimal maintenance was more than enough for all the SMB I have dealt with. What is your take on the title Webmaster? Would it not be similar to your point? And where else can you get a title with a master in it?

[@scottfredericksen6533]

Stefan, I love the stuff you put out. I'm guessing we are about the same age... 5,000 internet years old and you say what I've often thought. Thanks for putting out here for the rest of the world to hear. I picked up, The Freelancer's Bible, by Sara Horowitz about 4 years ago and after reading about 10 pages I was convinced that this was going to be the way of the future for so many reasons. And, it's a win-win... as freelancer, we win because we get to have the freedoms that you talk about and your customers win because they don't have to have the extra burden of having employees that they have to pay taxes, provide insurance, etc, etc. But, as you have implied in your videos, it takes hard work. Results matter. Without them, we won't have customers. Thanks!

[@joecater894]

I always thought that's where we'd end up.... no one working for a company.. everyone instead has their own little business and bigger business hires... a totally decentralised system. I think that's a lot healthier. Some companies are good ; but some think they own you as soon as you take a pay packet.

[@DataJuggler]

How Google knows I am 50 scares me. I work 24 hours per week (billable). I have my own dreams I work another 60 hours on. I work 100% remote.

[@depafrom5277]

In my 40's, freelanced for 6+ years... later took permanent employment again, working remotely. I took over a huge spaghetti mess system built by 'young' devs :), not pointing fingers at all young devs... but you cannot put a price on experience, and companies need to get off their age bias.

[@NorlynCodes]

Thank you again! Now I know what I am. I know how to code but I'm not really aiming to be a software developer. And most of the time I do design most of the sites. But definitely not a graphic designer. Thanks a lot!

[@joannalewis5279]

I like your content. Very detailed and thoughtful stuff

[@Boney4000]

Giving out free game, thank you. Blessings 🙌🏾

[@cadamstech1658]

Solid advice as always Stef!

[@joshthalheimer]

This one goes in 'the best of Stefan'. Good thoughts on time/value... oh, and getting coffee.

[@Jollyprez]

The only problem I have is making the capes look reasonable on my "elderly" physique. Swooping in and fixing runaway projects is fun, and NOBODY ever asks my age.

[@appleguy1986]

Stef, rockin' it!

[@Stevethesearcher]

Great video Stefan. I really appreciate the time you have put in on this subject. Its very important because a lot of people want or have to change their job for various reasons even up to the age of 50.

[@davidleeman2766]

I'm 49 so can I wait a year? Done 12 years of HTML (started with XHTML) CSS, CSS3 and template level PHP and 10+ years of Joomla. Javascript - I just 'could not get it' I'm a freelancer now and I'm on your Web Dev Course right now just about to start javascript. But, gotta say, the course has so far filled in some gaps and I can now code templates with ease. Looking forward to finally making sense of javascript and helping convert an open source cart from Bootstrap to Grid CSS as an exercise. Great courses - recommend Next course will be the Freelancer course.

[@bendover4728]

I love the "firing clients" part :D

[@TheHeraldOfChange]

Good Stuff, mate. some very good points made.

[@code3design]

Awesome info Stefan!

[@rhettherring4846]

at 50 ... hell yes it's viable. I'm living it.

[@ruffneck718]

Great Stuff, Yes Im 49 and some change myself.

[@OzzyZet]

Hi Stef! Could you do a video of how to use google to search for the problem properly, and something like your favourite sources? Regards, Ozzy.

[@sampatankar1977]

Is there any record of older coders and machine learning guys going on to be recruited by banks to work as Quants or in the fintech industry having knowledge of the finance domains?

[@LukeAvedon]

10:00 I think Scotty from Star Trek came up with that.

[@StefanMischook]

LOL! The Scotty technique!!!

[@alcap6145]

Yeahhhhh! Hahhaha.

[@taljune142010]

I'm 47+ My passion is Java and C++, I find it more interesting than front end frameworks but I'm doubt about my chances to find a job/freelancer work with those languages even if I'll practice 5-7 years.

