So, you’ve just landed a new freelance client – congrats!

Whether this is your first or your fiftieth, the feeling of excitement (and maybe a little nervousness) never quite goes away.

Freelancing has come a long way since I first wrote this post back in 2016.

Today, remote work is the norm, and the freelance economy is booming. In fact, recent reports show that freelancers now make up 36% of the global workforce, contributing billions to the economy every year. The tools and platforms available to us in 2024, like AI-powered scheduling assistants and streamlined contract apps, make managing clients and projects easier than ever.

But with more opportunities also comes more competition and higher expectations from clients. It’s no longer enough to just land the gig.

You’ve got to hit the ground running and prove your value from day one. That’s why I’ve refreshed this post to walk you through the crucial next steps after securing a client, ensuring you’re set up for success from the very start.

What to Do After You Land a Brand Spanking New Client

Okay, first things first. The client has said yes and you’ve just finished shouting from the rooftops about it. Now it’s time to crack on.

Where do you start?

1. Send a Contract

You start with a contract, of course. This is where you lay out in laymen terms what exactly it is you’ll be doing for the client, as well as getting everything you’ve discussed already down in writing.

The word contract often has us freelancers freezing up in fright because, well, it can seem a little corporate and scary, but as soon as you understand it’s simply a written document that highlights what you’re going to do, when you’re going to do it by, and how much you’re going to get compensated, it becomes a little less daunting.

Let’s dig in.

What to include in your contract

Who the contract is between

Every contract starts with the details of the two parties. Simply add in your name and your business name if you have one, along with the client’s business name.

Pricing details

This includes EXACTLY how much you and your client have agreed on for the project, along with the fine print like whether it’s to be paid hourly or whether it’s a lump sum for the project.

In this section, you’ll also want to include any additional extras. This might cover what happens if a project takes longer than expected, how much any additional revisions will cost, and whether there will be any fines occurred for late responses.

Examples:

“The price stated covers 2 revisions. Additional revisions will cost $X unless otherwise stated.”

“A sum of $X will be paid by the client if they fail to respond to any submissions or revisions within X period.”

Payment plan

Then you want to touch on how you’ll get paid and when you’ll get paid. For example, will the invoice be settled by PayPal, via cheque, or via a direct bank transfer?

Then you want to set payment milestones – you might want to cement a deposit, payment after the first draft, and then a final payment on completion of the project.

Project deadlines

This is where you lay out in detail the exact dates the client can expect the work from you, including any milestones along the way.

Example:

“The client will receive the first draft before or on X date and the completed project before or on X date. If the client fails to respond promptly to submissions, the freelancer retains the right to push back the date.”

How you will communicate

Communication is a HUGE part of client-based work, so you really want to nail down how you’ll communicate with your client (via email, WhatsApp, Zoom?) and how often you can discuss the project.

I’ve been in numerous situations where clients have sent me hundreds of emails a week under different threads which gets really confusing, so I always try and add something that deflects this in my contracts.

Example:

“The client and freelancer will communicate via email throughout the project. Where possible, the client should try and include all information in one email thread. The freelancer will always try and respond within 48 hours, but during busy periods, the response time might be longer.”

The scope of the work

Finally, you want to lay out exactly what you and your new client have agreed on in terms of scope for the project. If it’s a written piece, write how many words it will be, what topics it will be on, and any other significant factors that you have discussed (for example, how many images will be sourced?)

This section helps deflect any scope creep from the client, so get as specific as you can here.

These are the main things you need to include in a contract, but if there are any other additional factors you and the client have discussed then you should include those in writing, too.

Each contract for each freelancer will be different, so while these sections are pretty standard in any contract, you’ll want to find a template that works for you time and time again.

Helpful Tools for Contracts:

• Bonsai: Create and manage contracts, invoices, and proposals all in one place.
• HelloSign: A simple, secure e-signature tool to get your contracts signed quickly.
• DocuSign: A trusted platform for sending, signing, and storing digital contracts.
• And.Co: Offers a free contract template tailored for freelancers.

2. Get all the information

Once the contract has been signed and you’re ready to get stuck into the work, you’ll want to make sure you have all the collateral you need to, well, get stuck in.

Often, the client is so immersed in the project, they forget that you know very little about their company and the project. This is where that handy list of questions you can download above comes in!

For the best chance at a successful project you want to gather as much information from the client as you can. This is where you can ask for:

• Contact details for everyone working on the project
• Branding guidelines
• Audience profiles
• A project brief
• Any inspiration from the client
• Login details if you need them

Without these, you might struggle to get the vision of the client right, so it’s well worth taking the time to get them up front.

Helpful Tools for Gathering Information:

• Google Forms: Create a questionnaire to gather project details and client preferences efficiently.
• Typeform: An interactive form builder that makes it easy to collect detailed client input.
• Notion: Use it to organize and store project details, brand guidelines, and notes all in one place.
• Slack: Streamline client communication and collaboration by setting up a dedicated project channel.

3. Set up a workflow

Finally, you want to set up a workflow for the project. This is a lot simpler than it sounds, I promise.

I realised I automatically slipped into a regular workflow with each new client I signed up, so it’s worth experimenting with your first few projects to see what works best.

When you’re setting up your workflow, you’ll want to:

Create a new folder for the project

Get yourself organised first and foremost. Start a new folder on your computer or online drive and create sub-folders for drafts, completed revisions, and any other documents that you have for the project.

Schedule time slots

Then you’ll want to schedule in when you’re going to do the work. I just use a Google Calendar to mark in time I’ve set aside for certain projects, but you can use a paper diary or another app if you prefer.

I always mark in the major milestones for each project (a.k.a. the looming deadlines) and then schedule in the work so I’ve finished it way before them. This way, I never miss a deadline, even if something crops up at the last minute (which, let’s face it, happens more often than not).

When all of this is in place, it’s time to actually do the work. By this stage, you’ll have all the information you need, you’ll have a contract written up and signed to cover your back, and you’ll have slots in your diary filled in (and who doesn’t love the look of a full diary!?).

Helpful Tools for Workflow Management:

• Trello: Organize your projects into boards, lists, and cards for clear visual tracking.
• Asana: A robust project management tool for assigning tasks, setting deadlines, and tracking progress.
• ClickUp: A versatile tool for managing tasks, documents, and calendars in one unified space.
• Airtable: Combines the functionality of a database and spreadsheet for project management.
• Google Calendar: Schedule your work sessions and deadlines to stay ahead of time.

Helpful AI Tools to Save Time:

• ChatGPT: Great for brainstorming, writing client emails, or even creating initial drafts.
• Grammarly: A must-have tool for proofreading and enhancing your written communication.
• Jasper: AI writing assistant that helps you create copy and content quickly.
• Canva: Perfect for creating professional graphics, presentations, or social media content.

Tell me, what’s your biggest struggle AFTER you’ve landed a new client? What would you like more help with?