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Freelance to Founder

Millo / The Podglomeratemillo.co
Freelance to Founder is a unique call-in show helping real-life freelancers grow their businesses and escape the feast-famine lifestyle. The podcast is co-hosted by Clay and Preston, two former freelancers who have started, built, and even sold six- and seven-figure businesses of their own. If you enjoy content fromThe Futur, Being Freelance, The Accidental Creative, Smart Passive Income, or The Side Hustle Show, then you'll love Freelance to Founder. Catch the Tuesday Q&A episodes, dive deeper with Thursday's call-in episodes, or join us on the air and take the next step on your journey from ... freelance to founder.
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Episodes

[Q&A] Should I hire a CPA or use a tax software?

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...

May 21, 202416 min

Drumming Up More Attention

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...

May 17, 202454 minSeason 26Ep. 3

[Q&A] Can I Put In-House Work in My Portfolio?

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...

May 14, 202413 min

Networking Anxiety

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...

May 09, 202449 minSeason 26Ep. 2

[Q&A] Best Software for Getting Paid Faster?

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! This Q&A episode was originally aired on August 8th, 2023. 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 Our ge...

May 08, 202412 min

Finding Rockstar Subcontractors

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. This episode was originally ai...

May 03, 202453 minSeason 26Ep. 1

[Q&A] Rich Client Treats Me Like a Therapist

In 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. This episode was originally aired on November 28, 2023. To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK, and we'll feature ...

Apr 30, 202419 min

Good Idea? Freelancing as a Family...

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...

Apr 26, 202458 minSeason 25Ep. 10

[Q&A] Can You Sell a Freelance Business?

On today’s Q&A episode - Nafeesa is wondering if there’s any way to keep the small, solo charm of her freelance business while also planning for an eventual exit. The real question: can you actually sell a freelance business? We’ve got the answer on today’s episode of Freelance to Founder. Here we go. This episode was originally aired on November 21, 2023. To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK, and we'll feature you on an upcoming episode. Listen to our full-length coachi...

Apr 23, 202417 min

Can You Ever Step Away?

On today’s show: can you ever step away from your business? Or are you doomed as an entrepreneur to never enjoy a vacation or time off ever again? That’s just part of what we talk about with our guest Jim who’s calling back for a second time on today’s episode. Jim has quit his job and taken his business full-time. But now he wonders: how do I take the next step so I can work more ON my business than IN my business. If you’re wondering the same, then stay tuned because we answer that and lots mo...

Apr 18, 202452 minSeason 25Ep. 9

[Q&A] Free Money [Part 2]

I am joined by special guest co-host Austin Church on today's show. He is a very talented freelancer and the author of the new book, Free Money. It's all about growing your revenue as a freelancer, and we talked today about calculating your survival rate. That's the rate you need to stay in business as a freelancer. What's the minimum amount you need to make to stay in business? So, if you've wondered how to calculate that rate best, stay tuned for today's Q&A episode with Austin Church and ...

Apr 16, 202427 min

Too Busy to Grow?

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… This episode was originally aired on Se...

Apr 11, 20241 hr 1 minSeason 27Ep. 8

[Q&A] Do Freelancers Need College?

On today’s Q&A Episode: Do you really need to go to college in order to be a successful freelancer? Listener Evan writes in to ask if he should invest in a master’s degree or skip the extra college. And we’ve got our best answers on this episode of Freelance to Founder. Here we go! This episode was originally aired on November 14, 2023 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://free...

Apr 10, 202415 min

Should I Even Try?

On today’s show: is it even worth trying to grow your freelance business? That’s where Rakesh finds himself. He gets most of his clients from freelancing platforms like Upwork. And the market for web designers and developers is just so saturated, he doesn’t even know if he should continue with his business. If you’ve ever felt this way, today’s show is for you. It all starts right now on this episode of Freelance to Founder. Oh, and really quickly before we start: the audio on this episode is a ...

Apr 08, 202434 minSeason 25Ep. 7

[Q&A] But...Should I Hire By the Hour?

On today’s Q&A episode, A former guest on the show, Jim, writes in with an important question: I know I shouldn’t charge by the hour, but shouldn’t I pay my subcontractors by the hour? You might be able to guess our answer. Or it might just surprise you. Let’s find out on today’s episode of Freelance to Founder. Here we go! This Q&A episode was originally aired on November 7th, 2023. To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK, and we'll feature you on an upcoming episode. ...

Apr 02, 202419 min

Is a VA a Good First Hire?

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! This episode was originally aired on September 7th, 2023. PS: Get featured in an upcoming Q&A! Just visit http://freelancetofo...

