Freelance Interview Series – Freelancing Through a Recession

Freelance Interview Series – Freelancing Through a Recession

by | Apr 5, 2023 | Blog, Resources

Michelle Garrett is a public relations consultant, writer, and public speaker who works with B2B brands helping them secure media coverage and create engaging content. She also hosts #FreelanceChat weekly on Twitter – if you’re a freelancer looking for support, we highly recommend checking it out!

Freelancing Through a Recession

Talk to us about your experience working through past recessions. How did your business shift during those times?

Let’s see, I worked through recessions in 2007-09 and then the brief one in 2020. The recession in 2007-09 nearly put my business under. I wasn’t well-positioned or prepared for it – and it lasted a LONG time. I was also returning from maternity leave after having my daughter, which probably compounded the issue. I had to take work that I normally wouldn’t in order to start rebuilding my consulting business. It was a situation I vowed I’d do my best to never find myself in again.

The recession in 2020 was less severe. I was in a much better position and didn’t see a decline in work during that time. If anything, there was MORE demand because businesses knew they had to focus on communicating online as everything was closed – and everyone was at home, looking at social media and spending time online.

Are there any resources you can share that have helped you plan and prepare for a recession?

This may sound simple, but paying attention to the news is important when you’re running a freelance business. Look for a source you trust (maybe that’s NPR, for example) and follow the economic stories so you’re not caught unaware if a recession is on the horizon.

Also, if you can talk with a financial planner, that person may be able to help you determine how much money you should put in savings or other accounts. I finally hired a financial planner and it really helped me find peace of mind as far as how to distribute funds so that I’d be covered in the event I needed to fall back on my rainy day fund.

How do you manage the stress that comes along with economic downturns?

It’s gotten easier over the years. I think you get used to it, to a degree.

I do believe in having a financial cushion – so I try to work as much as I can during times of economic growth, just in case my business takes a turn when the economy is more volatile.

Having that savings – just in case – helps lessen the stress.

Also, understanding that the economy is cyclical helps. A recession is always coming…they’re cyclical. It may be years away or months away – but the economy goes through its ups and downs.

In what ways do you lean on your community for support during these times?

I think freelancers are lucky when they have each other to support them. It’s great if you can let your community know that you’re in need of referrals – or maybe you just need someone to talk to or to reassure you that whatever is happening currently, won’t last. Things always change, so if your situation isn’t the best right now, your community can help remind you that brighter days are ahead.

What advice do you have for freelancers who want to properly prepare for a recession?

Make hay while the sun shines, as the old saying goes. Work – and save money – when you can.

And NEVER stop networking – by that I mean meeting and talking to people. The more people you know who know what you do – and feel good about potentially referring work your way – the better. Even when you’re busy with client work, you shouldn’t neglect your marketing and networking activities.

The Ultimate Tax Checklist for Freelancers

The Ultimate Tax Checklist for Freelancers

by | Mar 27, 2023 | Blog, Resources

This is a guest post by Varsha Subramanian, of FlyFin. Varsha is a highly experienced US CPA with a background in both tax compliance and advisory.

Working for yourself means you have ultimate control – over your business, your work life, and your future – but you’re also responsible for every aspect of your business, including taxes.

When you understand a handful of the most important tips, and you have the right checklist though, taxes can become another part of your business that you have full control and confidence over. Let us lead you through our comprehensive list of everything you need to know about freelance taxes.

How to pay the lowest tax amount possible

Step 1: Find your net income

It’s important to understand the difference between revenue and net income. Revenue, also known as gross income, is the total amount of money you’ve earned from selling products to customers or providing services to your clients.

Say you’re a freelance web designer charging $70 per hour, and you bill 10 hours in a month. 10 x $70 = $700 in revenue. Net income is what you have left after you have subtracted deductible business expenses. EX: If you sell online courses as well as freelance services, and you make $100K and have business expenses of $5,000 to host those courses, your net income will be $95,000.

It’s net income that you pay taxes on, rather than the payments you get directly from clients. This is great because net income is where tax deductions come in to make the amount you owe a lot lower.

  • Identify your total revenue
  • Identify any business expenses
  • Calculate your net income: total revenue – expenses = net income (also known as taxable income)

That leads us to our next point, how to identify and find those expenses!

Step 2: Don’t miss a single deductible business expense

As we mentioned, deductions reduce your net income and in turn your taxes. In the eyes of the IRS any business expense that is “ordinary and necessary” for the industry you are operating in can be deducted from your taxes.

