c/freelance-survival

Update: I stopped offering free consultations three years ago in Austin

Everyone said it was the best way to get clients, but I found it just brought people who wanted free advice. My first paid month after that, I booked two solid projects at $1500 each. How do you filter out time wasters early on?

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nancyn69•4mo ago

Can we talk about the coffee shop in Austin that's basically a free coworking spot?

Honestly, I was at this place called Spokesman on South Lamar last week and it was full of freelancers. Ngl, I saw at least 15 people with laptops, and they had tons of outlets and free wifi that actually worked. The barista told me they don't mind people staying for hours as long as you buy a coffee or two. It got me thinking about how much money I save not renting an office. Has anyone else found a spot like this in their city?

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matthewdixon•4mo ago

I read a report that said most freelancers fail in their first year

I was looking at a study from a freelance website last week. It said that nearly 60% of people who go freelance quit and go back to a regular job within 12 months. I found that number really surprising and a bit scary. I'm about eight months into my own freelance writing gig and some days are really tough. It makes me wonder what the main reason is for people giving up. Is it mostly about not finding enough work, or is it the money stress? For those of you who made it past that first year, what was the hardest part to get through?

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calebd82•4mo ago

My main client's payment system crashed right before rent was due

It happened last Friday, and their whole invoicing portal went down for 48 hours. I had a $2,300 invoice from a project in Austin stuck in limbo. I had to call them directly and get a manual check rushed, which was super stressful. Has anyone else had a big platform fail on them like this?

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dylan_sanchez•4mo ago

My accountant told me to stop taking on projects under $500, and after ignoring him for a year, I finally see his point.

I spent so much time on small, fussy jobs that I missed out on a $3,000 contract because I was already overbooked with cheap work.

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laura_schmidt82•4mo ago

Crossed $5k in a single month for the first time last quarter

I've been a freelance copywriter for about two years, and my income was always up and down. Last quarter, I finally hit $5,200 in March, which was a huge shock because I didn't land any one big client. It was from five smaller, steady projects I got through a platform called Contra. That number showed me that building a base of repeat work is way more stable than chasing one-off gigs. Has anyone else found a specific income point where things just felt more secure?

4 comments

the_drew•4mo ago

Drafted my first contract after a scope creep disaster

A project blew up because we didn't have clear terms. Now I always use a written agreement before starting work.

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robin628•4mo ago

Three months waiting for a client's website approval

The redesign was done quickly, but the client took months to give final sign-off. It tested my patience and hurt my cash flow. How do you deal with slow clients?

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avery_ross•4mo ago

Update: Scope creep is eating up all my time and money

I just finished a copywriting job that went way over budget. The client kept asking for 'one more tiny edit' every day. It started as a 500-word article but turned into a full blog series. I didn't adjust the payment for the extra work. Now I've lost a week I could have spent on other projects. I'm confused why I always say yes to these requests. What's a good way to say no without losing the client?

4 comments

ivan_cooper•4mo ago

My sister watching my toddler while I took a client call saved my bacon last week

I always thought mixing family with work was asking for trouble, especially with my freelance roofing jobs where timing is everything. Last Tuesday, I had a big call with a new client scheduled right when my kid usually naps. My sister popped over unannounced and saw me stressing. She just grabbed the baby monitor and shooed me into the office. The call went perfect, and I landed the job. Before that, I'd have tried to juggle it all and probably messed up. Now I see that a little family help during crunch time isn't a burden, it's a lifesaver. It keeps the work flowing without everything falling apart at home. For us freelancers, that kind of backup can mean the difference between making rent or not.

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ryan_black20•4mo ago

Hit a freelance wall this month with client pauses

Hey everyone, Ryan here. I train people one-on-one, and this month, four of my steady clients said they need a break, which hit my income hard. I always heard about saving for slow times, but I didn't listen. Now I'm trying to find quick ways to make cash. I signed up for a gym that needs fill-in trainers and I'm putting together a cheap online group class. It's a wake-up call for sure. How do you guys build a cushion for times like this?

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xena767•4mo ago

Rant: More clients are ghosting after project outlines.

It wastes time we can't afford to lose.

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jordan_bell•4mo ago

Am I the only one who feels guilty charging friends for design work?

Friends expect discounts, but my time has value too.

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brian741•4mo ago

Going all in on one client defied every piece of advice I heard

I spent the last six months serving only a single, steady client. Everyone tells you to spread out, but my focus led to better results and less chaos. Is anyone else brave enough to try this?

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the_betty•4mo ago

My freelance epiphany: Skipping the contract bit me in the end

A client refused to pay for extra work because we never signed anything. I learned my lesson and now insist on paperwork before starting any job.

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angela_knight3•4mo ago

Defying the always-on culture, I instituted a no-work weekend policy

My income didn't drop, and my creative energy rebounded significantly. Shouldn't we prioritize sustainability over burnout?

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