On today’s show: if you work with a sub-contractor, something we highly recommend—how much extra should you charge your client? And do they have to sign two different contracts? That’s what Kiki asks us in this Q&A episode of Freelance to Founder. Here we go… To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK, and we'll feature you on an upcoming episode. Listen to our full-length coaching calls: http://freelancetofounder.com Support our sponsors so we can keep airing new episodes: Sh...
Oct 17, 2023•15 min
Have you ever thought: “if I can just get the attention of more people, I could close more clients and grow my business” That’s where we find today’s guest, Jay. He’s a web developer and SEO expert in Kentucky, USA. And Jay’s only been freelancing for a few months. He’s off to a great start having already closed a half-dozen monthly recurring clients. Jay’s biggest question is how to get more volume. Or more awareness. So, of course, as marketing geeks Clay and I jump in with some of our best ad...
Oct 12, 2023•51 min•Season 23Ep. 2
In today's Q&A, Rachel Stoneking, from our free Facebook Mastermind Group asked how she could get a passion for her business back. She shares her personal feeling of anxiety and disappointment after losing clients with COVID-19 and getting burned out with everything around it. "How do you overcome these negative feelings and connect back with the passion for your business?" We'll learn a lot from this difficult BUT important question. This episode was originally aired on June 21, 2022. To su...
Oct 10, 2023•14 min
On today’s show: do you keep hearing how important networking is, but you really just don’t enjoy it? In this episode, we chat with Morgan, a freelancer from Chicago. Morgan can see the potential in networking with local clients, but can’t quite figure out how to enjoy it. So, Clay and I start brainstorming a few fun and exciting ways she can leverage her unique talents to network with local business owners and potential clients. Stick around for this fun brainstorming session starting right aft...
Oct 05, 2023•46 min•Season 23Ep. 1
On today’s show, where do you start when it comes to making a marketing plan for your business? That’s what Thomassina asks us and—since Clay and I both have extensive marketing backgrounds—we end up having a lot to say about it. If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to marketing, then this episode is for you. This is Freelance to Founder. Here we go! To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK, and we'll feature you on an upcoming episode. Listen to our full-length coach...
Oct 03, 2023•20 min
On today’s show, have you ever thought: if I could just find the right person to hire, I could scale up my business. That’s how Virginia from Argentina feels about her unique content marketing company. The challenge? Virginia’s company develops content around witchcraft and spiritualism—so she needs teammates who speak fluent English, write well, and understand her unique niche. It’s a tall order, but Clay and I offered solid advice for hiring the best freelancers. For more info on this subject,...
Sep 28, 2023•50 min•Season 22Ep. 10
On today’s show: can you become a millionaire as a freelancer? Podcast listener Suman wrote in with that simple yet not-so-simple question, and we do our best to reveal whether or not you can get rich working as a freelancer. It’s all in this episode of Freelance to Founder. Here we go! To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK, and we'll feature you on an upcoming episode. Listen to our full-length coaching calls: http://freelancetofounder.com Support our sponsors so we can keep...
Sep 26, 2023•18 min
Is freelancing as a family a good idea? Can it actually work? That’s part of what we get into with our call-in guest, Dave. Dave is the father of 3 talented young developers. Together, they’ve started an agency. Well… sort of. As we talked with Dave, we uncovered this: family dynamics are not the same as business dynamics. And sometimes, managing both can present a real challenge. If you’ve ever wondered whether or not to go into business with family, today’s episode of Freelance to Founder is f...
Sep 21, 2023•55 min•Season 22Ep. 9
On today’s Q&A episode, "Can you grow without hiring?" It’s a pretty tricky question we got from Tony—a freelance videographer in Paris, France. He wants to add graphic design, web design, SEO, social media, and many other services. And he wants to hire freelancers to do it. Is this a good strategy? Stick around through this episode to find out. You’re listening to Freelance to Founder. Here we go… To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK, and we'll feature you on an upcomin...
Sep 19, 2023•16 min
On today’s show: Do you ever feel like you’re just way too busy to actually spend time growing your business? If so, you’re not alone. We chatted with Will Gibbons, who works with cool clients like Peloton, 3M, and Vizio. But Will’s got a problem. A great problem. He’s got too much work. Which means he’s busy. And he’s worried he doesn’t have time to grow. Clay and I help him punch through those barriers in this episode of Freelance to Founder. Here we go… PS: Get featured in an upcoming Q&A...
