Ultimate Guide to Freelancing in Malta in 2023

What is a Freelancer in Malta?

A freelancer is an independent worker in Malta who earns a living working for different businesses or organisations on a flexible per-job or per-task basis, typically for short-term work.

Malta is an attractive destination for freelancers due to its ease of doing business, stable and growing economy, and mild climate. The most attractive benefit is the low cost of living in Malta and the availability of a wide variety of job opportunities. This means freelancers can enjoy working in an international environment without having to pay a lot for accommodation and key necessities. The low tax rate and diverse business sector provide freelancers with the opportunity to make a good income. And, with the support of the government and its entrepreneurial incentive schemes, freelancers are supported and encouraged to succeed in the difficult business of freelancing. The work life balance in Malta for freelancers is excellent, with a laid back lifestyle and plenty of car-free environments to enjoy. It is easy to take advantage of the great outdoors– inspiring Mediterranean coastline, open spaces and National Parks, and of course the capital city of Valletta. Valletta alone has plenty of cultural activities and nightlife. Malta is also known for its high quality educational system and a number of universities including the University of Malta and the Malta Colleges. This means freelancers are able to engage in additional study to keep their skills up to date and enjoy a mixed lifestyle between work and study. For the more adventurous expat, Malta is a great base to explore more of Europe with regular flights to the mainland. All considered, Malta is a great place for a freelancer. The lifestyle can be tailored to suit the individual’s needs and coupled with the low cost of living and government initiatives, there is a lot for a freelancer to consider when deciding about life in Malta.

What are the benefits of Self-Employment in Malta?

Freelance jobs are typically work paid by the hour, day or month. Whereas per task work, or per project outcome is usually paid on satisfactory completion of the work task, or tasks. These tasks are commonly referred to as freelance gigs.

Self-employment in Malta has numerous benefits. Firstly, freelancers have the flexibility to choose the type of work they wish to do, whether it is part-time or full-time, short-term or long-term. This way, they are allowed to pursue their career in their own way and at the pace they feel most comfortable with. Additionally, Malta offers a wide range of job opportunities for freelancer entrepreneurs. The island is known as an international business hub, offering remote working opportunities in Digital technologies, FinTech, iGaming and more. This abounds with many interesting opportunities for freelancers in Malta, both in terms of innovative projects as well as additional job opportunities for freelancers in the international market within the region and beyond. For Malta-based freelancers, the Internet offers vast job opportunities. This is especially true in image and photo editing, content writing, animated explainer videos, software and web development, app development and much more. Furthermore, Malta has seen a steady rise in the number of remote workers taking advantage of the tax advantages offered. Malta is an attractive working destination as it has a very competitive corporate tax rate and attractive incentives for freelancers and remote workers from around the world that take up residence in Malta. Specific benefits relate to tax exemption on worldwide income for certain categories of freelancers, including remote workers. Finally, Malta is a great place for freelancers due to its developed infrastructure. It is a great place to find gig jobs, as it offers high speed Internet connections and real-time access to work opportunities. It also has a multitude of coworking hubs and collaborative spaces to accommodate remote workers with the necessary resources. Last but not least, being a small island, it offers wonderful opportunity to freelancers to network and find contacts in other local and international markets.

Find & Hire Freelancers in Malta?

The rise of freelance work has accelerated the gig economy movement, especially the online marketplaces associated with the gig economy and Future of Work.

Freelance jobs and gigs in Malta have grown in popularity in recent years due to the flexibility and opportunity they offer. Freelancing allows people to work from anywhere, create their own schedule, and be their own boss. Highly paid and in demand freelance jobs in Malta include: 1. Web Developer: A web developer creates websites for clients. They can range from creating entire web application projects for larger companies or creating individual websites for small businesses. Rates: €25-€50 per hour. 2. Graphic Design: Graphic design covers the design, layout, and production of visual products such as brochures, logos, business cards, and more. Rates: €20-€40 per hour. 3. Content Writing: Content writing is the creation of content such as blog posts, articles, and product descriptions. Rates: €15-€30 per hour. 4. Video Editing: Video editing encompasses the process of taking footage of events, films, TV programs, and more, and editing it into a cohesive product. Rates: €25-€45 per hour. 5. Social Media Management: Social media management involves creating, optimizing, and maintaining a client’s social media accounts. Rates: €15-€30 per hour. 6. Digital Marketing: Digital marketing is the use of digital channels such as web, email, and social media, to promote a company’s products and services. Rates: €20-€40 per hour. 7. Photography: Professional photographers are paid to take photos of events, products, and people. Rates: €20-€50 per hour. These are just a few of the many freelance jobs and gigs available in Malta. If you have the right skills and experience, there is a lot of potential in freelance work.

Focus on your freelance skills strengths and weaknesses

Research the capabilities expected of a freelancer within your area of expertise and identify your strengths and weaknesses. This will help you with your personal development plan and billable pay rate.

Create A Portfolio

Build a portfolio of your work you can showcase to prospective clients. This can be publicly viewable on the internet, or accessible on permission, depending on the nature of your work.

Try Freelancing Part-Time or as a Side Hustle

If you are just starting out and testing the water for freelancing. Then working part-time of as a side hustle is perfect for understanding whether you enjoy freelancing. What kind of rate to charge and how successful you are. Freelancing on the side can be completed on evenings and weekends, outside of your primary job and it will also help bring in some extra income too.

Building your personal Brand & Online Platform Reputation

As you gain more customers, your reputation will grow. This will allow you to acquire new customers by both word of mouth referrals and via freelance platform ratings and testimonials.

Deliver Beyond Expectations

The first rule of conducting great work is understanding the requirements and outcomes expected of you. The second rule is completing over and beyond this. This will result in repeat work and referrals, allowing you to grow your freelance business effectively.

Managing Freelancing Financials

We all love making money, but we also need to stay on top of our revenue, accounting and taxes. Some great online products to help with this include:

• Wave
• Quickbooks
• Freshbooks
• Xero
• And Co

Personal Development

Staying an expert in your specialisation is key to your success as a freelancer in Malta. Allocating time and resources to continuously improve and upskill is essential.

Freelancers use various tools and online training platform to do so, such as:

Online training courses

• Udemy

Writing

• Copywriting for Creatives
• 10x Emails
• ConversionXL
• Copyhackers’ Copy School
• HubSpot’s Content Marketing Certification

Design

• Shareworthy Design for Freelancers
• Digital Strategy School

Marketing

• HubSpot’s Inbound Certification

Business Administration

• Bookkeeping for Solopreneurs
• Organize & Automate

Freelancing Information

• The Creative Class

Software & Data Tools

• FreeCodeCamp
• CodeAcademy
• Google Analytics University

How to Be a Successful Freelancer

Start with understanding why you want to freelance? Then use our guide to ensure you give yourself the best chance of creating a successful freelance career.

One of the most important questions to ask yourself is. Can you afford to freelance? Starting out is the hardest part, there will be periods of no, or little income coming in. Do you have a financial contingency plan? If so, how long for. If the period of time is short, perhaps begin with freelancing as a side hustle on gigexchange.com

What are the Pros and Cons of Freelancing?

Advantages of freelancing

• You’re your own boss
• You set your own rate and select which freelance gigs and jobs you work
• You have a better work-life balance by working when and where you want
• You could pay less in taxes if managed well

Disadvantages of Freelancing

• You’re not your own boss
• You have to manage your own benefits, taxes, and accounting
• If you don’t work, you don’t make money. No sick leave in freelancing
• No job security