From 9-to-5 To Six-Figure Income: Leonardtown Woman Starts ‘36 Virtual’ Freelance Business For Women Who Want A Fresh Start

LEONARDTOWN, Md. — After 17 years in a steady but unfulfilling career, one Southern Maryland woman went from working a traditional 9-to-5 to building a six-figure freelance business from her dining room table—without a degree, connections or a clear roadmap.

At her kitchen table, after long days spent working a traditional 9-to-5, Felicia Bowling started searching for a different kind of future.

For 17 years, she worked as an insurance agent. It was steady work, but not fulfilling. When the possibility of her boss retiring became real, so did a question she could no longer ignore.

“I didn’t want that life anymore,” she said in an interview with The BayNet. “But I didn’t know what else was out there for me.”

Without a college degree and unsure of her options, she began searching online, skeptical at first. What she found instead was an opportunity that would eventually change her life: building a freelance business using the skills she already had.

That leap became the start of 36 Virtual.

“It’s kind of funny,” she said. “The name came from the fact that I was 36 when I started. I thought I’d change it eventually, but it became a reminder of the step that changed everything.”

What began at her dining room table grew into a thriving business supporting clients across the country. More importantly, it proved something she now wants other women to understand:

You don’t need a degree, connections or a perfect plan to get started.

“I built a six-figure freelance career from my dining room table,” she said. “No degree, no connections and no special talent. Just the willingness to figure it out.”

Now, she’s turning that experience into something bigger by teaching other women how to do the same.

Felicia recently launched Freelancing 101, a hands-on workshop designed to walk participants step-by-step through starting their own freelance journey. From setting up a profile to writing proposals and landing a first client, the goal is simple: leave with real progress, not just ideas.

“I don’t want other women to have to figure it out alone the way I did,” she said.

While the workshops represent the next phase of her business, her years of client work offer a clear picture of what’s possible with the right systems and support.

One client came to her before fully knowing what kind of help was needed, only certain of one thing: growth was coming, and they didn’t want to be buried in the day-to-day when it did. Over time, that business scaled into a multi-seven-figure operation, with Felicia managing the operational side to keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes.

In another case, a client with a recurring event struggled with inconsistent attendance. With structure and follow-through put in place, the same event now regularly draws more than 40 attendees each month.

And for many clients, the transformation is less about numbers and more about clarity.

“One client told me, ‘I don’t even know what I need. I just know it’s too much,’” Felicia said.

What started as a few small tasks evolved into full operational support, freeing that business owner to focus on growth, creativity and strategy instead of being buried in daily responsibilities.

Those experiences now shape how Felicia teaches.

Her workshops aren’t built on theory. They’re built on real-world experience, trial and error, and systems that have already been proven to work.

“Whether someone wants a flexible side income or wants to build something bigger, this gives them a real starting point,” she said.

The upcoming workshop is scheduled for April 25, and participants are encouraged to bring their laptops and be ready to work. By the end of the session, attendees will have taken tangible steps toward launching their own freelance business.

Hosting the workshop locally has made the experience even more meaningful.

“Being in a room with women from my own community who are ready to take that first step and being the person who gets to help them do it means more to me than I expected,” she said.

Looking ahead, Felicia envisions 36 Virtual growing into a full community for women freelancers, offering advanced workshops, coaching, networking opportunities and more.

“I’m not just providing a service anymore,” she said. “I’m building something bigger.”

And for those still unsure if they’re ready to start, her message is simple:

“You don’t have to have everything figured out,” she said. “You just have to be willing to start.”

To learn more about 36 Virtual or to reserve a seat for the upcoming Freelancing 101 workshop on April 25, visit 36virtual.com or sign up directly at: https://bit.ly/36-virtual-workshops

You can also follow 36 Virtual on Facebook and join the Southern Maryland Freelancers Network to connect with other women starting their freelance journey.

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