[@vivek.80807]

lol! that sayonara at 6:28 !!

[@1MinuteFlipDoc]

nice screen writing skills!

[@TechXSoftware]

Way too cheap, lowest would be $100 on those sites where you offer services for cheap.

[@Henrique-ui7il]

Hey Stefan! I'm a professional getter of coffee myself hahah Let me ask you, where should I find my clients? Should I use the power of networking and be recommended, should I prospect businesses to whom I would like to work, or should I use freelancing platforms ?

[@MrPDTaylor]

Wages and prices have nothing to do with investment and skill level. Market value is all that matters. What the other guy is charging, that's what will ultimately decide how much YOU can charge. So before you go undercutting the competition consider the fact that too much undercutting in a particular industry significantly lowers how much everyone can charge (sometimes permanently), including your future self.

[@silversolver7809]

​@Scooters Videos It's unlikely many of them will have US-relevant domain knowledge, they certainly won't have the ability to significantly market themselves in person in your local town or county, and they may not have the crucial communication skills a freelancer must have. There are many ways to compete, and my advice if you're in a high cost-of-living country is do not try to compete on price. Compete on Quality or Service or Delivery or Extras or Expertise or Communication or or or… Freelancers must play to their own skills, not try to compete on someone else's terms.

[@kazimoniruzzoha7083]

Hi, How are you? I am from Dhaka, Bangladesh. Now I am 51 y. I worked as a Senior Merchandiser in the Garments Sector and had a long experience in this sector for about 23 y. After Bypass surgery now I am at home. Please advise which sector of Freelancing is suitable for me.

[@hanukkahp0rnoagent679]

Don’t worry old man. You’re still relevant.

[@depafrom5277]

You can't put a price on experience - I will employ a 50-year-old developer any day over a young know-it-all hipster

[@alcap6145]

Any thoughts on how to do volunteer work in this space? This would be to start to build a portfolio....the charge later on with other clients

[@letslearnspanishtv]

Or if you sit around and watch TikTok videos all day. Great video!

[@StefanMischook]

That works too. ;)

[@letslearnspanishtv]

@@StefanMischook I meant like better than watching Tiktok videos all day. That stuff Is so lizard brain appealing

[@KidDiamondTV]

When you create a Wordpress site for a client, do you create all the text content for them too? Or do you deliver a Wordpress with all the features in place and have them just add the text content themselves?

[@StefanMischook]

Depends on the negotiated deal. My freelance course teaches this ... and much more: www.killervideostore.com/video-courses/complete-freelancer.php

[@silversolver7809]

Usually the client will add the content to your structure. After all, they're the one with the domain knowledge, and therefore should be able to produce much higher quality content than you can. Of course, they may ask for help, in which case you can sub-contract to another freelancer with domain knowledge.

[@luisbarahona3773]

Hi Stefan, what are the best programming languages for freelancing?

[@pixelmartyr8532]

Use it or lose it.

[@nea6271]

"I don't know, he just gets coffee!" lol 15:05

[@johnbell1810]

Hi Sefan, how much of this video is true today, 2025 and beyond?

[@Vrx-yp1eu]

I hope someday someone says that about me.

[@spaceiswater6539]

Is it best to do your web course first or is it best to do your Python course first to understand code more, then do your web course? Thank you so much for all your advice on your videos.

[@StefanMischook]

My web course will teach you two programming languages: JavaScript and PHP. You can also through in SQL, which is a super important 4GL language for databases. After that, you can learn Python if you want to deepen your understanding, but it is not required: shop.killervideostore.com/

[@spaceiswater6539]

@@StefanMischook Thank you so much for your detailed reply.

[@toddboothbee1361]

What software do you use to keep track of all your clients?

[@StefanMischook]

Depends on the business. For StudioWeb, we have everything registered in the app. For other projects, with less clients, you could use a spreadsheet. But, that can get messy quick, so you will likely look to a CRM at some point.

[@fredjaravata]

Hi, sorry for the "dumb" question, but what is a framework?