Sep 14, 2023•58 min•Season 22Ep. 8
On today’s Q&A episode, what are the best tools to use as your freelance business grows? That’s what Cesar asks us because his business is outgrowing tools like Google Drive. So, Clay and I launch into our best advice on what makes a good business tool and what makes your business worse… It’s all in this episode of Freelance to Founder. Let’s go! To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK, and we'll feature you on an upcoming episode. Listen to our full-length coaching calls: ...
Sep 12, 2023•17 min
On today’s show: Is a VA a good first hire in your company? We’re joined by call-in guest Nils, who wants to know when and how to hire a VA—a virtual assistant. But Clay and I slam on the brakes and force Nils to answer the question: Is a VA even the best first hire to make? The answer might surprise you. It’s all on today’s episode of Freelance to Founder. Let’s go! PS: Get featured in an upcoming Q&A! Just visit http://freelancetofounder.com/ask and submit a question. Support our sponsors ...
Sep 07, 2023•45 min•Season 22Ep. 7
On today’s Q&A episode, if a client is willing to pay by the hour or by the project, which one should you choose? That’s part of Pennygoo’s question, and our answer might surprise you… Here we go! To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK, and we'll feature you on an upcoming episode. Listen to our full-length coaching calls: http://freelancetofounder.com Support our sponsors so we can keep airing new episodes: Shopify - The global commerce platform. Build your business with ...
Sep 05, 2023•20 min
On today’s show: What should you do when you’re not getting the kind of respect you deserve from your clients? That’s just one of many questions we got today from our guest, Cathal, calling in from Germany. A few times now, Cathal has been hired by a manager only to later have that manager’s team give him pushback once he gets to work. So, we work with him on a few ideas on how to get everyone on board with the outside help of a freelancer or agency. That and lots more questions are just ahead o...
Aug 31, 2023•57 min•Season 22Ep. 6
In this Q&A episode, Oliver asks us what it takes to create a portfolio that actually brings in new long-term clients. And since Clay and I are real marketing geeks, we have quite a few ideas for turning your sleepy portfolio into a client-converting machine. It’s all in today’s show, and it starts right now. To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK, and we'll feature you on an upcoming episode. Listen to our full-length coaching calls: http://freelancetofounder.com Support ...
Aug 29, 2023•18 min
On today’s show, if you get most of your clients from referrals, is that a good thing? Or is your business at risk of failing? You’re about to hear a coaching call with Dwaynia, who’s calling in from Alabama in the USA. Dwaynia has a great writing business going. She’s working with clients she loves and has a small team to support her. But, Dwaynia literally lies awake at night worried about not having a client generation system in place to bring in predictable new work. Her annual goals are lit...
Aug 24, 2023•57 min•Season 22Ep. 5
Today’s question comes from our free Mastermind group on Facebook. Anna Keith asks: "I’m getting ready to do my taxes and am considering trying software rather than hiring a CPA. What insights or pros/cons about using software vs. hiring a professional do you have?" This episode was originally aired on May 3, 2022. To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK, and we'll feature you on an upcoming episode. Listen to our full-length coaching calls: http://freelancetofounder.com Suppor...
Aug 22, 2023•14 min
On today’s show: Do lead magnets really work? Like, can you actually get new clients by giving away something for free first? Or are they a waste of your time? I’m flying solo today on a coaching call with Garrett—who has questions about using AI to generate lead magnets, how to price his work when he has a unique offering and non-traditional clients, and more. It’s all in today’s episode of ‘Freelance to Founder.’ Thanks for joining. Here we go! PS: Get featured in an upcoming Q&A! Just vis...
Aug 17, 2023•50 min•Season 22Ep. 4
This episode's question came in via email. Nico works as a designer for a company right now, and he wants to start freelancing on the side and build a business. He said, “I was thinking of creating a portfolio, including the projects I've completed in my current company, but in a fictitious way (use different names, organizations, etc.) Also, state that this is a fictional project but that the process and outputs are the same. Do you think this will work to close deals? If you were a company tha...
Aug 15, 2023•11 min
Have you ever felt like you don’t know where you’re going in your business? It can be debilitating and frustrating. Not only that, but it can leave you spinning your wheels and wishing you knew what to do next to finally get some traction. That’s the situation Bernadette finds herself in. Today, she calls in from New Zealand with questions about how to restart her business and build something she can actually get excited about. It’s one of the most raw, personal sessions we’ve had to date, which...