That leaves a lot of room for all sorts of deductions – 200+ categories, actually, and if you find them all, you can bring the amount of tax you owe way down! Unfortunately, it can be easy to miss deductions if you’re tediously searching through piles of receipts or spreadsheets looking for anything you can write off.

But if you find the right tools and keep track of your expenses on an ongoing basis, you’ll be much more prepared come tax season. The FlyFin app uses A.I. to scan your expenses to find every possible deduction, down to the tiniest write-off. And CPAs specializing in 1099 taxes are available 24/7 in the app for any questions. At tax time, they prepare and file your federal and state tax returns at no extra cost. Easy peasy!

Here are some of the most common deductions that freelancers can make:

  • Take all the home office deductions possible if you work from home.
    • Rent
    • Utilities
    • Internet
    • Office supplies
    • + many more
  • Deduct every business meal when you:
    • Court a prospective client
    • Discuss business with friends in the same industry
    • Get a referral from someone over a meal
    • Have lunch with a client
    • Network with industry experts
  • Write off expenses related to your vehicle if you travel at all for work
    • Car insurance
    • Parking fees & tolls
    • Gas
    • Repairs & maintenance, including tires & oil changes
    • Licensing and registering fees
  • Lesser known deductions
    • The Qualified Business Income Deduction
    • ½ of the self-employment taxes every freelancer has to pay
    • Expenses associated with professional education, conferences and seminars
    • Meals by yourself, if you’re on a business trip, plus other travel expenses
    • Music or video streaming subscriptions, if they’re for your clients

Freelancers can take deductions in over 300+ categories! Make sure you’re doing the work up-front to keep more of that hard-earned cash.

Know which taxes you need to file as a freelancer

Step 1: Calculate federal and state income tax

Knowing how much to pay in tax can be a complicated process. Fortunately, there are online calculators out there that can help. FlyFin’s super-accurate 1099 tax calculator was developed with the help of CPAs trained in 1099 taxes to help freelancers enter their details, find all the deductions they qualify for, and get a result they can rely on.

To pay your taxes accurately, it’s important to choose the right tax filing status and understand where you fall in the IRS’ tax brackets, and there are tools to help with that, too.

Step 2: Calculate self-employment taxes

The taxes that freelancers (and every taxpayer) are required to contribute to Social Security and Medicare are called self-employment taxes, or SE taxes. For employees who work for a company, these taxes are known as FICA taxes because they’re part of the Federal Insurance Contributions Act, and they’re split down the middle between the employer and the employee.

But self-employed people are required to pay both portions of self-employment tax. The rate for SECA taxes is 15.3% on net income: 12.4% for Social Security tax and 2.9% for Medicare tax, paid at the end of the year when you file your 1040 form.

Anyone who practices a trade or manages a business as a sole proprietor, independent contractor, LLC, or partnership and earns $400 or more during the tax year is required to pay self-employment taxes. So, that business your cousin has refurbishing and selling guitars makes him self-employed. As a driver for Lyft, your neighbor is self-employed, too. The freelance work your graphic designer friend does on nights and weekends after his ad agency job? Also self-employment work.

As such, all of them are required to pay 15.3% of their net income as SE Tax. But, there is a silver lining. The IRS allows you to deduct half of the 15.3% from your taxable income. You can find out how much you and much you can save with an SE tax calculator.

Step 3: Know how to file taxes in different states

If you live in one state and work in a neighboring state, how you file your taxes depends on a few things. For example, if both states require taxpayers to pay income tax, and they don’t have a reciprocity agreement that allows you to pay tax in just one state, you’ll have to pay tax on what you earn in each state.

You’ll have to file a nonresident return for the state where you work but don’t reside. You’ll need the information from this return, so you can file another tax return in your home state properly. When you file your resident tax return, your home state will usually give you a tax credit in the amount of the tax you paid in another state.

Every state has different tax rules, so make sure to consult a tax expert before preparing your tax return.

Step 4: Choose the best deduction method

When you file your taxes, you’ll want to save the most possible by making the right decision when it comes to standard deductions vs itemiized deductions. This is an important decision because the method you choose can significantly change how much you save.

The standard deduction is a fixed amount that depends on your tax filing status, for example, $19,000 for head of household. But if you claim itemized deductions instead of taking the standard deduction, you will list those deductions on Schedule A of your Form 1040. The total of all your itemized deductions is then subtracted from your taxable income.

