Member-only story
Freelance Business Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
Tips from a former tech executive.
A few months ago, I was interviewed for a podcast called “Freelance Sucks.” The host asked if there was anything I would change about launching a freelance business.
In all honesty, I couldn’t think of anything. However, I also worked as an executive at a tech company prior to launching a freelance business. There were many lessons I learned as a decision-maker that I was able to apply quickly — without going through the “Oops, that was a mistake” moments.
That being said, I’ve talked with many freelancers and solopreneurs (as friends or on social media) who don’t have any type of corporate background. There are a lot of missteps that can happen, especially early in a freelance business. They’re not irrecoverable, but they can set you back.
I want to share some of the most common freelance mistakes and what I did that worked for me (and helped me earn six figures in my first year of business).
1. Not thinking about your pipeline
The hardest thing about launching a freelance business is finding clients. The second hardest thing is maintaining a consistent income.