Aug 10, 2023•51 min•Season 22Ep. 3
Today’s question comes from our free Mastermind group on Facebook. Darielle asks: "What's the BEST Software for getting paid faster?" Getting paid for your work FAST is key, but how do you make it happen? You'll get the answer here! To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK, and we'll feature you on an upcoming episode. Listen to our full-length coaching calls: http://freelancetofounder.com Support our sponsors so we can keep airing new episodes: Factor - Fresh, Ready-Made Meals ...
Aug 08, 2023•10 min
On today’s episode: working with agencies is a great way to fill your client pipeline on a regular basis. But if an agency is going to “white label” your services, how does the money work? Who gets what? How much? And when? These are the types of questions Nathan is asking himself as he grows his business. He’s got a few partnerships in the works, but he’s not sure how to set up the money side of it. Naturally, we have a few ideas for him to try. Plus, we talk about how much to charge in your pa...
Aug 03, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 22Ep. 2
On today’s Q&A Episode, Noah Tetzner finds himself in a tight spot. He’s got a high-paying client on a monthly retainer. And while this makes a ton of financial sense for his business, this client is starting to go way over scope by treating Noah a bit like a BFF or even a therapist at times. What’s a guy to do? We’ll help Noah out on this episode. Here we go. To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK, and we'll feature you on an upcoming episode. Listen to our full-length co...
Aug 01, 2023•17 min
On today's show, we get called out by our call-in guest, Erik. Here's the thing: Clay and I are always talking about finding referral partners—other freelancers or businesses who can send you new clients as a sort of trade. You'll refer them to clients, and they'll refer you. It sounds magical. But Erik's question is this: how do you actually FIND these kinds of partners? So we get into it on today's episode of Freelance to Founder. Here we go. This episode was originally aired on March 17, 2022...
Jul 27, 2023•53 min•Season 22Ep. 1
Today’s question comes from our free Mastermind group on Facebook. Maja asks: "What are your best tips for writing proposals as a freelancer?" This episode was originally aired on May 17, 2022. To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK, and we'll feature you on an upcoming episode. Listen to our full-length coaching calls: http://freelancetofounder.com Support our sponsors so we can keep airing new episodes: Factor - Fresh, Ready-Made Meals Delivered to Your Doorstep. Use the cod...
Jul 25, 2023•16 min
On today’s show, Molly Cox calls in with questions about the freelance business she started just six months ago. Top of mind for her: Should she stay a sole–proprietor or form an LLC? Before the legal terms tempt you to click away, consider this. This single question could save you thousands of dollars a year in taxes. So keep listening. That’s just part of what we chat about with Molly. PS: Get featured in an upcoming FTF SHORT! Just visit http://freelancetofounder.com/ask and submit a question...
Jul 20, 2023•48 min•Season 21Ep. 10
In today's SHORT, Rachel Stoneking, from our free Facebook Mastermind Group asked how she could get a passion for her business back. She shares her personal feeling of anxiety and disappointment after losing clients with COVID-19 and getting burned out with everything around it. "How do you overcome these negative feelings and connect back with the passion for your business?" We'll learn a lot from this difficult BUT important question. This episode was originally aired on June 21, 2022. To subm...
Jul 18, 2023•14 min
On today’s show: have you ever wondered when is the right time to start calling yourself an agency? It can be a bit awkward early on. So Clay and I coach our call-in guest Austin through the right timing. Austin has many other questions as he grows his 6-month-old business. Thanks for joining us. PS: Get featured in an upcoming FTF SHORT! Just visit http://freelancetofounder.com/ask and submit a question. Support our sponsors so we can keep airing new episodes: HubSpot - The Science of Scaling -...
Jul 13, 2023•56 min•Season 21Ep. 9
We’ve had a lot of you send questions about difficult clients. So for today’s short, I’m pulling some audio from our YouTube channel to help you out. The video is from a talented freelancer, Josh, on just how to handle 5 common nightmare clients. If you’ve ever been stuck with a bad client and not sure what to do, this video is for you. We’ll also link to our YouTube channel in the description if you want to catch more of our freelancing videos. This episode was originally aired on October 25, 2...
Jul 11, 2023•11 min
On today's show: if you're a control freak, you're probably hurting your business. Not helping it. That's the tough news we have to give Silvia, who has a small team of contractors but finds herself reluctant to hand off her oldest or biggest clients. But the reality is: if you never hand off smaller tasks, you will never free yourself up to be a founder in your own business. If this sounds like you, you'll want to keep listening to today's episode of Freelance to Founder. This episode was origi...
Jul 06, 2023•40 min•Season 21Ep. 8