Right now, the idea of freelancing has never been more popular in the United States. At last count, some 56.7 million Americans counted themselves among the growing legions of freelancers.

Some do it because they need the flexibility to fit their busy work schedules into their already busy lives. Others do it because they just can't stand the idea of being stuck in an office for the majority of their workweek. No matter the reason, it's clear that freelancing is now an integral and growing part of the US economic landscape.

Now, with a global pandemic forcing the majority of workers to adopt the lifestyle of freelancers, there's a good chance that their ranks are going to swell even further in the near future as more workers start to recognize the kind of economic freedom they could be enjoying.

The trouble is (as any full-time freelancer can tell you), making the switch isn't as simple as getting set up to work from home. That's because, in effect, every one of those 56.7 million freelancers are operating their very own small business, and that takes some specific skills the average office worker may not have.

To help those considering going freelance, here are three types of online courses they should take beforehand to build the skills they'll need to succeed.

Bookkeeping and Taxes

One of the biggest challenges that workers face when leaving a conventional job in favor of freelance work is the fact that they have to take care of their own work-related finances.

In the US, freelancers face a dizzying array of rules and requirements surrounding their federal, state, and local tax liabilities. For those used to relying on their employer withholding tax payments from their paycheck and filling out a single set of forms once a year – the change can be fraught with trouble.

To prevent any problems, it's a good idea to take an online bookkeeping course to learn the skills necessary to track and manage income and expenses. Those skills will help a new freelancer keep up with their tax obligations and will give them the documentation needed if anything goes awry.

Next, it's also a good idea to take a course on freelance taxes, since there are so many details to understand about the topic. Most courses on the subject go into sufficient detail to cover the vast majority of freelance situations, and they're a small price to pay to keep yourself on the right side of the tax laws.

Marketing and Branding

Most workers who have never depended on freelance income to live tend to underestimate how much time and effort goes into the necessary work of attracting and keeping clients.

As a freelancer, nobody's going to show up at your door with projects and work for you to do – you have to go out and convince people to hire you again and again. It's quite a bit more stressful than most people realize, especially for those with no prior experience doing that kind of thing.

To put themselves in a good position to succeed, new freelancers should take some courses in marketing and branding before they jump into freelancing with both feet. Fortunately, enough people have gone through the process of setting up thriving freelance businesses that there's a wealth of information available on what to do.

Much of that knowledge may be found in situation-specific courses on marketing for freelancers. Taking one or more of them early on can help a freelancer maintain a steady income, the lack of which is a key reason many are forced to abandon their freelance work and go back to a conventional job.

Copywriting and Communications

Another skill area that prospective freelancers should build up before they set out on their own is all about their ability to use digital mediums to spread their message – copywriting and communications.

The reason those skills are critical is that the vast majority of freelancers will make use of them every day, even when they don't realize it. For example, the ability to write quality copy comes in handy when you need to write a project pitch for a potential client.

It's also useful when executing a content marketing strategy to attract new customers.

As for communication skills, the value of those should go without saying. As a freelancer, almost everything revolves around communication. Knowing how to keep information flowing back and forth with clients and potential customers is invaluable for several reasons.

First, it makes it easier to do your work. Second, it decreases the amount of time you'll waste working on projects, only to have to redo them due to simple misunderstandings.

Also, you might be surprised how much more likely a client will be to come back again and again if they feel that working with you is effortless and painless, and solid communication goes a long way toward providing that exact customer experience.

A Freelance Future

Given that the current trend toward freelance work can only accelerate from here, there's a good chance that there will be more and more online courses on the above topics made available as we move forward. That's a good thing because they're essential to freelance success.

With luck, enough people will recognize their need to build these skills before going freelance, so they can spare themselves the trouble of having to play catch-up with their livelihoods on the line. After all, freelancing is rewarding, but only if you know what you're getting yourself into beforehand.