44 jobs as a freelancer or entrepreneur in Malta
Freelancer jobs can be found in almost all sectors. Freelancers are considered flexible and highly qualified. As an entrepreneur, you can offer your business worldwide with high-speed internet service in Malta. For companies, freelancers and digital nomads, the hurdles to registering a business in Malta are low. In addition to personal suitability, your professional expertise is crucial for success. Once you have a business license, you can operate your online business from any location.
No idea for a self-employed job in Malta?
For expats, self-employment or setting up a business in Malta is a great opportunity,
- work flexibly,
- enjoy the beautiful weather
- and be by the sea within 30 minutes.
Are you seeking an idea for a self-employed job in Malta? We have found 44 immediately realizable jobs or activities. Learn something new, get out of your comfort zone. Due to the high-speed Internet, digital activities are particularly suitable in Malta. The legal hurdles for setting up a business in Malta are low, provided you don’t set up a limited company.
What is a freelancer, and where does the term come from?
The term is associated with a fight for survival. In Sir Walter Scott’s novel about the knight Ivanhoe, the author uses “freelances” for a free fighter, more commonly known today as a mercenary. They went into battle with their lances for wealthy warlords in return for a fee (pay). These battle-hardened “freelancers” were independent and free, and had to offer or advertise their services. The knights of the order of Malta had already mastered marketing.
Top 44 freelance and start-up ideas for Malta
Advertising agency
Setting up, managing, maintaining and optimizing advertising campaigns for Google, Facebook, or Amazon is a challenge for many companies in the online business. If you have a flair for successful ads advertising, creative thinking with strategic planning is part of your tasks, nothing stands in the way of your advertising agency.
Affiliate marketing
As an affiliate marketer, you promote the products or services of companies. You receive a commission via affiliate links for referring customers via your blog, website, e-books, or social media channels. In addition to individual approaches to companies, there are affiliate marketplaces with thousands of product ideas in some cases.
Build your affiliate army without annoying social media posting. Get the best guide to making money with affiliate marketing. Torsten Jaeger has been one of the top experts in building and automating a successful online and affiliate business since 2001.
Amazon Dropshipping
With drop shipping, you sell goods online that you do not store or ship yourself. Once an order has been placed, the manufacturer or wholesaler packs and ships the goods to your customer. Knowledge of customs, taxes, laws, packaging design, returns, and complaints is helpful. The products can also be marketed via social media or Amazon.
Amazon FBA
With Amazon Fulfilment by Amazon, you sell products from third-party retailers and make use of Amazon’s infrastructure. Amazon handles the picking, packing, shipping, storage, customer support, and returns management. The fee of around 15 per cent depends on the product category. Easy handling, the huge number of Amazon visitors, and the reliable shipping of products simplify the development of an online store. A five-digit capital requirement is recommended by Amazon FBA professionals.
Amazon MBA — with T-shirts for your own online business
You upload your designs to Amazon Merch by Amazon. As with the print-on-demand book sales process, your T-shirts, bags or sweatshirts are produced by Amazon after purchase. You can outsource the creation of designs to freelancers or virtual assistants.
App development
As an app developer, you specialize in the development of mobile applications for various platforms such as iOS and Android. Brainstorming, conception and planning, development and integration of the necessary APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) and libraries. After testing, debugging, and publishing, you will then begin the rocky road to marketing and monetization.
Consultant for blockchain
Malta is considered a European stronghold for blockchain. Improper data entry and errors can lead to fraud. A blockchain consultant eliminates this uncertainty and uses company data to develop a secure and automated system.
Book author for publishers such as Amazon, BoD or Tolino
Publishing a book may seem complicated at first. This has become much easier with BoD and thanks to Amazon. You hardly need any start-up capital. With the print-on-demand program, where books are printed after purchase, you can publish novels, non-fiction, specialist books, puzzles or children’s books directly from Malta. Identify market niches, write your book yourself or find a ghostwriter. This way you can publish professionally at a high level. In addition to Amazon, there are more than a dozen publishers such as BoD, ePupli or Tredition.
Consultant for cyber and cloud security
As a cybersecurity consultant, you are responsible for monitoring systems at companies. You will be in close contact with your customers to identify potential weaknesses in their security measures. You recommend measures to improve security and create awareness of cyber threats. Another source of income is offering training courses. A perfect digital knowledge worker.
