Polish freelancer thriving in the international gaming market | Case study of Janek Krasoczko (IndieDev.site)

A monotonous full-time job pushing you toward burnout before you hit thirty.

A passion that doesn’t pay well in your country.

Formalities that slow down your career growth.

If you recognize any of these struggles, read the story of Janek Krasoczko – an inspiring freelancer and marketing expert for international indie game developers.

We spoke with Janek about his transition from a full-time job in a digital game distribution platform to freelancing from home, and how this change impacted his income, growth, and overall well-being.

A versatile marketer in the gaming industry

Janek specializes in marketing for independent video games and has been working in the gaming industry for over ten years. His objective is “to help indie studios succeed in the harsh reality of the saturated 2020s video game market.” He has been freelancing for almost five years.

“I pretty much do everything,” he says. In his offer, you’ll find building marketing strategies, planning campaigns, optimizing Steam pages, managing online communities, and beyond. He also offers consultations, training, and coaching for indie game studios.

Janek often works alone, covering a wide range of marketing tasks, or joins small teams. He supports small and medium studios that don’t have big publisher budgets. “It’s fascinating to make games in a small team where everyone handles various specializations,” he explains.

The turning point for him came when he chose a clear niche. Now, he works with developers from Europe and the US who value his expertise and pay in currencies stronger than his local Polish zloty.

What proved to be a challenge were the technicalities related to international contracts. He wondered how to invoice foreign clients without getting lost in paperwork or spending too much on accounting.

The answer came fast when he found Useme.

But before we get there, let’s go back to when Janek was in his twenties and, like many of us before freelancing, tried full-time jobs.

The comfortable full-time trap

Video games have been Janek’s passion since childhood. So when he got a chance to work in the gaming industry at 23, he didn’t hesitate – this was his dream come true. He was responsible for handling the technical aspects of games for a large Polish digital distribution platform.

But the monotonous routine and lack of creative challenges slowly pushed Janek toward burnout. The breaking point came when he was working in a full-time corporate office job. He appreciated having a secure, well-paid position during the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, he was not fully happy with the nature of his work.

From hobby gamedev to trusted global freelancer

Janek saw freelancing as a good alternative to a regular job long before he actually tried it. He also viewed foreign clients as an opportunity to escape the limitations of the Polish gaming market. Low pay and mass layoffs in Poland pushed him to explore the world of Western indie game developers.

So how did he win their trust? Indie game development was always close to his heart. He even designed and published a few projects on his own. Step by step, he learned the ins and outs of the industry and gained knowledge in related fields. That helped him eventually become an expert in the business and marketing aspects of indie games.

However, the key was years spent building a strong network of contacts, which eventually helped him break free from the full-time cycle. That’s how he started a relationship with a Swedish game development studio and landed his first freelance project.

Freelancing built on relationships

For Janek, networking became the key to getting new projects. He continued to grow his circle using social media as well as indie game creator group chats. As he says:

“Communication is a modern freelancer’s best friend.”

Regular interaction, joining groups, helping others, exchanging insights on market trends, and sharing job opportunities – all of this helped him maintain a steady flow of work. And according to him, that should be the top priority for every freelancer.

The challenge of international invoices

Finding clients isn’t the only issue for a freelancer – especially for Janek, who focuses on working with foreign companies. From the start, he wondered if he should start a company, what type of contract to use, how to handle taxes on payments from abroad, whether he needed an accountant, and more.

He soon realized that the popular accounting solutions available on the Polish market were not up to the challenge. Their offer lacked reliable methods for handling international invoices and failed to understand the specifics of his industry. The real answer turned out to be Useme – a partner that’s been with him for years, helping him build a career that matches both his passions and his ambitions.

Convenience, peace of mind, and on-time payments

Janek chose Useme because it lets him handle contracts with foreign companies quickly, easily, and legally. In other words, it enables him to receive payment for his work on time without any issues.

“Useme makes planning my work easier, because I know the deal will be secure, and the payment will go through smoothly.”

It’s convenient for both sides. Janek doesn’t have to handle taxes or issue international invoices on his own – Useme takes care of that for him. His clients, on the other hand, can pay him in their chosen currency without worrying about Polish regulations.

“Suggesting this payment option to new clients is easy for me, because it simply works.”

And as he adds, “The organizational part of freelancing doesn’t go away entirely. But Useme helps me focus on what matters most – building client relationships, delivering quality work, and growing my skills.”

The real freedom of borderless freelancing

Today, freelancing offers Janek the benefit of flexible work hours, the comfort of working from home, the freedom to choose truly satisfying projects, and the opportunity to build his personal brand. With Useme, he can work directly with foreign clients and earn much better rates.

And he can simply feel good about what he does.

Does he ever want to start his own company? “Maybe one day, but I’d like it to be my choice, not a necessity,” Janek says. For now, he looks to the future with ease, knowing that Useme covers all his needs for international invoicing and payments.