Although freelancing offers the advantage of working at your own pace, it can present its own set of challenges. As a freelancer, you may encounter difficult clients, delayed payments, and missed deadlines. In such situations, you must be a skilled problem solver as there is no boss or colleague to help you handle spooky scenarios and overcome such issues.
If you’re wondering how to tackle the daunting scenarios that often accompany freelancing, this article provides solutions to common freelancer problems and mistakes.
Dealing with Unpaid Invoices from Clients
In some cases, clients may forget to pay the invoice on the due date, but a simple follow-up and invoice resend may work. However, there may be instances where clients still refuse to pay.
In such a scenario, the next step is to send a debt collection letter, which is a formal reminder that includes the payment due date and accepted payment methods. You can also include a warning about the actions you will take if the payment is not received, such as filing a court claim. However, this approach can result in high legal costs and unpaid claims.
A more viable alternative is to join the Federation of Small Businesses, which offers ‘no collection, no fee’ services to help you recover debts. You can also seek legal advice to understand the most effective debt recovery options available in your state or country.
Failing to Meet a Deadline
Despite your best efforts to adhere to a schedule, there may be instances where you fail to meet a project deadline due to unforeseen circumstances such as illness, family emergencies, or other special situations. Failing to notify your client before the due date is unprofessional and can damage your relationship with them. It’s best to communicate any potential delays as early as possible.
In case of a missed deadline, offer a reasonable explanation to the client. For instance, you can say, “We agreed to deliver the project by the end of this week, but due to unexpected circumstances, I believe I’ll need a few more days to ensure all your feedback is incorporated, and you receive the best possible outcome. Is this acceptable to you?”
Alternatively, you can suggest a revised deadline or offer to share an unfinished version of the work in progress, so the client knows you are still on track. For example, you can say, “We have completed 80% of the prototype, but we need additional time to incorporate XYZ features for testing. Would you like to review the work we have done so far? I’m confident we can finish the entire project by Wednesday at the latest.
Receiving Negative Feedback from the Client
It can be disheartening to spend hours on a freelance project, only to receive negative feedback from a dissatisfied client. However, it’s important to stay calm and understand your client’s concerns about your work. You can ask direct questions such as “What aspects of the deliverable did you not like?”, “How can I improve?”, or “Could you provide me with your comments and suggestions to create a project that meets your expectations?”.
Once you understand the client’s requirements, it becomes easier to produce an output that meets their expectations. Don’t be afraid of constructive criticism during the process. It’s also crucial to keep communication channels open, so that all parties are on the same page.
Losing Work Progress and Saved Data
Losing your work due to a computer crash without any backups is a frustrating experience, and it’s essential to take responsibility for your mistake. The best approach is to admit your error and apologize to the client. To alleviate their concerns, present a plan of action to recover the lost data or redo the work in progress.
If you charge by the hour, it may not be feasible to ask the client to pay for the time spent recovering the lost work. After all, it is not their fault. Consider this situation as a reminder to regularly back up all of your important files. Keep everything important on a hard drive or another storage device to avoid losing any work progress or saved data.
Mistakes in Tax Filing that Lead to an Audit
As a freelancer, receiving a notice from the IRS can be a dreaded event, particularly for self-employed individuals whose receipts exceed $100,000. Since freelance income fluctuates, tax returns can vary from year to year, making freelancers six to eight times more likely to be audited. If you land a significant contract, this could raise a red flag with the IRS.
Nevertheless, a tax audit is not the end of the world. It’s essential to maintain records of your invoices and tax returns, as well as track tax deductions for work-related expenses, meals, and travel. To maintain precise records and avoid audits, create a separate account for your freelance business.
Alternatively, consider hiring a professional accountant to prepare and file your tax returns. It’s critical to be familiar with the necessary tax forms and self-employment taxes to avoid being caught off guard.
Dealing with an Embarrassing Zoom Meeting
In the era of virtual meetings, awkward moments are almost inevitable. Technical difficulties could cause your screen to freeze or go black, while family members or pets could interrupt your Zoom call.
In these situations, it’s important to remain calm and stay positive. Rather than ignoring the embarrassment, embrace the awkwardness.
For instance, if your children interrupt your Zoom call, acknowledge the situation and apologize for the interruption. You could say something like, “Sorry, everyone. My child needed my attention for a moment.” By saying it in a lighthearted tone, your clients may even laugh with you. However, if you let the awkwardness take over, it might be challenging to establish a good rapport with your clients.
Dealing with a difficult client
Dealing with a difficult client can be a challenging situation for freelancers. At first, they may seem pleasant to work with, but over time, you may discover that you don’t have the right chemistry to work together in the long run. So, how do you handle such a situation?
Most nightmare clients have vague needs, and their expectations are too high compared to their low budget, which can be frustrating. If you spot these red flags, it’s essential to review the scope of your contract.
For instance, freelance writers can limit the number of revisions to two times. If an unsatisfied client keeps asking for more revisions, remind them of the scope of your contract. Besides, if they want you to do more work, negotiate a higher rate based on the scope of the project and the number of revisions they require.
If all else fails, the last option is to end the project and the relationship with the client. Notify them politely and diplomatically that you are terminating the collaboration. For example, you can say, “Due to the delays in content creation, I don’t think we’re a good match for each other.
Dealing with Insufficient Workload
As a freelancer, what if the work dries up? Even a couple of weeks without enough work can make it difficult to pay the bills. To prevent this from happening, you must continuously network and market your business. Send follow-up emails to clients to remind them that you’re available for work.
Here’s a template that you can use:
Dear Client XYZ,
I hope this email finds you well. Over the past year, I had the pleasure of working on some exciting projects with you, which resulted in XYZ achievements.
As I have availability this month, I wanted to check-in and see if you have any ongoing or new projects that I can assist you with. I’m here to help in any way I can, so please don’t hesitate to let me know.
Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing back from you.
Best regards, [Your Name]
Another option is to join freelance groups online to connect with other professionals. Many freelancers often seek to collaborate with others when they are no longer able to accept more work. Being part of a group can help you stay on their radar and ensure a steady stream of work.
In summary, the best way to handle spooky scenarios as a freelancer is to stay calm, communicate openly with your clients, and take proactive steps to prevent these situations from happening in the first place. This can include setting clear boundaries with clients, staying organized and keeping backups of important files, seeking support from other freelancers, and taking care of your mental health and well-being. By doing so, you can build a successful and fulfilling freelance career, even in the face of unexpected challenges.
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