Lessons - The Truth About Making $1M+ on Fiverr | Alexandra Fasulo - Author of 'Freelance Your Way to Freedom'

Summary

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Success Story with Scott D. Clary

Episode: Lessons – The Truth About Making $1M+ on Fiverr
Guest: Alexandra Fasulo, Author of 'Freelance Your Way to Freedom'
Date: October 26, 2025

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Overview

In this Lessons episode, Scott D. Clary interviews Alexandra Fasulo, a celebrated seven-figure freelancer and author, to unveil the realities behind building a million-dollar business on Fiverr. Fasulo shares candid insights about how freelancing platforms can be powerful launchpads for aspiring entrepreneurs, cultivating essential business skills and paving the way for successful agencies and personal brands. The discussion dives deep into the process of scaling, learning the “soft skills” necessary for freelancing, confidently increasing rates, and ultimately, transitioning from solo work into a thriving multi-person business.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Starting on a Marketplace vs. Going Independent

[01:43–03:13]

• Alexandra asserts that beginning on platforms like Fiverr is optimal for new freelancers:
  • “You don’t need to set up a website. You don’t need to do your own marketing…They’ll handle all of it.” (Alexandra, 02:06)
  • The built-in structure allows beginners to master discipline, time management, and client communication before attempting full independence.
  • “You got to give yourself a couple years for that.” (Alexandra, 02:37)
• The ultimate goal: own your business and scale it, but platforms are invaluable training grounds.

2. Time Commitment and Growth Trajectory

[03:13–04:09]

• Alexandra achieved significant financial progress within two months—by working “50, 60 hour weeks…no days off.”
  • “Did working 60 hours a week in the beginning get me to six figures faster? …Probably.” (Alexandra, 04:03)
• She emphasizes this isn’t necessary for everyone: “If six figures is not your goal, then don’t work 60 hours a week. Don’t worry about it.”

3. Hidden Aspects of Freelancing

[04:09–05:48]

• Beyond your core skill, freelancing requires learning marketing, sales, and especially customer service:
  • “They need to leave you five star reviews. You have to offer revisions. You have to be professional in your communication with them.” (Alexandra, 04:40)
  • Soft skills, real-world common sense, and resilience to criticism are essential.
  • “Once you conquer procrastination…you can go do anything.” (Alexandra, 05:29)

4. The Importance of Motivation and Mindset

[08:11–09:41]

• Scott & Alexandra discuss the drive required to succeed if freelancing is a side hustle vs. a necessity:
  • “If you are so miserable at whatever it is you’re doing, like, that’s when it works…It’s really like a will thing.” (Alexandra, 09:26)
• The “sink or swim” mentality can push people to succeed out of necessity, but strong motivation, even in side hustle mode, matters.

5. Handling Multiple Niches and Customer Onboarding

[09:41–12:17]

• Success in freelancing means delivering consistently across varied industries. The solution? Detailed client questionnaires:
  • “If you have a proper questionnaire set up, the client will essentially give you everything you already need.” (Alexandra, 10:32)
  • Robust onboarding minimizes misunderstandings and can even protect you from unreasonable clients:
    • “When they answer all 10 questions…they can’t get mad at you because you literally followed everything they told you.” (Alexandra, 11:14)

6. Pricing Strategies and Knowing When to Raise Rates

[12:17–13:26]

• On Fiverr, price transparency simplifies the pricing learning curve:
  • “You just go find your competitors and just copy it. That’s what I did.” (Alexandra, 12:49)
• Key triggers for raising prices:
  • Advancing a seller level.
  • Having more work than is humanly manageable: “Raise your prices…It’s all very, like, just fluid, pay attention type of stuff.” (Alexandra, 13:10)
  • Alexandra admits to staying at the lower end of pricing, but encourages listeners not to be shy about increases.

7. Evolving from Solo Freelancer to Agency Owner & Community Leader

[13:26–15:19]

