Trouble is, I imagine the kind of companies that are likely to source through bid sites are literally going for the cheapest option with little thought for the reputation of the bidder. Even if you built up a rapport with such companies, once they've paid you peanuts for your early work, they won't eagerly up the ante later. Charge them more, they'll just go back to the bid sites and find some Indians...

Either way, it doesn't sound like any kind of a living wage is much of a likelihood.

Hi... I'm in a similar boat. I'm unemployed at the moment, but I've been offered some freelance work. I've never officially done this before, and I'm not registered as a freelancer (I've been temping in various jobs for the last couple of years). Do I need to do so straight away if I'm to do any freelance work, and if so, does it cost anything to register, as my current funds are as close to zero as makes no odds?