Mar 28, 202448 minSeason 25Ep. 6

[Q&A] Free Money [Part 1]

I am joined by special guest co-host Austin Church on today's show. He is a very talented freelancer and the author of the new book, Free Money. It's all about growing your revenue as a freelancer, and we talked today about calculating your survival rate. That's the rate you need to stay in business as a freelancer. What's the minimum amount you need to make to stay in business? So, if you've wondered how to calculate that rate best, stay tuned for today's Q&A episode with Austin Church and ...

Mar 26, 202424 min

Disrespectful Clients

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...

Mar 21, 20241 hrSeason 25Ep. 5

[Q&A] Growing a Network from Scratch?

On today’s Q&A episode, Luqman writes in with a question. He’s a brand-new freelancer and wants to know exactly how to build a freelance network and attract more clients. We all know your network can lead to massive growth for your business. So Clay and I break down what has worked well for us and what has totally bombed when it comes to networking. If you want to build your network fast, you should try FeedCoyote, the all-in-one freelance collaboration network platform. Click the link in ou...

Mar 19, 202416 min

The Risk of Referrals

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...

Mar 14, 20241 hrSeason 25Ep. 4

[Q&A] Team Size to Call Yourself an Agency

On today’s show: how many people does it take to call yourself an agency officially? Is it one, two, or more than that? This question got us thinking a bit about what it actually means to be an agency. Plus, we talk about our ideal team size and answer the question: How many is too many when it comes to your team? It’s all on 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 ful...

Mar 12, 202420 min

Do Lead Magnets Work?

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! This episode was originally aired on August 17, 2...

Mar 08, 202453 minSeason 25Ep. 3

[Q&A] Cost of Starting an Agency?

On today’s Q&A episode — let’s talk money. Exactly how much should you save up before you can start your own agency? We do our best to answer this question, plus it got us asking: what in the world are we spending all of our money on these days in our own businesses. So, as a bonus, we break down our own finances a bit more to round out the episode. It all starts right now on this episode of Freelance to Founder. Here we go. To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK, and we'l...

Mar 05, 202424 min

You're Dead Without a Vision

On today’s show: you’re dead without a vision for your business. That’s because without a vision—or a north star—to guide your business, you can very easily end up chasing the wrong things. In today’s episode, we chat with Alan, who’s ready to grow his family business, but he’s not sure where to start when it comes to strategy and processes. If you find it hard knowing where to start, this episode is for you. Here we go. PS: Get featured in an upcoming Q&A! Just visit http://freelancetofound...

Feb 29, 202455 minSeason 25Ep. 2

[Q&A] How Do I Get US Clients?

On today’s Q&A episode, Travis writes in with a problem: a few years ago, he moved from Australia to the U.S. to grow his video business. And while things went well at first, work has really slowed down, and he’s wondering: is there something about the U.S. market he’s completely missing? Clay and I have never lived “down under,” but we have a few things to consider for anyone looking to break into the US market. It’s all on this episode of Freelance to Founder. Here we go… To submit your qu...

Feb 27, 202418 min

Client Tool Craziness

On today’s show: should you spread yourself across each of your client’s project management tools? Or should you make them join yours? It’s a question Taylor’s facing as she grows her business. We spoke with Taylor about a year ago, and things are going great. But she works with so many clients now; they each have their preferred project management tool. So, should she keep going from tool to tool? Or make her clients join a single platform that she manages? We’ll discuss that and more on today’...

Feb 22, 202452 minSeason 25Ep. 1

[Q&A] Is GoHighLevel Worth the Hype?

On today’s show, we’ve got the longest Q&A episode we’ve ever published—coming in at a whopping 50 minutes plus. Why so long? Well, I asked Clay a question that really got him riled up. It has to do with his experience using the software GoHighLevel—which has exploded in popularity lately. But Clay’s experience was anything but ideal. You’ll see what I mean in this episode of Freelance to Founder. Here we go. This episode was originally aired on October 24, 2023. Mentioned in this episode: K...

Feb 20, 202459 min

Where Is Your Business Going?

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...

Feb 15, 202454 minSeason 24Ep. 10

[Q&A] Upcharge a Client for Subcontracting?

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… This episode was originally aired on June 21, 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...

Feb 13, 202417 min

Profit-Sharing with Agencies

In today’s episode, we learned that working with agencies is a great way to fill your client pipeline regularly. But how does the money work if an agency will “white label” your services? Who gets what? How much? And when? These are the types of questions Nathan asks himself as he grows his business. He’s got a few partnerships in the works, but he’s unsure how to set up the money side. Naturally, we have a few ideas for him to try. Plus, we talk about how much to charge in your particular marke...

Feb 08, 20241 hr 4 minSeason 24Ep. 9
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