Freelancing offers career flexibility. Professionals can choose their clients and projects, set their own schedules, and work with companies worldwide. But the setup can also be unpredictable. Aside from delivering work, freelancers often have to find clients, manage workloads, and handle their own finances.
To help address one of the biggest challenges freelancers face, GCash has introduced the GCash Virtual US Account, a feature designed to make it easier to receive and manage payments from US clients.
Industry experts also share a few practical tips for freelancers who are starting out and want to build a more sustainable career.
Build yourself as much as you build your client base
Spending all your time on client work can limit long-term growth. Freelancers can end up moving from one deadline to another without improving their skills or expanding their opportunities.
According to Arnel Legaspi Jr., a CPA and freelancer, personal development is just as important as delivering good work.
“When I started, I thought if I was good at social media marketing, learned enough tools, and delivered well, everything would fall into place. But freelancing tests your boundaries, your self-worth, your discipline, and your money mindset.”
Keeping up with new tools, industry trends, and regularly updating your portfolio can help freelancers expand their services and eventually charge higher rates.
Build structure into your work and into your days
Creating systems can make freelance work more manageable and efficient. This goes beyond basic time management and focuses on building workflows that support daily tasks.
Ehdina Tindoy, founder of Spark Creative Solutions, recommends using templates and predefined frameworks for planning, execution, and review.
She says these systems help reduce decision fatigue and improve turnaround time. Tracking how time is spent, from planning and outsourcing to execution and revisions, can also help freelancers identify bottlenecks and improve their processes.
Build your money system
Freelance income can be unpredictable, especially when working with international clients and payment platforms. Delays in payments and transfer fees can make managing earnings difficult.
The GCash Virtual US Account, powered by Meridian1, provides freelancers with their own ACH and Wire Routing Number that they can share with US employers for direct transfers. This allows freelancers to receive the full amount of their earnings without losing money to steep exchange rates or transfer platform fees.
Users can keep their USD in the app and convert it to PHP when exchange rates are more favorable. The app also shows live and competitive forex rates so users know how much they will receive.
Once the funds are transferred to the GCash e-wallet, users can pay utility bills and other expenses, save, or invest through the app.
Creating a GCash Virtual US Account is simple. Open the GCash app, tap US Accounts in the Explore the App section, tap Continue, verify your information, and complete the account creation.
