Hi there!
I’ve become pretty skilled at creating automated workflows using n8n and I’m thinking about turning this into a freelance business. I want to help companies automate their daily tasks, integrate different software tools, and make their work more efficient.
I’m curious about people who are already doing this kind of work:
- Where did you discover your initial customers?
- Did you reach out directly to companies or did you use freelancing websites like Upwork or Fiverr?
- What’s the best way to show non-tech people why n8n automation is valuable?
I’m really interested in hearing about your experiences, both good and bad. Any advice on pricing your services or common pitfalls would be awesome too.
Appreciate any insights you can share!
Been running n8n automations for local businesses for two years. My best strategy? Target specific pain points, not automation as some abstract concept. I look for businesses obviously struggling with manual work - restaurants updating inventory across multiple platforms by hand, small agencies copy-pasting data between tools. LinkedIn outreach works great when I mention their exact workflow problems. I research first and call out what I see them doing inefficiently. Skip all technical talk. Focus on dollars and time saved. Don’t explain APIs or webhooks - tell them “this cuts 3 hours of data entry every Monday morning.” Build a portfolio of before-and-after case studies. Credibility is everything. Biggest mistake? Underpricing because I thought automation was simple. Clients pay for business impact, not technical complexity.
Started my n8n consulting about 18 months ago. Networking in industry-specific communities beats cold outreach every time. Skip the generic freelancing sites - I joined Facebook groups and Discord servers where small business owners hang out, especially e-commerce and real estate folks who obviously need automation. My breakthrough? Free workflow audits right from the first conversation. Most business owners have no clue how much time they’re wasting on repetitive stuff until you actually walk through their processes with them. I ask them to show me their daily routine - CRM, email marketing, whatever they use - then demo a simple automation that’ll save them hours each week. This converts way better than jumping into n8n’s technical features right away. For pricing, I charge for outcomes instead of hourly rates. Clients care about time saved, not how complex the development is.
I found cold emailing super effective! But be smart about it. Don’t just blast everyone - focus on companies that already use Zapier or similar. Show them how switching to n8n can cut long-term costs. Many don’t see they’re wasting cash on monthly Zapier fees when they could own their automations.