What people keep running into with freelance
Complaints tagged freelance, each raised by more than one person. One-off posts are not included.
10 recurring problems · 65 people · 13 forums we read
Raised more than once
Most people first.
- 27how do I get my first client?New freelancers face overwhelming and contradictory advice like cold emailing or using Upwork, while lacking the funds or local networking opportunities to get started. This leaves them stuck with zero traction and unable to break into the industry.
- 10How to save money with unpredictable freelance incomeUnpredictable monthly income means that any emergency savings built up in good months are inevitably depleted during quiet months. This constant cycle of depletion prevents freelancers from establishing a stable rainy day fund.
- 5Lost my biggest client, now what?Losing a primary client drastically cuts income overnight and usually stems from having relied on a single revenue source for too long without diversifying. This sudden drop leaves freelancers scrambling to survive financially and figure out how to prevent the same vulnerability from happening again.
- 5How to work on low energy days without feeling guiltyLow capacity days trigger guilt that prevents actual rest, trapping people in an unproductive loop where they neither recover nor work. Keeping a scheduled buffer day in the weekly routine helps absorb this friction and protects both productivity and client relationships.
- 4Why do I have to pay a fee to get my earnings?Platforms and clients frequently demand upfront payments, lodgement fees, or transfer charges before releasing earned funds, forcing workers to pay just to access their own money. This unexpected cost makes people feel like they are being scammed and prevents them from withdrawing their money smoothly.
- 4Do tax write-offs mean you get free stuff or money back?A tax write-off reduces your taxable income rather than acting as a dollar-for-dollar reimbursement on what you spend. This misconception leads people to believe that business purchases are entirely free or covered by the government, missing the reality that you still pay for the item with your own money while only saving a fraction on your tax bill.
- 3Client tries to reverse cancellation during offboardingWhen a departing client attempts to reverse their cancellation late in the transition period, it creates immediate legal, liability, and operational confusion. Managed service providers face the dilemma of halting a handover already in progress or trying to restart a relationship where documentation and access credentials may have already been signed over.
- 3Client ghosted me after I handed over the completed work and unpaid invoiceHanding over fully finished work before receiving final payment allows clients to disappear without paying, leaving freelancers with no leverage. This trap forces independents to abandon standard invoicing and demand upfront deposits to protect their income.
- 2Is a 1099 contractor job worth it compared to a W2 salary?Switching from a salary to a 1099 contractor role can result in lower net take-home pay because of higher self-employment taxes and lost benefits, even if the headline pay looks higher. This hidden shift makes it difficult to tell if a nominally higher offer will actually leave you better off financially.
- 2How should a new shop owner pay themselves?Deciding on an owner pay structure involves choosing between taking a regular salary, drawing a commission on services, or taking a low salary combined with business dividends. Without a clear framework, new owners struggle to balance taking a fair cut for their daily labor with keeping enough cash in the business to fund its operations.
Comes up alongside
Topics that keep appearing on the same problems — not topics with similar names.