Understanding the risks and uncertainties that come with freelancing doesn’t make project closure easier. Losing a client feels like a punch to the gut. You won’t even have time to deal with your emotions because you’ll need to find a new project immediately. Otherwise, the workflow gap will compromise your income.

Although challenging, it’s not impossible to move on from project closures. Let’s dive into some simple, actionable tips to help you bounce back after losing a high-paying gig.

1. Communicate With the Client

The Gmail Website Homepage Showing Some Emails

Clients could let you go for several reasons, from internal budget cuts to prominent work style differences. Unfortunately, some freelance projects could end on a sour note. You might not even want to speak with demanding, challenging clients who treat you poorly.

Regardless of what happened, make sure to express your gratitude before parting ways. Politely ask for a performance assessment, find out why they decided to let you go, and thank them for the opportunity to collaborate. Try turning your loss into a learning opportunity.

Also, don’t burn bridges. Save their contact information, work emails, and past projects so that you can accommodate them should they need your services again.

2. Objectively Assess What Happened

If the client dropped you for issues with your performance, objectively assess yourself before taking on other gigs. Strive to eliminate recurring issues. Bad habits will eventually create unhealthy systems and further compromise your output—turning away prospects.

Also, consider quantifying your output for accurate assessments. Most freelancers are unaware of the quality of their work because they do performance reviews from memory. Insights based on recollections tend to be biased.

Instead, review your output based on key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to your field of expertise. Let’s say you’re a copywriter. You could collate your past sales copies and score them on factors like your writing speed, grammar, page views, and conversion rates. Record your scores on Google Sheets or MS Excel.

3. Understand That It Might Not Be Your Fault

Many freelancers fear that losing clients implies you produce terrible output, but it doesn’t. Contract terminations don’t necessarily reflect poorly on you.

Again, projects end for several reasons. And after dropping a few of them, you’ll realize that clients also deal with issues on their side, like budget constraints or company reorganization. Never take project closures personally.

Third-party complications are beyond your control. The best approach is to manage your expectations by researching prospective companies and clients online before taking on their freelancing roles.

Websites like Glassdoor and Indeed collect will give you insights into almost any employer worldwide. Current and former employees alike can leave reviews on these platforms. If your prospective client receives too many negative comments about their daily workload, management styles, and freelancing rates, think twice before applying.

4. Calculate Your Finances

A Google Sheet Template for Annual Expenses

Unlike full-time employees, freelancers don’t receive a fixed salary. Although you earn more by taking on multiple clients simultaneously, your income could also plummet if you lose all your projects.

With that said, financially recovering from losing a high-paying client isn’t impossible if you manage your money well. Compute how many gigs you need to meet your income goal. If you have minimal experience in accounting, use customizable finance templates to simplify computations.

Also, set aside at least six months’ worth of expenses. You can’t make wise decisions for your freelancing business if you’re constantly afraid of running out of money. Focus on honing your craft and landing lucrative clients.

5. Update Your Portfolio

Ask your client for permission to add the work you did for them to your portfolio. You’ve likely grown since you started working with them, so you need to replace outdated samples that no longer represent your skills. A quality portfolio will make prospecting much easier.

Also, use this time to work on your personal website if you have one. Juggling freelance work with site maintenance is challenging. You might not have many chances to do so again once your pipeline fills up with new projects.

6. Use Your Free Time Wisely

The ProBlogger Job Board for Writing Gigs

New freelancers losing clients for the first time tend to get disheartened. Some even quit freelancing altogether. Although it’s normal to feel sad when losing a major client, the worst thing you could do is to stop working.

Instead, spend your free time wisely by looking for new projects. Explore the best freelance websites, apply for as many gigs as possible, and set up back-to-back client meetings. Keep yourself busy with productive tasks.

If you still need time to decompress, consider joining casual freelancing groups wherein members share tips, vent about problems, and ask for advice. Find your niche. For instance, if you’re a freelance writer, you could look for free communities geared toward freelance writers.

7. Reach Out to Old Clients

Apart from prospecting for new clients, reach out to your old ones. Reintroduce yourself, ask about any recent updates with their business, and express your availability to work—don’t just beg for projects. Chances are clients who like you will hire you again.

But if you have no past projects yet, create a database now. A simple directory on Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel with your clients’ contact information should suffice. Bookmark it for future reference.

8. Maximize Small Projects

Man writing in a notebook while sitting in front of an iMac

Don’t solely focus on one freelance project, regardless of how much it pays. All freelancing gigs come with uncertainty, and devoting your entire pipeline to a single client endangers your income stability.

As a freelancer, you should always have a few side projects ready. Small gigs and one-off projects might not pay much, but they could fill your income loss should you lose major projects.

To avoid getting overwhelmed, organize your duties on personal task board apps. Unlike project management platforms, which support team collaboration, these tools help individuals visualize their to-do lists.

Learn to Bounce Back After Losing a Major Freelancing Client

Your success as a freelancer depends on how quickly you can bounce back after losing a client. Remember: freelancing projects come and go. Even reputable, skilled professionals lose major clients. Your career might not progress if you let every gig or project cancelation affect you on a personal level.

To further minimize workflow gaps, set up an effective client acquisition system that converts leads. Experienced freelancers always have pending projects in their pipelines. If you still struggle with landing high-paying gigs and long-term projects, reassess how you find prospects. Surprisingly, most outreach mistakes are easy to fix.