For The Overworked + Underpaid
I teach total beginners how to freelance: learn a skill people pay for, land clients on Upwork, and build income you control.

— Real FWE Members
— Real FWE Members
Freelance
Erica NallCorporate DropoutDigital NomadTop 1% Upwork FreelancerHealthcare WorkerTurned Copywriter& Funnel BuilderMidwest MamaChronic Illness WarriorCorporate Dropout
with Erica

⚡ Build income, confidence & an exit ramp

Freelancing can be extra money, a backup plan, a fresh start, or the thing that eventually changes your whole life. Get started freelancing without getting swallowed by overwhelm, bad advice, or the internet's performative “make $47K by Thursday” nonsense. Get moving today with freelancing and Upwork with a PROVEN step-by-step system that's strategic, sustainable, and easy to follow.

$773K+Tracked Member Earnings On Upwork
Top 1%Of 18 Million+ Freelancers Worldwide
93Skill Guides In The Digital Skills Library

Hear It From Students

member love, fwe edition
Christine G.
Excuse me....my JSS just went, today, from 93 to 100!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Christine G.★★★★★
Reesa W.
I'm glad they trusted with more instead of just finding someone else.
Reesa W.★★★★★
Kellie E.
The first client came back and offered me another job!
Kellie E.★★★★★
Nicole S.
I am finishing up my first contract and they want to offer me more work!!!
Nicole S.★★★★★
Mohamed T.
Honestly, today feels like one of my most exciting days on this journey.
Mohamed T.★★★★★
Chelsea L.
HOLY SH**** I Just got my first job offer!!
Chelsea L.★★★★★
Dayla B.
I FINALLY got my top rated badge 🏆
Dayla B.★★★★★
Maria H.
Accepted a job offer with a higher rate than initially offered PLUS performance based incentives *insert mic drop here*
Maria H.★★★★★
Ian H.
a lead that came to me organically, just from finding my profile
Ian H.★★★★★
Janet E.
At the very least, I have hope and am encouraged again.
Janet E.★★★★★
Tia W.
This is my first bookkeeping client on Upwork, and I honestly couldn't be more excited and thankful.
Tia W.★★★★★
Sheri W.
Just got my 4th contract and I'm only 6 days in!
Sheri W.★★★★★
Amanda C.
I downloaded upwork 6 days ago, signed up for and started the 10 day challenge yesterday (got to day 3) and woke up to a contract this morning.
Amanda C.★★★★★
Rebecca M.
I hit $2,000 total earned some time last week!
Rebecca M.★★★★★
Kim B.
Sometimes the best marketing is just doing great work.
Kim B.★★★★★
Deanne T.
I can't believe my first proposal got me a job in < 2 hrs, and paid on Day 5 of joing FWE
Deanne T.★★★★★
Christine G.
I woke up to a Top Rated badge!!!!
Christine G.★★★★★
Anthony G.
I talked myself out of a one-time contract and into a long-term consulting contract.
Anthony G.★★★★★
Linda P.
Just got an easy photo edit, 5 minutes after proposal.
Linda P.★★★★★
Kt H.
I started applying last night and I got my first contract today and it's niche-specific doing exactly what I love doing!!
Kt H.★★★★★
Rachael M.
Submitted a proposal and got a contract offer within 20 minutes (wild!) 🎊
Rachael M.★★★★★
Anne N.
Negotiated my rate from the trial work contract rate up to my current hourly rate
Anne N.★★★★★
Christine G.
Excuse me....my JSS just went, today, from 93 to 100!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Christine G.★★★★★
Reesa W.
I'm glad they trusted with more instead of just finding someone else.
Reesa W.★★★★★
Kellie E.
The first client came back and offered me another job!
Kellie E.★★★★★
Nicole S.
I am finishing up my first contract and they want to offer me more work!!!
Nicole S.★★★★★
Mohamed T.
Honestly, today feels like one of my most exciting days on this journey.
Mohamed T.★★★★★
Chelsea L.
HOLY SH**** I Just got my first job offer!!
Chelsea L.★★★★★
Dayla B.
I FINALLY got my top rated badge 🏆
Dayla B.★★★★★
Maria H.
Accepted a job offer with a higher rate than initially offered PLUS performance based incentives *insert mic drop here*
Maria H.★★★★★
Ian H.
a lead that came to me organically, just from finding my profile
Ian H.★★★★★
Janet E.
At the very least, I have hope and am encouraged again.
Janet E.★★★★★
Tia W.
This is my first bookkeeping client on Upwork, and I honestly couldn't be more excited and thankful.
Tia W.★★★★★
Sheri W.
Just got my 4th contract and I'm only 6 days in!
Sheri W.★★★★★
Amanda C.
I downloaded upwork 6 days ago, signed up for and started the 10 day challenge yesterday (got to day 3) and woke up to a contract this morning.
Amanda C.★★★★★
Rebecca M.
I hit $2,000 total earned some time last week!
Rebecca M.★★★★★
Kim B.
Sometimes the best marketing is just doing great work.
Kim B.★★★★★
Deanne T.
I can't believe my first proposal got me a job in < 2 hrs, and paid on Day 5 of joing FWE
Deanne T.★★★★★
Christine G.
I woke up to a Top Rated badge!!!!
Christine G.★★★★★
Anthony G.
I talked myself out of a one-time contract and into a long-term consulting contract.