Itemized deductions include things like medical expenses, state and local taxes, and charitable donations.

Be aware of all the documents you’ll need to complete your tax filing

When it’s time to file taxes, you can’t lower your tax bill without having the necessary documentation in place. These documents allow you to verify how much you earned and how much you spent on business expenses:

  • 1099 documents
    • 1099-NEC for freelance work payments
    • 1099-MISC for rental and other self-employment income
    • 1099-K for income processed by third-party payment services
    • 1099-DIV for dividends and distributions
    • 1099-INT for interest income
  • Business expenses
    • Bank records can serve as proof – no need for receipts any longer
  • Mileage logs, if you drive for work
  • Records of contributions to charity and retirement plans
  • 1040-ES copies, so you know the estimated tax payments you made
  • 1098 showing your mortgage interest

Consult a CPA who understands 1099 taxes

IRS rules and regulations grow more complex each year, and navigating them to get your taxes done becomes more complicated every time you sit down to fill out the forms. That’s why the help of a certified public accountant, or CPA, is more valuable now than ever before. But accessing the expertise a traditional CPA can provide is easier said than done.

Fortunately, it’s easier than ever to get CPA guidance online with greater affordability and flexibility than ever before. FlyFin’s CPA team specializes in freelancer taxes and is available through the app for unlimited free consultations 24/7 and to file your tax returns, too.

Phew, that was a lot! But we hope you feel more prepared and confident in filing and understanding your freelance taxes moving forward! Good luck this tax season, and as always, we’re rooting for you and your business’ success!

Dealing with Difficult Clients as a Freelancer

Dealing with Difficult Clients as a Freelancer

by | Mar 27, 2023 | Blog, Resources

This is a guest post by Jenny Han, an email marketing expert, writer and editor who loves sharing tips and insight on successful marketing strategies and freelancing.

How to Deal with Challenging Clients

Freelancing can be life-changing (in the best way) for people who value flexibility and independence. Working remotely on a variety projects is a dream come true for many — there’s rarely a cookie-cutter day. But freelancing isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Like any job, there are unique challenges to overcome, including difficult clients. Below, we’ll explore practical strategies for dealing with tough clients and maintaining balanced working relationships.

1. Set clear deliverables

Clear communication is key, especially with boundary-pushers. Aligning on realistic expectations early on — from the scope of work to your deadlines — can help you avoid conflict and misunderstandings. From the beginning of the project, ensure that you’re on the same page, and then get it in writing.  Including the agreed-upon terms in your proposal and contract will safeguard you in the event of any disputes.

2. Identify and communicate problems as soon as possible

In an ideal client relationship, everything would go according to plan and both parties would be thrilled with the results. But it rarely goes that smoothly. Life happens. Mistakes are made. Barriers and delays creep up on us. We might miss a deadline or deliver work we’re not proud of. It’s important to communicate these issues with your clients as soon as possible to avoid more complications, especially if they’re challenging to work with. Whether the problem is your fault or not doesn’t matter — the focus should be on getting the project back on track. By flagging issues early, you can work together to find a solution.

“Never sit on information that is pertinent to the job. If an issue arises, whether it is your fault or not, you absolutely must flag it with the client at the earliest stage possible. Keeping the client in the dark never ends well, and will make their disappointment worse later on down the line,” warns Brigitte Sterling, an HR Manager at Essay Service and Assignment Help.

3. Maintain regular communication

Good communication is crucial in any relationship, including the client-freelancer dynamic. On top of notifying the client when problems arise, freelancers should also provide regular updates on the project’s progress. Over-communicating is better than under-communicating, and it helps build trust when you’re transparent and consistent. Regular updates keep you and your client tuned into the project’s current state, requirements, and timelines. And, it gives you the chance to ask for the support you need in order to meet your deadlines. Written records of communication can be beneficial if disagreements crop up in the future too — you’ve got a paper trail to reference.

4. Reassure the client

Sometimes external factors like pressure, anxiety, and inexperience are the true culprits in a freelancer-client relationship. If your contact is under a lot of pressure, that can easily get passed along to you like a hot potato. It can be helpful for your own peace of mind to consider the potential reasons why a client is being difficult instead of jumping to conclusions. It not only de-personalizes it, but it helps you approach them with more empathy, which typically leads to better outcomes. You may need to provide more support and hand-holding to these clients to alleviate their fears and build trust.

