While having a healthy roster of clients and robust project turnover can keep your freelance business profitable and resilient, there are times when, as a freelancer, it is in your best interests to say “No”.
Whether it’s declining a project because you haven’t got the capacity, it’s outside of your scope, or for some other reason, we all experience scenarios when it might be best to set boundaries and apply the power of saying “No”.
Be realistic with your time and resources
There may be times when you are given additional tasks or offered more work when, realistically, you don’t have the resources, time or even skill sets to complete them.
It could be an additional task that a client gives you that causes significant scope creep, or a regular client has something they want you to fast-track (even though you are currently working on another project and don’t have the capacity to take on more work). These types of scenarios can lead to freelancer regret, especially if it’s a decision made in haste or when feeling pressured. What’s more, they can set a precedent.
Some freelancers might be under the impression that clients won’t give them any further work if they turn down an opportunity. In reality, taking on an extra task you don’t have the capacity to undertake doesn’t tend to work out well for either party, so it pays to be realistic with your resources and ability to take on work and give yourself plenty of time to complete the jobs you already have scheduled.
Get paid your worth
If you are not being paid enough (or at all) in exchange for your expertise, time and value generation, then this is a scenario in which you should consider politely declining, especially if the client doesn’t have the budget.
Not getting paid your worth is something that will set you back as a freelancer, so it’s important that your payment terms and conditions are agreed in writing upfront before you commence any project.
It’s essential that both parties know and agree upon the scope of the project, your fee or charges, and any extra charges for added deliverables. This will help avoid the situation of you working extra hours or doing additional tasks without getting paid for them.
If you are asked to do something that’s not in the scope of the agreed project, then make it clear that the task isn’t within the agreed scope, and if you do take it on, you’ll invoice for it.
Find your joy (or automate)
Naturally, in your freelance career, you’ll come across tedious tasks, and there will be some projects that won’t set your soul on fire. But generally speaking, if you don’t find joy in your work or worse, you dread it, then you likely won’t do as good a job.
Likewise, doing work that doesn’t align with your core values or that you simply find difficult or dispiriting can lead to freelancer burnout. You might want to ask yourself if it’s worth exchanging your emotional health and peace of mind just for a high-paying project.
Fortunately, when it comes to time-consuming admin tasks, you can always automate them. Take invoicing, for example, a task that needs to be done but can take up time. That’s where Invoice Ninja comes in. Invoice Ninja is a leading free invoicing software for small business invoicing, online payments, tracking expenses and billable tasks. It also includes attractive, professional invoice template designs you can customize with your logo and brand colors.
Say “YES” to getting paid on time with Invoice Ninja!
Do what you can
If you are asked to do something you know you cannot deliver on, then in most cases, it’s probably best to politely decline.
However, sometimes opportunities do present themselves, and they are great for upskilling or gaining experience in a complementary field. There might be elements of a proposed project you can do, and for the things you can’t, you could consider outsourcing them to another freelancer or hiring someone.
Sometimes, partnering with another professional can end up being very lucrative. So always consider your options carefully. What might on the face of it look like a straight “No” might be, in the right circumstances, a resounding “Yes”.
And then there are some clients and projects that may look like a great fit on paper but just don’t feel right. If your gut instinct is telling you there’s something wrong, then it’s probably best to rely on your intuition. It’s not unusual to find that when one door closes, another one opens.
Finally, it’s worth mentioning that just because you can’t take on a project because you don’t have the capacity, you can always schedule it for when you are free. Or, in the case of urgent work, you can refer them to another freelancer in your network.