Blogger
As a blogger, you write about your hobbies, interests, or businesses and brands. You develop appealing hooks for the content, carry out the research select the image and video material, and observe the SEO guidelines of the search engines. The blogger fulfills the role of content manager, expert, community manager, web designer, and SEO all in one. You generate advertising revenue and monetize your blog through your products, services, affiliate marketing, pay-per-click advertising, or direct marketing.
Call center agents, customer care agents
Instead of being a listless interlocutor, you offer friendly service and competent advice. In addition to the flexible work location and free time management, you have a real work-life balance. In addition to a flawless native language, call centres often expect a good command of English, a reliable cable Internet connection and a large screen of 21 inches (53.34 cm).
Cannabis Social Club
The government of Malta has allowed the establishment of cannabis social clubs since November 2021. The foundation process is preceded by an extensive reliability check.
Coach and coaching
Whether you are a business consultant or health coach, do you have special skills, talent, or expertise? Online coaching is a lucrative and scalable business. Changing conditions require strong digital-expertise when physical contact with customers and business partners is impossible. Online coaching combines your
services profitably digitally and communicates your expertise digitally to your target group. Daily rates in the four-digit range can be achieved with high-quality coaching.
Create a community – Skool
As an entrepreneur, would you like to build your community and make yourself independent of social media such as Facebook or Instagram?
Skool is an online platform for creating a community and strengthening your brand.
A successful Skool community with active members offers a lively exchange and mutual support. Translations are provided for collaboration between members from different countries and language groups.
- Encourage interaction
- Collect feedback and ideas
- Centralise content and knowledge
- Reduce support costs
Which industries is Skool suitable for?
- Coach and consultant
- Education sector
- Podcasters
- creators
- Book authors
- Founders and start-ups
- Health and fitness industry
- Non-profit and social enterprises
Skool is a flexible and multifunctional platform for various industries. Through similar interests of the community, you create a customized and committed network for yourself and your members. The swarm intelligence of the members can be used free of charge or for a monthly fee.
Test Skool for 14 days without obligation and build your own community.
Content Writer
The content writer writes content for the online sector such as blogs, videos, and product or sales pages. The content writer is rarely an expert on the topic. Journalistic talent and editorial writing and storytelling skills include research, outline planning, and a basic understanding of SEO and HTML. You will find clients worldwide, but the gaming industry in Malta is in constant need of freelance content writers. By writing content, they help improve search engine rankings to attract and retain customers. Juggle with letters and words like a balancing artist in the circus. If you can think, you can write.
Since 2022, artificial intelligence programmes have been supporting research and writing, so an understanding of artificial intelligence such as Mixtral, Lama, Claude or ChatGPT is useful.
You can find your customers or clients worldwide. In Malta, the gambling or gaming industry is constantly in need of freelance content writers. By writing content, they help improve search engine rankings to attract and retain customers. Juggle letters and words like a balancing artist in the circus. Successful copywriter Youri Keifens says: “If you can think, you can write.
Copywriting
Copywriting is the creation of convincing advertising texts. In addition to the right choice of words and tone, these are packed with emotion and turn your client’s target group into customers. You mainly deal with short texts, such as advertising slogans, headlines, or press advertisements. The active language is dynamic and energetic and arouses the reader’s interest.
Digital nomad
Digital nomad is not a job profile, but the description of a location-independent activity. Malta has launched a grant for digital nomads in 2022.
Bottle handler
The bottle handler is an almost unknown but relatively old profession. Some even become famous around the world, like Bottle Claus, whose real name is Claus-Henning Schulke. At the Berlin Marathon, Bottle Claus handed the bottles to Eliud Kipchoge when he broke the world record. There are a number of running and cycling events on the small archipelago of Malta. Be the first Bottle Claus to hand the bottles to the winner.
Gastronomy: waiters, kitchen staff and delivery
With 2 to 2.5 million holidaymakers, Malta has not been able to keep up with the jobs for many years. Between May and November, thousands of these jobs are offered, some of which are also available on a self-employed basis.
Ghostwriting for books
Various models are conceivable for ghostwriters. Profit sharing per book copy sold, hourly or word-based fees and fixed prices. Everything has its advantages and disadvantages. If the books sell poorly, there is hardly any profit sharing. When paying per word or hour and a bestseller, 20 to 50 % profit sharing would have been a very fair deal. With successful ghostwriting, you are currently (still) superior to artificial intelligence, such as Mixtral, Lama, Claude or ChatGPT and build up a stable income online.
Graphic designer
Graphic designers are creative and have a sense of aesthetics. They are professionals in the use of Gimp, Photoshop, InDesign, and AI such as Midjourney. You create illustrations, visualisations, layouts and other products based on a briefing for your customers.
