Recently, I was a guest on a podcast, and the host asked what I would do differently if I were starting my freelance business over again.
I gave an answer I’m sure the host wasn’t expecting: Nothing. I wouldn’t change a thing.
Before I became a freelance writer, I was an executive at a tech company. Because of this experience, I knew many of the ins and outs of running a business. Delivering client work was new, but I was comfortable with the “behind the scenes” work. This knowledge gave me an advantage, because I wasn’t figuring things out as I worked to build a business.
If you’re thinking about freelancing, here are the top things I’d recommend.
Freelancers can easily find themselves doing more work than expected if the contract doesn’t have a clearly defined project scope. Clients will ask for more work or changes to your existing work — without paying more. And you’ll feel like you have to accommodate them because the contract doesn’t explicitly say otherwise.
While all freelance work is different, here are a few musts in my contract as a freelance writer