I found awful things my client said about me by Alison Green on August 20, 2024 A reader writes: I’m a freelance consultant. I was recently looped into an internal messaging platform for a client I’ve had a relationship with for many years. This client initially recruited me back in 2017, and I’ve worked for them off and on since. Importantly, the client is always the entity that initiates contact with […] Read the full article →
I was falsely accused of using ChatGPT for my work by Alison Green on August 5, 2024 A reader writes: I’ve recently taken on a new role that’s a professional downshift so that I can ultimately pivot toward more fulfilling work. It’s fun, varied work that I love, but it does mean that I am earning significantly less, and I have been taking on freelance copywriting jobs to help make up the […] Read the full article →
I can’t say no to clients and it’s destroying me by Alison Green on May 13, 2024 A reader writes: I’ve run my own business for nine years, and I’ve found financial comfort and fulfillment in my work. This did not come easy. I was barely scraping by the first couple of years. Not anymore. I don’t have to hustle. I have built rapport and trust with steady, well-paying clients who respect […] Read the full article →
how can I tell our freelancers they should charge more? by Alison Green on January 25, 2024 A reader writes: One aspect of my job involves hiring short-term contractors. Their pricing can be all over the map and some are hourly, but most charge a lump sum. Those rates typically start at about $1,500 but it isn’t uncommon to pay over $10,000 for someone in demand. While I’ve run into times when […] Read the full article →
how can I get people to stop misreading professional friendliness as a real connection? by Alison Green on January 17, 2024 A reader writes: I’m an events freelancer who works on a variety of projects. Most are just a one-day event, but a number of times per year I will do a longer-term project which spans a few weeks to a month. An increasing problem I have is people misreading my professional friendliness and problem-solving abilities […] Read the full article →
my client refuses to pay my cancellation fee by Alison Green on October 18, 2023 A reader writes: I have a friend, Frank, who I met because we both enjoy certain sports. I only see Frank when I am involved in this sport, but it’s a small community so everyone knows each other. Because my business caters to this sport, Frank decided he would like to use my service. And […] Read the full article →
my co-host at a workshop will be someone who didn’t pay me for my work by Alison Green on October 2, 2023 A reader writes: I am the sole proprietor and member of an LLC that sells products and related services, specifically consulting on a topic of my expertise. I’ve recently learned that for an upcoming workshop I’ll be delivering, one of the co-hosts is someone who didn’t pay me in the past for agreed upon work. […] Read the full article →
my client is always late paying me by Alison Green on September 25, 2023 A reader writes: One of my clients, a creative agency, has always had issues paying my invoices on time, but it’s getting worse. Every single time I send an invoice, I have to go back and remind them to pay me. It’s a great company, but I’m starting to get frustrated that I can’t send […] Read the full article →
I accidentally ghosted a client by Alison Green on August 7, 2023 A reader asks: I recently took on a freelance web design project at an hourly rate. However, I ran into some issues that I hadn’t anticipated having to deal with, and my anxiety got the better of me after we had to cancel a meeting a few weeks ago, and I haven’t responded to any […] Read the full article →
how to work with clients who can’t make up their minds by Alison Green on October 11, 2022 A reader writes: I work as a designer and recently have had clients who cannot make up their minds. I end up going in circles with designs. It feels like an endless game of whack-a-mole, they ask for X, I give them X, but now they really want Y, so I give them Y, but […] Read the full article →