[@1MinuteFlipDoc]

an existing codebase / code library. so you don't have to write logic over again, from scratch. like re-using an existing excel workbook (with logic) on a new project.

[@fredjaravata]

@@1MinuteFlipDoc thank you!!

[@omnesomnibus2845]

Can you make a video where you hold our hand and talk us through getting a freelance (your first freelance) contract? - aha, you have a course....

[@scurvydog6571]

He has a course that you can buy for that info: www.killersites.com/blog/2018/the-complete-freelancer-course-is-available/

[@silversolver7809]

He also has dozens of videos around the topic of freelancing-check his channel. If you're serious about freelancing, take his course.

[@mohammedasif4086]

Hey Stefan... What are your views on codeigniter vs laravel?? Also Vue vs react vs angular??? Please make a video on this... Highly recommended

[@lexsoft3969]

I am currently using Laravel + React. With a tools named Mix, Laravel makes integration with Vue or React a breeze. In the documentation, it only mentions Vue and React for front end support. Vue is the default front end, but you can integrate React in Laravel, too, with ease, like I do. I never tried Angular for Laravel. I plan to learn Angular this year, after finishing my current project. For comparison among React, Angular and Vue, you can read in the following site : www.academind.com/learn/angular/angular-vs-react-vs-vue-my-thoughts. You can visit his channel on youtube for the same topic as well. I never use CI, my other option for PHP framework is YII 2 which is a good MVC framework. But when I wanted to integrate React in YII 2, I didn't find an easy, straight-forward way to do so. So I recommend Laravel, esp for with ease integration with popular JS frameworks/libraries such as React and Vue.

[@atnguyen5442]

Can anyone tell me some popular website to get freelance jobs? Thanks very much

[@StephenAndersontheCanadian]

50 year olds are X-Gen. My parents are Baby boomers. 🙂

[@MrPDTaylor]

What about freelancing at 39?

[@vladtepes3508]

Or 37

[@StefanMischook]

Why not. You can freelance at 20. Just have to set yourself up properly. I started freelancing when I was in my mid twenties. Like everyone else who gets it, you will likely find my freelance course a great confidence builder since it teaches you the steps to building a profitable, stress free freelance business: www.killervideostore.com/video-courses/complete-freelancer.php

[@musicg6847]

Can I do your Interactive Web Development Course in Ubuntu ?

[@StefanMischook]

100%. It is cross platform because it is web based.

[@keith6293]

What does Stef do ? You don't know ? He just gets coffee...

[@jover4653]

How old are you?

[@StefanMischook]

869 years.

[@silversolver7809]

He's under 50, but feeling the pressure…

[@fahadmurad7865]

😍😘

[@isaidstream4547]

Freelancing at 50? LOL KFC was a freelancer?

[@depafrom5277]

I know some programmers older than 50... unmatched skills and experience. Healthy 50 or 60 is perfectly fine.

[@lexsoft3969]

@@depafrom5277 There are at least two veterans at Google : Rob Pike (62+) and Ken Thompson (76). They are still productive after working with Unix years ago. In 2007, they, together with Robert Griesemmer, created Go aka Golang, which is a new general purpose language.

[@williamturner3228]

50 is gen x or boomer?

[@teceffect9826]

Yeah, easy going girls are content writers, living in paradise like Ibiza, Bali, Thailand, Philippines, Caribbean. They have a better live then most corporate managers, independent, nice warm weather, beach, diving, good food.

[@speeeding]

I thought it was curious why there was no mention of how to actually get into freelancing. Then I saw the links to the video store. So it was a 15 minute commercial. That's cool.

[@silversolver7809]

Did you see the link to his channel here? Dozens of videos on the topic.

[@yongxing1848]

You get lazy freelancing and just working in isolation.

[@sumeriano]

At 50's, you are entitled to nothing, so forget about that. Who do you think you are? Peter Pan? AND If you have a girlfriend you have to say goodbye to her. Forget about drive a car, of course. You're done. Finito. But if you have 51, then the things becomes much better for you. :-)

[@koki4o]

First!