Anthony G.★★★★★
Linda P.
Just got an easy photo edit, 5 minutes after proposal.
Linda P.★★★★★
Kt H.
I started applying last night and I got my first contract today and it's niche-specific doing exactly what I love doing!!
Kt H.★★★★★
Rachael M.
Submitted a proposal and got a contract offer within 20 minutes (wild!) 🎊
Rachael M.★★★★★
Anne N.
Negotiated my rate from the trial work contract rate up to my current hourly rate
Anne N.★★★★★
Mikayla H.
He gave me ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review, a great comment, AND A BONUS!
Mikayla H.★★★★★
Maria H.
Just goes to show if you're active and putting in the work Upwork will help you out
Maria H.★★★★★
Rami M.
Started just two weeks ago landed my FIRST TWO CLIENTS!
Rami M.★★★★★
Kathy F.
I got a response from a proposal last night about 10 minutes after sending the proposal!
Kathy F.★★★★★
Eliza R.
I applied for 5 jobs yesterday and landed one today!
Eliza R.★★★★★
Travis M.
Less than 12 hours after finishing with a client, he offered another job at my profile hourly rate!
Travis M.★★★★★
Dayla B.
AND they've said they'd like to work with me in the future and would pay more!!
Dayla B.★★★★★
Trae S.
I've gone from 1-3 contracts in 4 days!
Trae S.★★★★★
Anthony V.
Thank you ERICA 2026 is going to be a great year for me and my family 🔥
Anthony V.★★★★★
Reesa W.
I sent out my very first few proposals, received a job offer, completed the job and received a 5 star review AND a written testimonial 🙌
Reesa W.★★★★★
Christine G.
An hour after Proposal Power Hour, we hopped on a Meet, and after 15 minutes he offered me a $500 ten hour contract on the spot, invoiced today, as a trial!
Christine G.★★★★★
Sorina S.
Finished my profile on Friday, got an unsolicited invitation to a job Saturday […] got hired today
Sorina S.★★★★★
Alvern B.
she decided to pay me $100/hour even though my proposal rate was $30/hour
Alvern B.★★★★★
Kim B.
Don't scoff at those small, beginner jobs. Quality leads to quantity
Kim B.★★★★★
Rebecca M.
This will be my first job actually building a Notion system (my niche).
Rebecca M.★★★★★
Marissa M.
Completed my 5th & 6th contract with amazing feedback from both and a bonus (from the 5th)!!
Marissa M.★★★★★
Ian H.
Just finished the first paid contract in my actual niche, and got my first ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review!
Ian H.★★★★★
Maria H.
hit $5000 in earnings on Upwork 🎉
Maria H.★★★★★
Janelle P.
Got my first contract, got PAID 🤑, with a TIP 💸, and a 5 ⭐ review today, plus an offer to be shortlisted for more work 💼 in the future.
Janelle P.★★★★★
Rochelle R.
Hired 5 minutes after we hung up! Got my first contract—ongoing—and I'm so excited I could cry!
Rochelle R.★★★★★
Anne N.
Hit $5k today! 🤑
Anne N.★★★★★
Tia W.
You've helped me make my dream of becoming a remote bookkeeper come true.
Tia W.★★★★★
Mikayla H.
He gave me ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review, a great comment, AND A BONUS!
Mikayla H.★★★★★
Maria H.
Just goes to show if you're active and putting in the work Upwork will help you out
Maria H.★★★★★
Rami M.
Started just two weeks ago landed my FIRST TWO CLIENTS!
Rami M.★★★★★
Kathy F.
I got a response from a proposal last night about 10 minutes after sending the proposal!
Kathy F.★★★★★
Eliza R.
I applied for 5 jobs yesterday and landed one today!
Eliza R.★★★★★
Travis M.
Less than 12 hours after finishing with a client, he offered another job at my profile hourly rate!
Travis M.★★★★★
Dayla B.
AND they've said they'd like to work with me in the future and would pay more!!
Dayla B.★★★★★
Trae S.
I've gone from 1-3 contracts in 4 days!
Trae S.★★★★★
Anthony V.
Thank you ERICA 2026 is going to be a great year for me and my family 🔥
Anthony V.★★★★★
Reesa W.
I sent out my very first few proposals, received a job offer, completed the job and received a 5 star review AND a written testimonial 🙌
Reesa W.★★★★★
Christine G.
An hour after Proposal Power Hour, we hopped on a Meet, and after 15 minutes he offered me a $500 ten hour contract on the spot, invoiced today, as a trial!
Christine G.★★★★★
Sorina S.
Finished my profile on Friday, got an unsolicited invitation to a job Saturday […] got hired today
Sorina S.★★★★★
Alvern B.
she decided to pay me $100/hour even though my proposal rate was $30/hour
Alvern B.★★★★★
Kim B.
Don't scoff at those small, beginner jobs. Quality leads to quantity
Kim B.★★★★★
Rebecca M.
This will be my first job actually building a Notion system (my niche).
Rebecca M.★★★★★
Marissa M.
Completed my 5th & 6th contract with amazing feedback from both and a bonus (from the 5th)!!
Marissa M.★★★★★
Ian H.
Just finished the first paid contract in my actual niche, and got my first ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review!
Ian H.★★★★★
Maria H.
hit $5000 in earnings on Upwork 🎉
Maria H.★★★★★
Janelle P.
Got my first contract, got PAID 🤑, with a TIP 💸, and a 5 ⭐ review today, plus an offer to be shortlisted for more work 💼 in the future.