• Alexandra now runs an agency model:
  • She’s hired a manager and writers, transitioning from daily hands-on work to oversight and strategy.
  • “I am no longer the girl alone on Fiverr, writing every day…My business has now officially made the jump from just being on Fiverr to being its own agency.” (Alexandra, 13:51 & 14:11)
• New focus: coaching, podcasting, and building a supportive freelancing community.
  • “I want to feature different people’s stories, talk to other people in freelancing. Really, like, create this community of it that is just so lacking online today.” (Alexandra, 15:05)
• She stresses the importance and legitimacy of scaling beyond solo work, dismissing critics:
  • “I don’t understand why my business can’t grow. Like, how is that a sin?” (Alexandra, 14:14)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On starting out:
  “A freelancing platform is ideal in people’s first few years…Once you feel like you totally got that unlocked, then…you own 100% of your business.” (Alexandra, 02:06–02:37)
• On the grind:
  “I was working 50, 60 hour weeks, no days off…Did working 60 hours a week in the beginning get me to six figures faster? Probably.” (Alexandra, 03:25–04:03)
• On the skills you don’t expect to need:
  “You have to offer revisions. You have to be professional in your communication…those things, once you learn them, I think you’re infallible.” (Alexandra, 04:40–05:29)
• On what makes freelancers succeed:
  “It’s really like a will thing.” (Alexandra, 09:26)
• On client onboarding:
  “The questionnaire is everything. It also minimizes miscommunications…” (Alexandra, 11:07)
• On moving beyond solo work:
  “I’ve done this for seven years. I would be an idiot at this point if I didn’t have people helping me…Why would I just keep doing this alone?” (Alexandra, 14:22)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:43: Should you start on a marketplace or go independent?
• 03:13: Time, effort, and how long it takes to replace a full-time income.
• 04:09: Unexpected challenges new freelancers should prepare for.
• 08:11: Side hustle mentality vs. all-in leap: what drives success?
• 09:41: Working across different industries as a freelancer.
• 10:32: Using client questionnaires to ensure quality and communication.
• 12:17: Pricing strategies and when to raise your rates.
• 13:51: Scaling from solo freelancer to agency and community builder.

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Conclusion

This episode is a masterclass in the practical steps, mindset shifts, and business evolutions required to go from side hustler to seven-figure freelancer—and beyond. Alexandra Fasulo’s journey offers a transparent look at the discipline, organization, and humility it takes to build, scale, and sustain a service-based business, and empowers aspiring freelancers to see platforms like Fiverr as valuable training grounds—not limitations.

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Transcript

[Podcast Host]

Indeed is a success story. Partner. Now here's your tech hiring tip of the week from Indeed. 73% of tech workers say flexibility is one of their top priorities. So if your job posting doesn't mention flexible hours or remote options, you're basically invisible to three out of four candidates. Keep that in mind. Look, hiring tech talent right now, it's tough. You are competing for people with super specific skills. Everyone wants hybrid work and the salary expectations are through the roof. It's a lot. That's why Indeed actually makes sense. They're the number one place where tech people go to apply for jobs. We're talking 3 million tech professionals in the US and 86% of them have applied through Indeed. It's not just some job board where you post and pray. They've got tools like smart searching and their tech network that uses AI to connect you with people who actually have the skills that you need. Companies using the tech network saw over four times more relevant applications. That's huge. More qualified people. Way less time wasted. Whenever I've needed tech talent in the past, Indeed is the only platform I choose. And if I needed to hire top tier tech talent today, I'd still go with Indeed. Post your first job and get $75 off at indeed.comtechtalent that's indeed.comtechtalent to claim this offer. Indeed. Build for what's now and what's next in tech hiring. In this Lessons episode, explore how freelancing platforms launch aspiring entrepreneurs before they scale into independent businesses. Discover how marketplace experience builds discipline and client management skills. Understand how communication and time management ensure stability, and uncover how smart pricing and delegation turn a solo hustle into a thriving agency.

[Interviewer]

When you decided to do this, like this is something that somebody could totally side hustle and not just go all in on, but when you're starting to sell a service or a product, do you think that it makes more sense to use a marketplace like a Fiverr or even like an upwork or any top towel or any other? Or is it more it makes more sense to figure out a website market yourself.

[Freelancer/Entrepreneur]

So I think in the beginning, a freelancing platform like a Fiverr is definitely the best way to go because they handle so much of it for you, right? Like you don't need to set up a website. You don't need to do your own marketing. You don't need to worry about client disputes. They'll, you know, they'll, they'll handle all of it. And I think starting out, if you try and just be your Own independent freelancer with your own website and everything right out of the gates. You're going to be so overwhelmed. I think it's going to be too. So I think a freelancing platform is ideal in people's first few years because you get to learn, you know, time management. You have to start to understand discipline, not procrastinating, you know, customer service. That's a lot to learn. You got to give yourself a couple years for that. Once you feel like you totally got that unlocked, you know, how to sell people and all that stuff, then I think taking it off of there, where you own 100% of your business, is obviously the end goal. You know, that's how you get the agency going. That's how you hire help. You start growing it into something huge. You can make. You have seven figures if you want, but I think a freelancing platform is perfectly fine in the meantime, because you can make six figures on a freelancing platform, which is like crazy, and you can do it by yourself.