“I know a lot of freelancers who object to being asked a lot of questions and dislike having to provide constant status updates. My advice to them is always the same: ‘Do what the client wants or give what the client needs to get the job done the way they want it.’ This isn’t about you, it’s about them, and understanding that will make you a better freelancer in the process,” recommends Troy Chase, a Freelance Writer at UKTopWriters and PhD Thesis Writing.

5. Don’t be afraid to walk away

It’s rare for freelancers to start a project with the intention of quitting halfway. However, in some cases, it may be the best  move for both parties. If the client’s behavior becomes intolerable, freelancers should communicate that continued behavior will result in the termination of the project. (It’s also a good idea to have a pre-determined notice period written into the contract.)

You may first want to have an open conversation with the client to see if you can find a middle ground that works for both parties. If you’re not able to compromise and the situation becomes toxic, it’s time to move on.

Walking away from a project can be a difficult choice, especially if you rely on the income, but it can also be a valuable lesson. You learn how to identify red flags earlier on in the client selection process. Plus, you get a real-life opportunity to hone your communication and project management skills.

Most clients are respectful and appreciative of their freelancers, and while these harmonious relationships are wonderful and supportive, they rarely teach us as much as the challenging ones. Tough projects can help you develop resilience and confidence. They can also strengthen your boundaries and inspire you to advocate for yourself in your professional and personal relationships.

In the end, it’s important to remember that the vast majority of clients are respectful and kind. But freelancing comes with its own set of challenges, including dealing with the difficult ones. By learning from your experiences and approaching them with a positive mindset, you can grow tremendously over time.

 

15 Freelance Newsletters to Subscribe To

15 Freelance Newsletters to Subscribe To

by | Mar 27, 2023 | Blog, Resources

Want to stay ahead of the curve in the world of freelancing? Whether you’re new to the game or looking to take your freelance career to the next level, subscribing to industry newsletters is a great way to find the tools, inspiration, and insider tips you need to succeed.

Here’s a compilation of the best freelance newsletters to help you stay up-to-date on the latest trends, tips, and strategies.

The Top 15 Freelance Newsletters

The Writer’s Job Newsletter scours the internet to bring you the best freelance writing opportunities, delivered straight to your inbox every week. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, this newsletter helps you stay on top of the latest writing gigs.

Content Connect by Ashley R. Cummings delivers valuable tips, strategies, and expert advice to help you improve your writing skills and grow your career. This weekly newsletter is packed with actionable tips, case studies, and examples to help you create more engaging and effective content.

Kaleigh Moore’s Weekly Newsletter is a free bi-weekly newsletter for writers. Each edition is filled with valuable tips and resources to help you improve your writing process, find new work, and cultivate new ideas. This newsletter covers a wide range of topics, from crafting compelling pieces to pitching to editors and more.

Freelance Bold by Marijana Kay is for you if you want to earn more by working with better clients, plan your freelance writing projects with boundaries (and without burnout), and get organized with strong processes. It’s delivered to inboxes weekly.

Peak Freelance’s Newsletter is designed specifically for writers looking to work with bigger and better clients, build a personal brand, and increase their rates. The weekly newsletter features the best freelance writing opportunities, along with tips and strategies to help you improve your writing skills, build your portfolio, and scale your business.

The Word by Dave Harland is a weekly marketing and copywriting newsletter that hits inboxes every Friday. Each edition is packed with valuable tips, techniques, and real-life stories to help you improve your marketing and copywriting skills.

Harlow’s Newsletter is a monthly newsletter that tackles the topics that matter most to the freelance community. From planning for an upcoming recession to navigating the ups and downs of freelance life to compilations of resources created to help you grow your business — we’ve got you covered.

Soloist Sundays by Winning Solo provides subscribers with valuable content and actionable insights that will help you thrive as a freelancer. And the best part? Each edition, delivered to inboxes twice a month, can be read from top to bottom in just five minutes.

Kat Boogaard’s Newsletter delivers freelancing tips, helpful advice, and freelance gigs straight to your inbox on a weekly basis. As a bonus, you’ll also receive Kat’s top ten tips for getting started as a freelancer directly after subscribing.

Kaitlyn Arford’s Newsletter is great for freelancers on the hunt for new clients. With 100 freelance opportunities delivered directly to your inbox every Friday, you’re guaranteed to find your dream gig.

Dear Freelancer by Brooklin Nash is a brand new newsletter chock-full of answers to top freelancing questions. You’ll get insight on Brooklin’s personal experiences as a freelancing pro, and more. If you want to learn from the best, we couldn’t recommend this newsletter more.

