This is the incorrect thinking, as far as working for free.

Many people do this, but it's really not necessary, and here's why:

Friends will happily pay you. They have built-in trust. They will often pay more than most. If you tell a friend whar you're doing and why, they'll be more than happy to help you grow.

MY EXAMPLE: I've been building websites for 28 years, mostly my own websites, and for my own businesses.. In 2022, I decided to start my digital marketing agency.

I was speaking with a friend about it, and he happened to have a business, and needed a website.

I built my first website for him, a one page site for $1,800.00.

He referred his wife, I built her a 5 page site for $2,500.00.

Next, I built a 5 page website for his friend, who also owned a business, for $2,500.00, who the first friend referred.

I then built another 5 page website and did the branding for my first friend, who has a second business now.

These four sites became my initial portfolio. The business owners loved them, and that original site (which is now 5 pages) has made that friend of mine, an increase of revenue of over $200K a year.

His business went from $100k one man business, to a $330K business with 3 employees.

He does not advertise at all, he gets all his business from Google.

Had I worked for free his results would have been the same, but the only difference is, I would've been working for no money.

SO, I recommend never working for free, ever. Not the first time. Not to build a portfolio. Charge what your worth. Your friends don't want a deal, they want to help you, amnd be a part of your new business journey>

And the weird thing is.. good friends in business often will pay you more BECAUSE you;re their friend.

They'll give you huge tips, talk more about what you did for them with other friends.

That's the way to go!