16 Mistakes I Made as a Freelancer (And How You Can Avoid Them)

Freelancing is a journey that offers flexibility, autonomy, and the chance to turn your skills into a thriving business. However, it’s not without its pitfalls, especially when you’re just starting out. Over the years, I made numerous mistakes that hindered my growth and cost me time, money, and energy. If you’re just starting or in the middle of your freelancing journey, you can avoid the following mistakes I made and take actionable steps to grow faster and more efficiently.

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1. Charging Hourly Instead of Value-Based Pricing

The Mistake: Early in my freelancing career, I charged clients on an hourly basis, thinking it was a fair approach. But when one project took twice as long as expected, I ended up losing $3,000. I was working more hours but not necessarily earning more.

How to Avoid It:

Charge based on the value you provide rather than the hours you spend. Value-based pricing reflects the benefit or outcome the client receives. For instance, if your work helps a business generate $50,000 in sales, your fee should reflect the value you bring, not the hours worked. Transition to fixed-price contracts where you clearly outline deliverables and the value behind them.

2. Not Having a Proper Onboarding Process

The Mistake: I dove straight into projects without an onboarding process, leading to confusion and miscommunication with clients. This resulted in three canceled projects because clients didn’t understand what to expect from the collaboration.

How to Avoid It:

Create a clear, step-by-step onboarding process for your clients. This could include a welcome packet, clear instructions on how you work, timelines, and an outline of your deliverables. Use tools like Asana, Trello, or Notion to create a smooth onboarding flow that guides your clients through what they need to know and expect. Setting clear expectations upfront prevents misunderstandings and strengthens trust.

3. Taking on Every Project That Came My Way

The Mistake: In my early freelancing days, I took on every project that came my way, thinking that saying “no” would mean losing money. After four months of non-stop work, I was completely burned out.

How to Avoid It:

Learn to say no. Not every project is worth your time and energy, and overloading yourself with work can lead to burnout. Be selective with your projects, focusing on quality over quantity. Choose projects that align with your skills, values, and long-term goals. Remember, your mental and physical well-being is just as important as the paycheck.

4. Skipping the Contract Phase

The Mistake: I skipped contracts on several occasions, which led to me getting ghosted after delivering mockups worth $800. Without a contract, I had no legal recourse to pursue payment.

How to Avoid It:

Always use a contract, no matter the project size or client. A contract protects both you and your client by outlining the scope of work, deadlines, payment terms, and any other critical details. Use contract templates from platforms like HelloSign or Bonsai and customize them for each client. This ensures you're legally protected and gives both parties clear expectations.

5. Not Collecting Testimonials from Happy Clients

The Mistake: I failed to collect testimonials from satisfied clients, which cost me five potential referrals. Happy clients are your best advocates, and their testimonials help you land future clients.

How to Avoid It:

Make it a habit to ask for a testimonial after completing each project. Ideally, request one when the client is happiest—often right after a successful delivery or positive result. Offer them a template or guide to make it easier. Positive reviews build credibility and help you stand out from the competition.

6. Working Without a 50% Upfront Payment

The Mistake: I didn’t insist on upfront payments for a project, which left me chasing $2,500 from a client who vanished in 2023. Chasing payments is exhausting and time-consuming.

How to Avoid It:

Always require at least 50% upfront payment before starting any project. This ensures you’re compensated for your time and effort, even if the client disappears or the project falls through. Make it clear in your contract, and don’t start work until the initial payment is made. This policy protects your cash flow and sets a professional tone.

7. Zero Process Documentation

The Mistake: I had no documentation for my workflow, which caused me to waste 10 hours each week on repetitive tasks. I was reinventing the wheel for every project.

How to Avoid It:

Document your processes! Whether it’s onboarding clients, invoicing, or designing, having a set procedure saves time and prevents mistakes. Use tools like Notion or Google Docs to outline your workflows and checklists for repetitive tasks. This not only improves efficiency but also helps you scale your business as you grow.

8. Not Niching Down

The Mistake: I positioned myself as a generic designer, competing with hundreds of other freelancers. Without a niche, I struggled to stand out, and clients often saw me as a commodity.