HR Consultant
An HR consultant is not looking for managers or personnel. They deal with personnel as a production factor, personnel management functions and processes such as personnel planning, deployment, management, or development. The HR consultant is booked as a human resource management consultant and ensures the successful implementation of corporate goals.
Influencers and YouTube
As a YouTuber or influencer, you advertise merchandising products in your YouTube videos. In addition to the affiliate marketing commission for advertised products, you generate income via the YouTube partner programme. Reach is everything and means a lot of work, creativity, and investment of time and love.
Managing influencers as an influencer agency
What used to be the model agency is now the influencer manager. As a management agency for influencers, you connect companies with influencers. Other services include developing, conceptualizing and planning various strategies for your influencers. This includes self-marketing, defining target groups, storytelling, and the storyline. Other tasks include negotiation, contract drafting and detailed briefing between the parties.
Purchase of an existing e-commerce business
Immediate entry with immediate sales and possibly an established customer base is achieved with the purchase of an online shop or Amazon Business. The website is already indexed in the search engines and has rankings. In addition to buying a pig in a poke, the risks include contractual obligations, taking over the inventory, high entry costs and cross-border legal hurdles. In addition to your personal contacts, online sales exchanges are your point of contact.
AI consultant for AI design or user experience enhancement
As an AI Consultant for AI Design or User Experience Enhancement, you will be responsible for designing and integrating artificial intelligence (AI) in companies. Through machine learning and autonomous systems, dangerous tasks as well as routine activities are transferred to AI. Are you familiar with programming languages, frameworks and AI tools? Then, as an AI consultant, you will identify the most suitable technologies for your clients, such as AI software for text creation and translation or prepare the automation of business processes.
Artificial intelligence has been firmly rooted in industry and digital business for over a decade. ChatGPT from OpenAI has been massively changing business life in an unimaginable way since 2022 and is putting small and medium-sized companies in particular under pressure. AI consultants who seamlessly integrate the solutions into existing business processes and offer measurable added value for the company can command four-figure daily rates.
Music teacher
Malta’s population is extremely musical, which you can admire at Easter processions, or festivals such as Maria Bambina. In addition to brass instruments, percussion, piano and accordion lessons are very popular. As a music teacher, you encourage musical activity. You develop and realise teaching concepts and train not only listening skills but also the ability to sight-read. In addition to being a freelance music teacher, you can also work as a freelancer for the philharmonic band clubs or the four music schools in Malta.
Online retailer with its warehouse
You can buy large quantities of products at favourable prices from bankruptcy auctions and from Asia. Retail sales in Europe lead to high profits. Due to Malta’s island location, we recommend a warehouse on the mainland or using the Amazon drop-shipping model.
Online sale of handmade products
The Etsy platform is an e-commerce website for handmade products such as jewellery, furniture or personalised gifts. A low listing fee reduces the cost risk and makes it easier to get started. There are communities in Malta that specialise in the joint marketing of restorations of old furniture or homemade products. Other sales options include setting up your own shop or a social media platform.
Podcaster
You can advertise products in expert podcasts that are worth listening to and have a wide reach. This is because podcasters have a high level of trust in the media environment and build up an extreme bond with their listeners. Your podcast ensures visibility within the target group, for example as a coach or in the sale of products or services. In addition, advertising announcements during a lecture or interview and show notes with an (affiliate) link can be used to generate income. A podcast is a content, development, marketing and sales tool.
Product tester and reviewer at Amazon, participation in paid surveys
Positive reviews are particularly beneficial for new products coming onto the market. Sellers make their products from the online shop available for testing free of charge. They then write a review on Amazon or their online shop and help potential customers with their purchase decision. As money for reviews often does not comply with the terms and conditions, the income consists of the product samples. Alternatively, you can take part in paid studies and surveys. Many opinion research and market research institutes rely on four-digit participants (statistical significance) and remunerate participation in surveys and studies.
Poker (online) players
Perhaps the most important piece of advice: Internet speed is everything. With Malta’s Gigabit Internet you are on the safe side when playing poker online.
A single win can cover months of travelling or the cost of living for several months. This is an attractive option for poker players. On the other hand, losing streaks are possible. This is why writing books or selling an online poker course is an additional option.
PR and public relations online, PR agency
A job for marketing and communication professionals. Clients are companies or organisations that want PR work via the Internet and e-mail marketing.
