3 Lessons from Women Who Successfully Built Careers in Freelancing

 

Mia and Dana share their freelancing journey and career growth at the She Talks Asia Summit 2026.

Earning through freelance work has never been more accessible. With a stable internet connection and numerous job platforms, opportunities can come from anywhere – and for many Filipino women, they do. A 2020 study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) showed that an increasing number of women are engaging in online work because it lets them earn while balancing home responsibilities.

But access doesn’t always mean ease. Freelancers face inconsistent income, unpredictable clients, and little guidance on how to navigate it all. For longtime freelancers Mia Juan and Dana Novales, building a career online has meant learning these lessons in real time. With more women entering the freelancing field, they share three lessons they’ve learned:

1. Build real relationships, not just transactions.

Freelancing can make work feel transactional. You get assigned a task, submit the work, get paid, and then move on. But the most successful freelancers don’t treat work that way. In such an unpredictable field, being remembered matters.

According to Dana, “Real relationships are built on service, not strategy.” Every “Well done!” or “Good work!” can open doors to new opportunities, so don’t waste them. Instead, take an extra step to establish a real relationship with your clients: check in, understand what they need, and find ways to make the process easy for them.

2. Set up systems that work for you.

Handling different clients with different ways of working can get overwhelming fast. For Mia, having systems for your workflow simply makes this easier and helps manage client expectations.

A look into Mia’s workstation, where she manages her daily freelance work and tasks

3. Find solutions that work for your peace of mind. 

Some challenges only appear once you’re in the midst of them, and for many freelancers, realizing that foreign payments come with fees, delays, and uncertainty is when freelancing starts to feel stressful.

A closer look at Dana’s work routine, which includes various creative works for her clients

“Earning in USD sounds exciting–until fees, forex, and delays eat into your income,” Dana points out. She shares that this is something she wishes she had known earlier in her freelancing career. “That’s why there is importance in having the right structures in place, especially if you’re a mom who has to think of managing your home, paying your bills, among many other responsibilities.”

That’s why Mia and Dana now use the new GCash Virtual US Account, a feature within the GCash app that lets freelancers receive USD payments from US clients more directly without the usual surcharges. After creating an account, you get your own ACH and Wire Routing Number, which you can give to your clients for direct deposits of your pay.

You can also choose to convert your USD to PHP when you want, depending on live forex rates, which you can see on the platform – giving you control over how much you actually receive. Once it’s in your wallet, you can use it to send money, pay bills, or add to your savings.

Creating a GCash Virtual US Account is easy in just a few steps.

1. Open the GCash app. Tap US Accounts in the Explore the App section

2. Tap Continue and verify your information

3. Complete your account creation

Pro Tips from Experts to Manage Your Finances as a Freelancer

 

The freelance life comes with a lot of freedom – working your own hours, choosing your clients, setting your own pace. But behind that freedom are the financial responsibilities that many people don’t talk about. Suddenly, you’re not just a virtual assistant or social media manager. You’re also your own accountant, tax filer, insurance planner, and many more all at once.

Many freelancers quickly discover that financial literacy is a non-negotiable part of the freelancing life. As long-timers in the game, April Villacin, Lyle Tanciano, Lyn Cepillo, and Coach Abby Maravilla know that managing their finances is important to stay stable through the unpredictable world of freelance work. Here are their three tips for mastering the balancing act of growing their careers as professional freelancers and managing their finances.

Track your cash flow and set up a system

Knowing how much you will be earning and spending each month is especially important for freelancers who are typically paid per project or contract. Because freelance income is irregular, cash flow monitoring is a lifeline.

One of the simplest ways to add structure to your finances is by separating your money into different accounts: for taxes, savings, personal spending, and business-related expenses like software, monthly subscriptions, and new equipment. It’s also important to list down your expected expenses each month, such as for utilities, phone bills, water, and housing.

According to April Villacin, who has been a professional virtual assistant for 8 years, many freelancers overlook the importance of a good cash flow strategy. “In freelancing, you need good skills and good clients, but you also need a good cash flow system to make sure that you’re running your business sustainably,” she says.

Staying on top of your cash flow prepares you for slow months or the moments when a client unexpectedly pauses a project. It’s a safety net that helps you make decisions confidently. So, try out this simple habit: set aside at least one day a week to update your financial records to prevent surprises and reduce money-related stress.

Get your payments in order—fast, secure, and on time

A strong client base means very little if payments arrive late. This is something freelancing coach Abby Maravilla sees all too often among the freelancers she mentors each day. For those working with international clients, there are several unavoidable delays with payments, but one area where it often occurs is when withdrawing to your local e-wallets or bank accounts.

“Bills don’t wait for days, so it’s important to have a platform that gives us access to our money as soon as possible,” adds Lyn Cepillo, who has been a social media manager since January 2021.

This is where GCash is most reliable. GCash now offers improved cash-in support for USD payments through its partnerships with Payoneer and PayPal, giving freelancers faster and easier ways to get paid. Freelancers paid via Payoneer can withdraw directly to GCash for free, with no minimum or maximum amount. Meanwhile, PayPal users now enjoy significantly lower fees, capped at only PHP 200 for 1% charges, with funds arriving in real time. This means more earnings stay with freelancers.

“There are many platforms out there, but for me, GCash is the clear choice, because it’s an all-in-one app,” says Lyle Tanciano. Beyond payments, GCash helps freelancers with their financial routines, with instant cash- ins and seamless bill payments to savings features and many more. The less time you spend worrying about money, the more time you can spend doing well at work.

Whether you’re freelancing full-time or running a passion project on the side, managing your finances is about progress not perfection. It’s the small habits like tracking your cash flow, staying on top of payments, and using smart tools – like GCash – that help you build a system that works for you, even on the most unpredictable days. Download GCash today and get more out of every payday.