How to Avoid It:

Find a niche that aligns with your strengths and passions. Whether it’s working with e-commerce brands, tech startups, or creating specific types of content (e.g., UX design, brand strategy), a niche helps you stand out and become an expert in that field. Specialized freelancers can charge more and attract higher-quality clients.

9. Ignoring Email Marketing

The Mistake: I relied solely on referrals and ignored email marketing for six months. This limited my client pipeline and left me scrambling when referrals dried up.

How to Avoid It:

Start building an email list from day one. Use platforms like Mailchimp or ConvertKit to create lead magnets (free resources like guides or templates) to attract potential clients. Regularly engage your audience with valuable content, project updates, and offers. Email marketing helps you stay top of mind and nurture leads, even when referrals slow down.

10. No Portfolio Website

The Mistake: I didn’t have a portfolio website, which caused me to lose high-ticket clients to designers who had a proper showcase of their work. Without a portfolio, potential clients couldn’t see my past work or the quality of my services.

How to Avoid It:

Build a professional portfolio website that showcases your best work. Platforms like Squarespace, Webflow, or WordPress make it easy to create visually appealing websites even if you’re not a developer. Highlight your strongest projects, include client testimonials, and ensure that it’s easy for potential clients to contact you.

11. Underpricing My Services

The Mistake: I started pricing my services too low—Rs. 4000 for full website projects. This undervalued my work and attracted clients who didn’t appreciate my skills, leading to frustration and poor compensation.

How to Avoid It:

Do market research and price your services competitively. Don’t be afraid to charge what you’re worth. Low prices often attract difficult clients who don’t respect your time or expertise. Instead, position yourself as a premium service provider by charging based on value, and make sure your pricing reflects your skillset and the results you deliver.

12. Not Investing in Proper Design Tools

The Mistake: I struggled for months using free design tools, which were limited and inefficient. This slowed me down and prevented me from delivering high-quality work.

How to Avoid It:

Invest in the right tools for your work. Whether it’s Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, or other industry-standard software, having the right tools makes you more efficient and allows you to deliver top-notch work. Consider these investments as part of the cost of doing business—better tools will save you time and improve the quality of your work.

13. Zero Client Qualifying Process

The Mistake: I worked with anyone who reached out, regardless of whether they were a good fit. This led to working with toxic clients who drained my energy and made the projects miserable.

How to Avoid It:

Create a client qualification process to filter out problematic clients. Ask questions upfront to determine if they’re a good fit for your services. This could include their budget, project timeline, and working style. If a potential client shows red flags, don’t hesitate to walk away. A clear vetting process helps you work with clients who value your work and make the process enjoyable.

14. Not Building in Public

The Mistake: I didn’t share my work publicly, which meant I missed countless opportunities to showcase my skills and attract potential clients. Building in public can help you grow your audience and credibility.

How to Avoid It:

Share your work and process on social media platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram. Building in public lets you showcase your projects, document your growth, and attract attention from potential clients. It also builds trust, as people can see your progress and the value you bring to the table.

15. Trying to Handle Everything Alone

The Mistake: I tried to do everything by myself—marketing, accounting, client work—which led to burnout. It wasn’t sustainable to wear all the hats in my business.

How to Avoid It:

Don’t hesitate to delegate or outsource tasks. Whether it’s hiring a virtual assistant (VA) to handle admin work, outsourcing your accounting, or partnering with another freelancer for large projects, getting help will free up your time to focus on higher-level tasks. Collaboration and delegation are key to scaling your business and avoiding burnout.

16. Not Having Multiple Income Streams

The Mistake: Relying on one or two clients meant that if one ghosted, my income for that month disappeared. It’s risky to depend on a single source of income.

How to Avoid It:

Diversify your income streams by exploring different avenues. This could include offering digital products (e.g., templates, courses), affiliate marketing, or even retainer-based services for consistent income. Having multiple revenue streams ensures financial stability even when one source dries up.

Conclusion:

Freelancing is a rewarding career, but it’s easy to make mistakes along the way. The good news? You can learn from mine. By implementing these strategies—value-based pricing, having contracts, building in public, and more—you can avoid the pitfalls I faced and scale your freelance business faster than I did.

Remember, success in freelancing comes from learning, adapting, and continuously improving your process. You don’t have to make these mistakes to grow. If you’re struggling with any of these challenges, my DMs are open. Let’s chat!

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