SEO consulting
The demand for Search Engine Optimisation is high. Not every online shop can afford an SEO department. As an experienced SEO, you offer search engine optimisation, backlink building and SEO strategies. The business models are individual: time-limited or long-term contract, SEO analyses, SEO visibility, workshops or technical SEO implementation.
Social media, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube & Co
You can at least earn a side income with a large reach on social media. Publish sponsored posts, run affiliate marketing or your goods, digital products and services. You can advertise these via Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn. Cooperations and profit sharing are also possible.
Social Media Manager
As a social media manager, you are responsible for the social media communication of companies. You create and publish content and interact with the community. You measure your successful work using analysis tools and adapt your skills to the latest trends.
Language teaching
Malta is popular with language students as an affordable, English-speaking country. The international language schools offer teaching jobs to talented foreigners. Language teachers are certified in Malta.
Tourism-, travel-, City- and hiking guide
Malta is a destination steeped in history and expert guides are often booked by visitors for city tours. The former capital Mdina and Valletta are particularly popular. City guides are tested and receive certification from the tourism authority. Without certification, it is possible to offer walking groups for Gozo, Comino and Malta for a donation.
Traders, share trading and cryptos
Malta offers one of the most attractive tax regimes in Europe.Traders and securities traders benefit from a low effective tax rate, and under certain conditions can even remain tax-free.You need a business licence to trade professionally in Malta.
Trading on the financial market offers you enormous opportunities. It is essential to have solid knowledge and strategies in order to be successful. To avoid being one of the 70 to 90 per cent of traders who lose money on the CFD market or with crypto investments, you need a solid education. Long-term success in trading is not based on luck, but on systematic and learnt skills.
Success in trading means focussing on the essentials.
Would you prefer to familiarise yourself first? Then perhaps the standard work by John Murphy “Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets: Fundamentals, Strategies, Methods, Applications” including workbook is the right textbook for you.
Risk warning: Trading foreign exchange and CFDs involves a huge amount of risk and may not be suitable for you. There is a possibility that you may suffer losses equal to your entire investment.
Therefore, you should not invest money that you cannot afford to lose in a worst-case scenario.You should ensure that you understand all these risks. Before using the services of a broker, make sure you are familiar with the risks involved in trading.
Would you prefer to familiarize yourself first? Then perhaps the standard work by John Murphy “Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets: Fundamentals, Strategies, Methods, Applications” including workbook is the right textbook for you.
Tutor
Solve and sell exams as a tutor. Some platforms for training pupils and students need the help of alumni. They market the information and training content they receive in apps or online platforms. In return, the tutors receive a share of the profits.
Hire of sports equipment such as stand-up paddleboards or kayaks
You need a special licence to hire out sports equipment. The hire can be organised via a van so that you can arrive quickly and flexibly with your equipment. The investment is manageable, the earnings are reasonable at 10-25 euros per hour per board.
Videographer and photographer
Online shops in particular rely on high-quality photos and videos to market their products. The services of a product photographer are required despite AI. Shop operators integrate the photos and video material on the website or the Amazon product listing. Professional product presentations convince potential buyers.
Virtual assistant
A virtual assistant is the modern form of a secretary or management assistant. The independence in terms of time and location allows you to organise your time perfectly. As a virtual assistant, you offer various services such as answering emails and phone calls, social media activities, research or arranging appointments. The platform Fernarbeit.de identified 147 jobs for virtual assistants. Busy online entrepreneurs and solo freelancers outsource activities to virtual assistants.
Web designer
As a web designer, you deal with the graphic design and user guidance of websites and interfaces for various web applications. Web designers are often trained as media designers.
Yoga teacher
Malta is suitable for self-employed yoga teachers, as courses can take place all year round on the beach or sea on a stand-up paddle. In addition to the course fees, income is generated from the sale of yoga materials and the organisation of workshops or retreats.
What is a freelancer, and where does the term come from?
The term freelancing was associated with a struggle for survival. Sir Walter Scott already used the term freelances for free fighters in his book of the knight Ivanhoe. They went into battle with their lances for wealthy lords in return for a fee. They were called mercenaries because of the pay they received.
Even these first battle-hardened freelancers were free to decide for themselves who they served and for how long. They had a fluctuating income and had to advertise themselves and their services to win over contractors. Army commanders needed mercenaries if the client’s own army was insufficient. Those who could afford the best or most freelances usually won the battles.
Pros & cons of freelance activities
Free time management and flexibility
You organise your projects and assignments flexibly and adapt them to your life-work balance.