Janelle P.★★★★★
Rochelle R.
Hired 5 minutes after we hung up! Got my first contract—ongoing—and I'm so excited I could cry!
Rochelle R.★★★★★
Anne N.
Hit $5k today! 🤑
Anne N.★★★★★
Tia W.
You've helped me make my dream of becoming a remote bookkeeper come true.
Tia W.★★★★★
Ashley S.
I have completed 3 contracts so far (1 was already a repeat that reached out to me), I have 3 5 star reviews, and I have my Job Success Score which is a 100%!
Ashley S.★★★★★
Deanne T.
Chronic illness may be kicking my butt, but I still got this contract closed with 5 stars and written review!
Deanne T.★★★★★
Megan B.
I woke up this morning to see the 100% Job Success badge on my profile!
Megan B.★★★★★
Faruque A.
Secured a new contract (#129).
Faruque A.★★★★★
Christine G.
Contract #16 won - in my niche, 10 hours at $55/hour rate
Christine G.★★★★★
Dayla B.
Someone saw my work and was like "yes, let's do this NOW at $47/hr" and I'm just??? So excited???
Dayla B.★★★★★
Anthony G.
Applied for a contract, landed it (my 5th!), finished it, and got a 5-star rating in less than 15 minutes!
Anthony G.★★★★★
ReAuna J.
my profile was old from 2022 so following the process helped revive my profile in a couple days!!
ReAuna J.★★★★★
Rachael M.
This morning I woke up to milestone accepted, a 50% bonus, and a message from the client praising my work.
Rachael M.★★★★★
McKaylee C.
3 more contracts won, and just secured my first one in my desired niche!
McKaylee C.★★★★★
Jorianna A.
That's 7 contracts within the last month!!!!!
Jorianna A.★★★★★
Maria H.
It's so good to feel loved and appreciated after being burnt out as a teacher
Maria H.★★★★★
Kim B.
Y'all... I just got an $11 bonus on a $10 job. 🥰
Kim B.★★★★★
Rebecca M.
Raised my rate to $50/hr as a Mothers' Day gift to myself :)
Rebecca M.★★★★★
Rami M.
To anyone just starting - it really does work. Keep showing up!
Rami M.★★★★★
Travis M.
When his timeline wasn't going to work for me, I asked for 5 more business days and he replied: "You are the man! Take your time."
Travis M.★★★★★
Pamela C.
After two years away from Upwork, I just landed my first contract. […] Erica's exercises and advice made a real difference in how I approached this.
Pamela C.★★★★★
Eric B.
In the last month got rising talent, 100% performance, and made my first 1000.
Eric B.★★★★★
Trindi M.
I finally submitted 2 proposals around midnight, just checked my phone around 4:30 am, and I have now accepted my first offer!
Trindi M.★★★★★
Anne N.
Contract #14 (trial work) = 3 contracts today, all in my niche …. what?!
Anne N.★★★★★
Ashley S.
I have completed 3 contracts so far (1 was already a repeat that reached out to me), I have 3 5 star reviews, and I have my Job Success Score which is a 100%!
Ashley S.★★★★★
Deanne T.
Chronic illness may be kicking my butt, but I still got this contract closed with 5 stars and written review!
Deanne T.★★★★★
Megan B.
I woke up this morning to see the 100% Job Success badge on my profile!
Megan B.★★★★★
Faruque A.
Secured a new contract (#129).
Faruque A.★★★★★
Christine G.
Contract #16 won - in my niche, 10 hours at $55/hour rate
Christine G.★★★★★
Dayla B.
Someone saw my work and was like "yes, let's do this NOW at $47/hr" and I'm just??? So excited???
Dayla B.★★★★★
Anthony G.
Applied for a contract, landed it (my 5th!), finished it, and got a 5-star rating in less than 15 minutes!
Anthony G.★★★★★
ReAuna J.
my profile was old from 2022 so following the process helped revive my profile in a couple days!!
ReAuna J.★★★★★
Rachael M.
This morning I woke up to milestone accepted, a 50% bonus, and a message from the client praising my work.
Rachael M.★★★★★
McKaylee C.
3 more contracts won, and just secured my first one in my desired niche!
McKaylee C.★★★★★
Jorianna A.
That's 7 contracts within the last month!!!!!
Jorianna A.★★★★★
Maria H.
It's so good to feel loved and appreciated after being burnt out as a teacher
Maria H.★★★★★
Kim B.
Y'all... I just got an $11 bonus on a $10 job. 🥰
Kim B.★★★★★
Rebecca M.
Raised my rate to $50/hr as a Mothers' Day gift to myself :)
Rebecca M.★★★★★
Rami M.
To anyone just starting - it really does work. Keep showing up!
Rami M.★★★★★
Travis M.
When his timeline wasn't going to work for me, I asked for 5 more business days and he replied: "You are the man! Take your time."
Travis M.★★★★★
Pamela C.
After two years away from Upwork, I just landed my first contract. […] Erica's exercises and advice made a real difference in how I approached this.
Pamela C.★★★★★
Eric B.
In the last month got rising talent, 100% performance, and made my first 1000.
Eric B.★★★★★
Trindi M.
I finally submitted 2 proposals around midnight, just checked my phone around 4:30 am, and I have now accepted my first offer!
Trindi M.★★★★★
Anne N.
Contract #14 (trial work) = 3 contracts today, all in my niche …. what?!
Anne N.★★★★★
The Four-Course Curriculum