[Interviewer]

And how much time did you actually have to put in to hit that, to hit any significant amount of revenue that would replace your PR job? Was it months? 80 hours a week?

[Freelancer/Entrepreneur]

Yeah. So like, in only two months, I knew it was gonna work. Yeah, I mean, I was working a lot in the beginning. Like, I was working 50, 60 hour weeks, never 80 hour weeks. I've never been someone who's like not gonna sleep at night for. I've always thought that's like stupid in college. And people are like, I'm pulling an all nighter. And I'm like, well, that's dumb because you're gonna be exhausted tomorrow. Like, I've never, like, gotten that. But I would hover around the like 50, 60 hour mark. No days off. And I say to people, you don't have to do it that way. Like, I'm just being honest about what I did. I'm not saying you have to do it that way, but I think, yeah. Did working 60 hours a week in the beginning get me to six figures faster?

[Podcast Host]

Probably.

[Freelancer/Entrepreneur]

If six figures is not your goal, then don't work 60 hours a week. Don't worry about it.

[Interviewer]

Very cool. Okay. And then just I'm curious as to. Because you mentioned a few other things. Like when you jump into entrepreneurship, there's other stuff that crops up. There's customer success, there's. You mentioned a few things. Actually, I'm blanking on some of the other stuff. But what are some of those. What are some of those things that you don't Think about when you're starting because you have your skill that you want to sell to the world. What are the other things that you have to be aware of that you generally don't realize until you're in it?

[Freelancer/Entrepreneur]

Yeah. Oh man. So many things market and not marketing sales, right? Like when you're messaging customers, how do you get them to book more with you? Customer service, like customer satisfaction. They need to leave you five star reviews. You have to offer revisions. You have to be professional in your communication with them. If they lash out at you, you have to still be professional back to them. Time management. If somebody places eight orders with you one day, you cannot procrastinate. That's the, you know, because if you were already procrastinating another huge order due tomorrow, you now have a situation. So, you know, very like, what is that? Soft skills or like real world common sense stuff is a huge part of this that, you know, you didn't need to have to do well in college or anything. Or you sometimes don't even really need to do well in a 9 to 5 because your boss, your manager's taking care of it for you. So it's like all those things, you got to give yourself time to learn those things. But those things, once you learn them, I think you're infallible. I think once you, you know, conquer procrastination, you know how to sell things to people, you know how to take criticism and not take it personally. I think you can go do anything. Then it doesn't have to be freelancing. Like, I think you're set for life when you, like, get through that.

[Podcast Host]

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[Interviewer]

In tech hiring 100% now this, this is something I'm curious about.

[Podcast Host]

Do you think that.

[Interviewer]

Because I always preach that you shouldn't jump right in, but I think there could be a benefit because when you jump right into entrepreneurship, you force yourself to ramp. Like there's like no looking back. Like you, you could have a little bit of a nest egg. But I mean chances are you have to, you have to make rent in a couple months and that's going to be an issue if you don't make money. So do you think that by maybe not jumping into, if you jump into a side hustle just part time, do you think maybe the drive isn't there and that may give a false, a false response to whether or not you could be successful versus if you jump right in and you're like forced. You like sink or swim?

[Freelancer/Entrepreneur]

Yeah, I think being forced into it ensures success more and that you're gonna make it work. But I have seen a lot of people segue into it half and half where they start it part time while they're at their 9 to 5. And if they hate their 9 to 5 enough, they make it work part time. So it's almost. I just see it always works. If you are so miserable at whatever it is you're doing, like, that's when it works. Because if you like kind of like your 9 to 5 still, I don't think you're going to make it work. So it takes a lot of work. But for the people I know who are just like, make it stop. I hate this with every fiber of my being. I cannot go on another day. I see them make it work. So it's really like a will thing. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

And okay, so now, so now you're in it that you're doing it. And, and the one thing that I always was curious about with someone who offers a service in a freelancing environment where the customers are always different industries, different niches, how do you stay, how do you be effective across so many different niches? Because of course, copywriting is. You definitely have to. But I think there's other things. Like if you are doing any sort of product specific work, you have to find a way to execute whatever service it is that you offer against that product in like record time at a very high caliber. So what's the, is it just research? Is it mindset? Is it, is there a strategy to find the best information in a short period of time, even though you've never learned about that thing before in your life?

