Most people start freelancing for time flexibility and financial freedom. They find the idea of managing their workdays, choosing which tasks to do, and setting fair project rates appealing, so much so that they often leave their permanent jobs.

Although freelancing has several perks, you shouldn’t overlook its drawbacks. Let’s dive into the most common challenges among new freelancers; that way, you’ll know what to expect and how to handle them. Remember, poor preparation only sets you up for failure.

1. Negotiating With Unreasonable Clients

As a freelancer, you get to work with various people. Although you may get along with most clients, expect to encounter a few unreasonable ones now and then. Unfortunately, you can’t completely avoid them.

When faced with rude clients, try to keep discussions and rebuttals professional. Never lose your composure, even if they do. Try your best to negotiate, but if you and your client still fail to see eye to eye, consider ending the working relationship.

2. Staying Disciplined and Productive Without Supervision

Working for yourself feels liberating. You can control your deliverables, due dates, rates, client base, production schedule, and office hours. Freelancers can even choose which projects to take on and which to decline.

Just be careful not to abuse your freedom. New freelancers who work remotely often tend to procrastinate because they know no one will reprimand them for poor performance anymore. This can lead to a build-up of unfinished projects.

To stay disciplined and productive without supervision, try managing distractions at home. Act as your own supervisor. Create a detailed schedule of your workday, space out your due dates, block potential distractions, and start automating tedious freelancing tasks.

3. Building a Solid Online Presence

New freelancers often struggle with establishing their online presence. Even someone experienced in executing advertising campaigns may find it challenging to market their services. Boosting a company’s brand recognition is different from building a freelancing business.

You don’t have to overcomplicate the process. Start building your online presence by creating social media accounts dedicated to your freelancing business. Don’t just use your old profiles. Connect with other freelancers, reach out to potential clients, and join relevant freelancing communities. Once you gain more followers, you can experiment with more advanced marketing tactics.

4. Creating a Steady Stream of Freelance Projects

Unlike full-time employment, freelancing gigs don’t require employers to warn their workers before termination. Clients can terminate your contract at any time. If they suddenly decide to take your project in a different direction, your services might become unneeded.

Since you can’t guarantee how long gigs will last, it’s important to diversify your workload. Instead of relying on a single client, source your work from multiple clients. You can prioritize high-paying projects, but make sure to set aside time for other tasks as well. That way, you’ll always have a steady stream of work.

5. Emotionally Dealing With Losing Clients

As a freelancer, it’s important to avoid getting too attached to your clients. Clients come and go, and even if you’ve worked with someone for years, they may suddenly cancel your contract once they no longer need your services. If this happens, don’t take it personally.

In addition to building a diverse portfolio of clients, it’s important to adopt a healthy attitude toward project terminations. They don’t necessarily reflect poorly on you as a freelancer. If a client ends your contract, try to find out why they had to let you go, reassess what you could have done better, and apply your learnings to future projects.

6. Setting Boundaries Between Work and Personal Life

Freelancers often enjoy more time flexibility than full-time employees, but they may struggle to set proper boundaries between work and personal life. When you work, eat, sleep, and relax in the same space, it can be difficult to maintain a clear division between your professional and personal priorities.

To organize your daily routine, incorporate time-blocking into your workday. Divide your day into several time slots and assign a specific task to each slot. Each time block should only contain one task, which you must finish within the allotted period. Only focus on your current goal.

7. Managing Clients From Different Time Zones

Working with international clients can be a great way to expand your market, but it can also make time management more challenging. You’ll have to accommodate your clients’ preferred office hours, which can be difficult if you’re used to working standard business hours.

The key to managing international clients is to set clear goals and expectations from the start. Explain that the difference in time zones may cause delays in communication, but assure them that you will do your best to make yourself available.

Another helpful tool for managing clients in different time zones is an appointment-scheduling app. These apps automatically book and manage your online meetings, which can save you time and reduce the need for back-and-forth communication when scheduling calls with clients.

8. Ensuring You Get Payments on Time

Late invoices are common in freelancing. Even your most trusted clients may overlook payments occasionally, but that doesn't mean they are disreputable. Give your late-paying clients the benefit of the doubt and send a quick follow-up email or reminder about the payment.

For first-time clients or one-off projects, it may be wise to ask for a down payment upfront. Using freelancing platforms like Fiverr or Upwork can also help protect against delinquent payers, as these platforms have measures in place to prevent this.

9. Weeding Out Scammers and Fake Jobs

It's important to be careful when accepting freelance work. The freelance industry can be plagued by scammers and fraudulent job offers. Some scammers may try to get you to work for very little pay, while others may try to trick you into doing unpaid work.

To minimize the risk of working with scammers, carefully screen prospects and project proposals before accepting any work. If something seems suspicious, it may be best to walk away.

Overcome the Challenges New Freelancers Face

To overcome common challenges in freelancing, it's important to change your mindset. As a freelancer, you are responsible for planning your workday, assigning tasks to yourself, and even making sure you get paid. It's important to be prepared for the challenges that come with freelancing and to develop strategies to overcome them.

This may involve learning new skills, staying up-to-date with the latest technologies, automating tedious tasks, and expanding your network. By doing this, you can build a successful freelance career and take your business to the next level.