Day Zero To Your First $10K+

Four courses filled with trainings, AI prompts, templates, tools, and resources, guiding you step-by-step through every decision of your freelance journey. I’ve walked 1,050+ freelance beginners through this exact process, next to a community that celebrates every win with you (cash contests included).

Step 01
What Would I Even Offer?

Find Your Freelance-Ready Skills

You've read job posts thinking “I could do that… right?” This training answers it: the skills you already have that clients pay real money for.

  • Audit your experience, interests & hidden genius, then get matched with your best-fit freelance service
  • See what it pays and who hires it in the Digital Skills Library (90+ freelance skill guides!)
  • Then go build it: a 4-week learning plan, practice projects, AI prompt packs, a resource library & recommended tools for every skill
Find Your Freelance-Ready Skills — your quiz results and the video training
Step 02
From Day 0 To First Clients + 5-Star Reviews

10 Days To Paid Upwork Challenge

Blank profile, zero proposals, that voice asking “who would hire ME?” Give me ten days. One assignment a day, my proven templates beside you, and your first proposals go out before the doubt catches up.

  • Profile live by Day 1, with personalized feedback from a Top 1% Upwork copywriter
  • Proposals out by Day 3, using templates that have gotten hundreds of students hired in their first week
  • A step-by-step system: first paying clients, 5-star reviews, and a 60-day First-Client-Or-Free guarantee
10 Days To Paid Upwork Challenge — the course portal on laptop, tablet, and phone
Step 03
From First Clients To Your First $1K+

Road To Top Rated

First beginner clients down. Now: learn how to move into higher-paying niche jobs, walk your hourly rate up to 2–5x what your 8-5 pays, and STAND OUT by building social proof and earning your Top Rated badge on Upwork.

  • Niche 2.0: dominate the sweet spot veterans ignore and retire the random $10 gigs
  • Cross your first $1,000+ on Upwork
  • Profile 2.0: rewritten to speak to your ideal client, then earn the Top Rated badge they filter for
Road To Top Rated — the course portal, Profile 2.0 Builders, and VSL Script Builder across devices
Step 04
From $1K To $10K+ And Beyond!

