The freelancing desk
Freelancing
Pricing, contracts, clients, and the realities of independent work.
How to set freelance rates that actually pay your bills
Most pricing advice for freelancers starts with the wrong number. Here is a more honest way to work out what you should charge.
The middle of the freelance market is hollowing out
Freelance writing volume dropped 32% in the last year. The cheap end of creative work is collapsing. The high end is doing fine. Where you land depends on a single question.
When AI makes you faster, hourly billing eats your business
If a 10 hour project is now a 4 hour project, hourly billing means a 60% pay cut for the same outcome. The math behind why value pricing is no longer optional.
The freelance contract checklist
The clauses that actually matter when a project goes sideways, explained in plain English by people who have been on both sides of one.
Working mostly for one client? The rule changed. The risk did not.
The DOL proposed a new independent contractor rule in February. The 2024 rule is still in effect for now. Either way, the pattern that gets freelancers reclassified as employees is the same one.
Why scope creep happens, and what to do when it does
Scope creep is rarely about bad clients. It is about unclear scope. Here is how to spot it early and handle it without burning the relationship.
Productized services vs. hourly work: which one fits your business
A clear look at three common ways to package freelance services, and when each one is the right fit.
When (and how) to raise your rates
Most freelancers wait too long, then raise rates badly. Here is a calmer way to do it that does not blow up the business.
How to say no to bad clients without burning bridges
The hardest skill in freelancing is not saying yes. It is saying no early enough that you do not regret saying yes.