[Freelancer/Entrepreneur]

Yeah, that's, that's why the questionnaires are so important in freelancing. Because if you have a proper questionnaire set up, the client will essentially give you everything you already need. So you'll say, you know, what pages do you want done? What's the topic? Do you have a title in mind? Do you have a blog that you really like that you want this to sound like? And by the time they're done with your questionnaire, they've kind of given you like everything you need to. Then just write it for them.

[Interviewer]

Okay, so this is like the, this is like the customer onboarding piece. Like this is like what this is when you're first bringing them on. Like, that is like integral to being successful, basically.

[Freelancer/Entrepreneur]

And the questionnaire is everything. It also minimizes miscommunications because like in the beginning, my questionnaires would have like two questions in them. And the client would, I wouldn't know what the client wanted and the client would get pissed at me and I'd get pissed at the client. You know, all this stuff. Then when you have the 10 questions, by the end, when they answer all 10 questions, like they can't get mad at you because you literally followed like everything they told you. So it's like they don't have a case against you at that point. Because you listen. Yeah. Because like, I mean, occasionally you get a crazy person who you will follow everything they ask of you. And they're like bipolar or something and they'll say like, that's not what I want. And I'm like, okay.

[Interviewer]

Or they could, or they could be, they could be, they could be, you know, doing that on purpose because they want. Or they think they know the game.

[Podcast Host]

Right?

[Interviewer]

They think if they, if they complain, it's like the person who likes like after they ate the meal at the restaurant, they're like, this was shit. Like they think like they're going to get a free, free something out of you if they just complain enough.

[Freelancer/Entrepreneur]

Exactly. And if you, you know, have your questionnaire set up like that, Fiverr will see that and be like, okay, we see the spires an asshole. This person is trying to get free work basically.

[Interviewer]

All right, okay, cool. All right. So you. So now you are growing your business on Fiverr. The next step in entrepreneurship or solopreneurship is pricing and making your business more viable.

[Podcast Host]

Of course.

[Interviewer]

So what are some of the. Because this is something that I've been in consulting before, not copywriting, but it's something that I struggled with personally. I know a lot of people struggle with pricing their stuff. How do you price your stuff and how do you know when to increase the price on your stuff?

[Freelancer/Entrepreneur]

So on a Fiverr it's really easy because everyone's prices are public. So you just go find your competitors and just copy it. That's what I did two times I raised my prices on Fiverr. When you advance a level, raise your prices. When you have more work than you can humanly do in a 10 hour workday, raise your prices. It's all very like, you know, just fluid, like just pay attention type of stuff. Could you raise your prices even more than those two triggers? Probably. I always tend to operate on the lower end of the pricing spectrum. That's a me problem. But I say to people, you know, those are the two instances. Don't be shy.

[Interviewer]

Okay, very good. So walk me through the like the current version of your business. So Obviously started on Fiverr. You grew some additional products. I just want to get it like a holistic and maybe I'll think of some questions to go into or some strains to go into, but then I want to just keep going down your story and CNBC and some of the things that have come out of that as well. So what's the current iteration of your business? All the products, services that you're doing right now?

[Freelancer/Entrepreneur]

Yeah. So my business has now officially made the jump from just being on Fiverr to being its own agency, essentially. So I have a person below me, my best friend, who's actually the manager now of three different writers. So I am no longer the girl alone on Fiverr, writing every day. I've always been transparent about that. Which all the trolls are like, she isn't telling the truth. I'm like, you guys, what? Like, I'm always. I don't understand why my business can't grow. Like, how. How is that a sin? Like, I will talk about.

[Interviewer]

We'll talk about some of that stuff in a second too.

[Freelancer/Entrepreneur]

Well, so I've done this for seven years. I would be an idiot at this point if I didn't have people helping me. Like, why would I just keep doing this alone? So I have my best friend for the last two months now. It's very. It's very new, is building out an agency essentially below me. So I'm helping with the hiring of people, looking over their work before it's delivered, making sure it's up to par, and she's basically doing the rest because I'm looking to now, you know, move more into almost a coaching, like, informational realm with this. My. My season of my podcast is starting next week. I want to get more into almost freelance reportings. No one else is doing that. I want to feature different people's stories, talk to other people in freelancing. Really, like create this community of it that is just so lacking online today. That's where I'm heading with it right now. So I am the most removed from it I have ever been, but I think I deserve that. It's been seven years.

[Podcast Host]

Thanks for tuning in. If you found this valuable, don't forget to hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode. And if you want to dive deeper into this conversation, check out the links in the description to watch the full episode. See you in the next one.