Beyond Top Rated

You hit your goal rate, and premium money is hitting your bank account. Now I teach you the advanced scaling strategies: monthly retainer clients, flat-fee pricing (paid for results, not hours), and off-platform work to scale to $10K+ and beyond.

  • Retainer clients paying you monthly, found with the 30-day paid trial strategy
  • Fixed-price offers priced on the result, so your hourly rate stops being the ceiling
  • Off-Upwork strategies for the road to $10K+
Beyond Top Rated — retainer swipe files, agreement templates, and the Flat Fee Package Builder across devices
Join Us
The Community
$9/mo
  • The FWE community & chat619+ freelancers inside
  • Weekly co-working sessions
  • Find Your Freelance-Ready Skills training + quiz
  • 90+ skill guides in the Digital Skills Library
  • Monthly cash contests
  • The Accountability Challenge + Connects prize
Great for beginners learning a new skill, established freelancers, and graduating students
Join For $9/mo Free 7-Day Trial
Join The Community First Client
Or It’s Free
60-Day
Money Back
Courses + Coaching
$33/mo

Everything in the $9 tier, plus:

  • The 10 Days To Paid Upwork Challenge
  • Road To Top Rated & Beyond Top Rated
  • All tools and resources
  • Monthly live Q&A with Erica
  • A profile review from Erica
  • The Accountability Challenge $250 grand prize
  • The FAQ & replay library
  • Live & guest trainings
Join For $33/mo Free 7-Day Trial
The 15 Fastest Freelance Services guide
Not Sure Where To Start?

The 15 Fastest Freelance Services To Start Offering

The skills that get beginners hired quickest, and how to pick yours.

Send The Free Guide
Meet Your Mentor

My Employer
Nearly Killed Me.

(So I built this instead.)
Erica Nall pointing up at the Top 1% Freelancer badge ✦ Top 1% Freelancer
Erica Nall · Expert-Vetted On Upwork
Erica's Top Rated Upwork profile: $40K+ earned, 100% Job Success, Expert-Vetted
On Upwork
Off-platform direct billing summary showing six-figure client revenue
Off Upwork

I was that overachiever who spent 20 years climbing the ladder. I ALSO had chronic illness eating me alive. (Which unironically was caused by climbing said ladder, bad bosses & stressful jobs.)

When I finally humbled myself to ask for help, my CEO listened to me BEG for flexibility and then offered this gem of a “compromise”:

How about … you close your office door?

That was THE moment. So, I burned it all down and walked away without a plan. 🔥

Once the dust settled, I turned to Upwork. My first gig was $10. My latest contract? $60,000. (One of several.)

These days? I make MORE money working LESS hours than my rigid 8–5. I retired my husband. We bought an RV. We traveled the US for the last 2.5 years as digital nomads exploring the country coast-to-coast.

I work when I want, and I rest when my body tells me to.

But this isn’t about *MY* freedom anymore. Now, it’s about YOURS.

It’s about creating financial breathing room in a world that seems determined to keep us gasping and creating an asset (your profile, your skills, your client list) that no layoff or uncaring employer can touch.

Real Members, Real Results

Don’t Take My Word For It

Amanda C. ★★★★★

“I downloaded Upwork 6 days ago, started the 10-day challenge yesterday, and woke up to a contract this morning.

Amanda C. FWE Member
Trindi M. ★★★★★

“I finally submitted 2 proposals around midnight, checked my phone at 4:30am, and I have now accepted my first offer!

Trindi M. FWE Member
Deanne T. ★★★★★

“I can’t believe my first proposal got me a job in under 2 hours, paid on Day 5 of joining FWE.”

Deanne T. FWE Member
Wasting Upwork Connects On Proposals?

8 Secrets Of A Winning Cover Letter

You’re on Upwork. You’re applying. Crickets. It’s (probably) not you. It’s the cover letter. Grab the 8-rule checklist I run every proposal through, a real example proposal that landed the job, and a mini training from me.

Send Me The 8 Secrets
The 8 Secrets of a Winning Cover Letter freebie: checklist, example proposal and mini training

Learn A Skill. Land Clients. Get Paid.

619+ freelance beginners are figuring it out together inside Freelance with Erica.

Join The Community Free 7-Day Trial
Wait, This Is Free

You Almost Left Without Your Freebie! 👋

The 15 fastest freelance services to start offering, straight to your inbox.

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The 15 Fastest Freelance Services guide