The Gazette by Freelancing Females is a weekly newsletter serving up top tips, freelancing gigs, and conversations for the world’s largest community for freelancing women.

Freelance Flow delivers leads, job opportunities, and freelance business tips to your inbox every Monday through Thursday. This newsletter is perfect for freelancers looking to take their biz to the next level!

Opportunities of the Week Newsletter by Sonia Weiser is a great resource for freelance writers who are tired of searching for new gigs. Sonia does the work for you by sending writing job postings to your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday.

Freelance Feels is a monthly newsletter full of coach and writer, Jenny Holliday’s, thoughts and experiences surrounding solopreneurial life. Subscribe for advice, camaraderie, mental health transparency, and more.

Monthly Checklist to Keep Your Freelance Biz Running Smoothly

Monthly Checklist to Keep Your Freelance Biz Running Smoothly

by | Mar 27, 2023 | Blog, Resources

Running a small business is hard. On top of managing your existing client work and sourcing new business, you have to stay on top of logistics and planning — and those often fall by the wayside. But seasoned freelancers know that organization isn’t optional. And consistently reporting on your progress and realigning on your goals is key to your business’s health. It’s these unbillable but essential activities that pave the way for growth and sustainability.

Your Monthly Freelance Business Checklist

But the ongoing ops of running a business add up. It can feel daunting to keep track of dozens of moving parts at once, all while trying to keep your creative spark firing. To help lighten your mental load, we’ve put together this monthly checklist of to-dos that are critical for practically every freelance business. You can ask yourself these questions each month to ensure you’re keeping the engine running smoothly.

Mental health:

  • Have I reminded myself of my “why” for freelancing?
  • How did I give myself space to be human and imperfect this month?
  • Did I take breaks when I needed them?
  • How have I adjusted my schedule to support my wellbeing?
  • What am I proudest of this month?
  • How can I be kinder to myself next month?

Logistics:

  • What processes or tools supported my freelance flow this month?
  • What processes or tools got in the way of my flow this month?
  • Is there anything I can automate or make more efficient?
  • Is there anything I can take off my plate and delegate?
  • Is my business in good legal shape (i.e. registrations up-to-date, quarterly taxes paid, etc.)?

Marketing:

  • Did I promote my offerings on all of my major social platforms?
  • Do I have links to my work or contact info on all of my social profiles?
  • Did I talk about my work IRL with my friends, family, and community?
  • Am I clearly articulating what I offer and why I’m the best person for the job?
  • Did I share client testimonials publicly to build up my credibility?
  • Are there new client quotes or testimonials I can highlight to show value?
  • Are my website and contact form functioning properly?

Money:

  • Is it time to raise my rates?
  • Have I tracked all of my expenses?
  • Did I send out all of my invoices?
  • Do I have any unpaid or overdue invoices I need to follow up on? 
  • Am I meeting my monthly financial goals? If not, why?

Community:

  • Am I leaning on my support system or community in times of need? If not, why? 
  • Who would I love to connect with in the near future?
  • What communities are feeling like safe havens for me right now?
  • What communities would I like to be a part of in the near future?
  • Who in my work life has really shown up for me lately?
  • Who have I really shown up for lately?
  • How can I give back to my community in the upcoming month?

Do a once-over of this list monthly to make sure you’re covering all your bases, and tending to yourself just as much as you’re tending to your business. As freelancers, we basically are our businesses — after all, they couldn’t run without us. So when you’re questioning whether prioritizing your personal needs is worth it, remember that your whole life (including your biz) gets better when you’re taking good care of you.

If you find yourself hitting snags when it comes to business ops and tools, Harlow is here to help. Our all-in-one freelance tool is here to help you get organized, save time, and look professional with automated invoicing, proposal templates, and much more — all from one centralized hub.

Client Offboarding: How to Say Goodbye

Client Offboarding: How to Say Goodbye

by | Mar 24, 2023 | Blog, Resources

This is a guest post by Shayla Price, founder of PrimoStats, a searchable database of curated marketing statistics. Shayla has more than 10 years of freelance experience as a content and email marketer.

Client Offboarding: How to Say Goodbye

It’s hard to say goodbye, especially when you’ve built a genuine connection with your client. And just because you’re parting ways with a client today, doesn’t mean you won’t reconnect in the future. 

That’s why client offboarding is so important. It’s an opportunity to leave a strong lasting impression and make sure you and the client are set up for success moving forward. 

