Freelancing is a tough juggle. I’ve got three projects on my plate and I feel like I’m always one deadline away from chaos.
Trying to keep clients happy while dealing with late payments is exhausting. One client pays late and another demands updates constantly. It’s hard to keep track of who owes what.
Send invoices right after finishing work. Makes it easier to remember what you did.
Boundaries save your sanity. I learned this when client chaos nearly killed me.
For payments, I keep a simple phone note:
I check it every few days. When someone hits their due date, I send a friendly reminder the next day. Don’t wait around hoping they’ll remember.
Pad your deadlines. Client wants something Friday? Tell them you need until Wednesday. Gives you breathing room when stuff goes sideways.
Constant update requests are the worst. I started sending quick status emails every Tuesday and Thursday whether they ask or not. Cuts down random calls and makes me look proactive.
Late payments destroyed my cash flow early on. Now I take 50% upfront from new clients, rest on delivery. No more chasing payments.
I track everything in a basic spreadsheet - project deadlines in one column, invoice status in another. Update it Monday mornings with my coffee. Takes 10 minutes and I never forget who owes me.
That client who constantly asks for updates? I send a weekly summary every Friday. They get what they want, but I control when instead of letting them interrupt my work all week.
Set payment terms right away and stick to them. Payments are due in 15 days without exceptions.
For deadlines, focus on one project at a time. Finish one before starting the next. It reduces stress compared to juggling many projects at once.
Write down deadlines and keep things simple.
Pick one invoice date each month and don’t change it. Put payment terms on every invoice and follow up exactly when they’re due. I use a basic calendar and work backwards from deadlines. Block client time and don’t let interruptions happen. If clients want constant updates, schedule weekly calls instead of dealing with random emails all day.