Interesting and diverse projects
Every project and client is different. This can be interesting for freelancers and promotes professional development.
Calculate earning potential yourself
You decide the hourly rates or fixed prices at which orders are accepted.
Professional independence
Those who dislike working for their boss appreciate the independence of freelancing.
Insecure income and fees
Simply being a copy cat is not a promising business model.Service providers on freelancer platforms are constantly competing with rivals for the most favourable offers. Quality does not always prevail. In addition, the sometimes steep platform fees reduce income.
Personal responsibility and motivation
As a freelancer, you are responsible for your business. This includes constantly motivating yourself to acquire customers or do the bookkeeping.
Absend state heding
The social systems in Malta are less attractive than in Germany. The healthcare system is adequate, inexpensive and you can supplement it with private supplementary insurance. You take care of your own disability, pension and holiday pay cover.
heavy workload
If your clients demand improvements, this can lead to a high workload in addition to the orders already accepted. This is because freelancers often only receive their fee on completion of the project.
Freelancer jobs on the best job portals
Twago — one of the largest pan-European marketplaces for freelancers. The platform is financed by freelancer credits and other functions. Belongs to the personnel service provider Randstad.
Gulp — Portal for IT specialists
4Scotty — The Berlin job portal for web workers offers a platform for software developers, CTOs, UX experts, data scientists, tech consultants and sales specialists in the IT sector.
Freelancermap — jobs and projects for DevOps, designers, or editors for image films. Freelancers with a profile receive automatic project proposals by email.
Yeeply — Closed network for certified experts.
Uplink — Professional network for senior developers and freelancers with years of experience as freelancers.
Freelance-market.de — Without registration and commission possible.
Expertlead — Specialist portal for qualified freelancers and well-known digital companies for blockchain, development, design and online marketing. Not suitable for everyone, as freelancers apply to be listed on Expertlead.
Simplyhired — A popular portal for digital nomads thanks to its wide reach. As a service, Simplyhired offers a blog worth reading with comprehensive tips and tricks on the subject of freelancing.
Upwork — Upwork is the largest job platform for freelancers with the option of creating a detailed profile. Both sides can view previous jobs and customer ratings before working together.
Freelancer.com — Freelancer is also a big player as a marketplace for small business. Freelancers place bids.
We Work Remotely — For freelancers, the offer is free for jobs in the tech and startup industry. They are looking for specialists in design, support and marketing.
World of Malta Insider tip: The journey is just as important as the destination
Changing your career, breaking out of the colloquial hamster wheel, is often an ongoing process. However, you need to be prepared to take risks.
Don’t believe all the many success stories on social media channels. Not every successful entrepreneur has got everything right from the start. A prominent or recent example is Elon Musk.
- He sold his shares in PayPal too early and gave away billions.
- He left ChatGPT in disagreement and did not participate in the foreseeable billions in sales.
- Entered the automotive industry with Tesla without a chance and rolled up the field from behind. Since 2021, Tesla has been worth more than the world’s largest car manufacturers VW, Toyota and General Motors.
- Entering the space industry without a chance. Space and rocket flights unimaginable without Elon Musk.
- He bought Twitter and halved its double-digit billion value within a few months.
- Despite all the setbacks, Elon Musk has been one of the three richest people in the world for years.
You recognise that: Success is (also) about getting up once, more than falling down.
Breaking free from the rut or the routine often takes time for plan A and plan B. Entrepreneurs often have realistic goals and enjoy small changes and successes for their mindset.
Celebrate the launch of your business and stay in a good mood.
Are you missing a question? Or do you have something interesting to tell us about freelancing and entrepreneurship?
Feel free to contact us. We are sure we have the right answer.
⛲ Credible sources on 44 freelance jobs in Malta
BusinessFirst support between government and business https://www.businessfirst.com.mt/
Picture sources
pixabay Geralt Altmann
pixabay Markus Winkler
Author Profile
Maximilian Wallenstein 🔥 His life shaped Dale Carnegie
Even as a sales manager for one of the largest UK’s insurance groups, Maximilian Wallenstein was passionate about finance topics and economics. As an honorary lecturer on tax law at the german Union, he is no stranger to German tax law. As a keynote speaker on the social security system, Maximilian Wallenstein appeared before financial services companies. His personal development was supported for several months by the Dale Carnegie Foundation. Maximilian not only irons his own shirts, but as a certified online copywriter, he also shares his financial knowledge as a guest author and ghostwriter for market-leading financial portals.