The goal of any successful offboarding is to wrap up any remaining projects and tasks, ask for feedback, and agree on the final steps.

Keep reading to learn how to create a seamless offboarding process for your clients. 

The Basics of Client Offboarding

Similar to onboarding, it’s important to create a positive experience when you’re offboarding a client. Depending on your freelance business, you may return documents or files belonging to the client, or provide instructions on how the client can maintain the project in your absence. You may even onboard a new team member to take on some of the regular tasks or projects you were focused on. 

Even if you’re leaving due to negative circumstances, it’s important to be professional and thorough. Don’t let your emotions lead you to withholding information or opting to not deliver any completed work.

 Thanking your client and showing gratitude is another important part of the client offboarding process. A simple thank you email can go a long way, especially if you’re trying to maintain the relationship for future projects or networking and referrals

Last, but not least, don’t forget to send that final invoice. In some cases, the invoice may include fees for partial work completed. If your agreement ended mid-project, you should refer to your contract if you included stipulations for early contract termination. If you didn’t, it’s important to have a discussion with your client before you ship the invoice on what partial payment looks like.

Client Offboarding Scenarios

Client offboarding will vary based on whether you’re saying goodbye or if the client decides to move in a different direction. No matter the circumstances, we can help you prepare yourself for these moments, so that they have minimal impact on your well-being and business.

It's okay to part ways with your client.

When You Say Goodbye

It’s okay to part ways with your client. Most people will part ways with a number of clients during their time freelancing. You may want to stop a project because personal situations will prevent you from completing the work. Or you’ve decided that the client is presenting too many red flags and you don’t want to move forward anymore. Or you may be moving in a different direction with your freelance business. There are plenty of reasons that might lead you to saying goodbye.

Once you’ve decided it’s time, make sure to inform your client as soon as possible. While you’re not obligated to give a detailed reason for your departure, it’s important to be clear in your communication. If you think feedback might be helpful for them in the future, feel free to give it. You might also want to offer recommendations for other freelancers in your network or outline a proposed project approach to ensure the work continues smoothly.

What’s important is to never ghost your client, even if they’ve been tough to work with. It can leave a negative impression and hurt your reputation.

When the Client Says Goodbye

Unfortunately, you can’t work with a client forever. Based on your previous client conversations, you may know the reason for the departure. But rather than making assumptions, it’s best to ask the client upfront why they’re choosing to part ways.

If the client is departing due to unsatisfactory work, listen to their concerns and thank them for the transparent feedback. And if the client doesn’t want to offer a reason, that’s fine too. Don’t pressure a client to do something they don’t want.

It’s important to view feedback from your client as an opportunity to listen and learn. Sometimes clients just aren’t the right fit for us and that’s okay. Getting this feedback from one client, may keep you from bringing on a future client who isn’t the right fit.

When the Project Ends on Amicable Terms

Sometimes you’re offboarding because you’ve simply reached the end of your contract agreement or project. In this scenario, it’s very helpful for you to provide a recap of work done and again, ask for feedback. If the feedback is positive, this is the perfect time to ask for a referral or testimonial from your client!

How to Officially Offboard a Client

Close the Loop on Open Projects

Sometimes, client offboarding happens mid-project. If this happens, you should agree to a stopping point with your client as soon as possible. That may look like writing three out of five blog posts or submitting your design sketches, rather than polished drawings. If necessary, you can schedule a meeting to review the final deliverables and make sure you’re aligned.

This is also a good time to give your clients full access to any files and have them remove you from any accounts.

Ask for Feedback

When a project ends, it’s the perfect time to ask your client for feedback. Feedback is crucial to your professional development. It gives you insight into what you do well and what areas you need to improve. You can make the request easier by creating a simple email template. Here are a few things you should include:

  • State your desire to improve
  • Tell the client why their opinion matters
  • Make a specific ask

Avoid asking for feedback about the entire project. Instead, hone on a specific part of the project. That way, you get actionable feedback. For example, you might ask if there’s anything you can do to make the revision process smoother or more efficient.

If and when you receive positive feedback, ask your client if you can use their statements as a testimonial. You can add this positive feedback to your portfolio or website to attract new clients.

Goodbye (for Now)

Most people don’t start a project with the intention to say goodbye to a client. But it’s part of your growth as a freelancer. You can create a positive client offboarding experience through preparation, being thoughtful in your communication, and remaining professional and courteous.