Hi Reader,

Happy Friday!

Lately, I’ve been thinking about how easy it is to mistake movement for progress, especially in freelancing.

We tick off tasks, post content, tweak websites, send cold DMs… but how often do we pause and ask, “Is any of this actually working the way I want it to?” Not just in terms of income, but energy, fulfillment, alignment?

So here’s a small invitation for the weekend:

Take ten quiet minutes to look at your freelance business like a client would.

What would stand out? What would confuse them? What would make them want to work with you? You might be surprised by what you find... not because you’re doing it wrong, but because you’re so deep in it.

P.S. This week on Instagram, I shared how much I made as a freelance writer in April. See it here. And don't forget to give me a follow for regular tips and tricks!

Simplify your bookkeeping

FreshBooks is an easy-to-use billing, payments, and accounting platform that streamlines your bookkeeping and keeps you tax-time ready all year round. The ideal solution for small businesses, FreshBooks has everything you need to grow.

​Save 70% on FreshBooks​

Here's what I've been up to this week work-wise:

👉 I wrote 4 pieces for clients (Klaviyo and influencer marketing tool)

👉 I refreshed 2 pieces for Shopify

⏱ Approx hours spent on client work this week: ~20

⏱ Approx hours spent on non-client work: ~2

💰 Total revenue this week: £4,400

​
Check out my three practical courses that have helped 500+ people get more clients, earn more money, and create better content.

Friday Freelance Tip​​ ✨ ​

When I first started freelancing, I truly believed being good at what I did would be enough. And for a while, it kind of was. I honed my skills, delivered on time, and made clients happy.

But somewhere along the way, things changed.

Now, you’re not just a [edit as appropriate: writer/designer/strategist/developer]. You’re a personal brand, a subject matter expert, a content creator, a salesperson... even a walking proof of concept.

And maybe (if you’re anything like me) that shift feels a bit… heavy.

I'M GONNA SAY IT.

Part of this shift is due to tech.

AI can do the basics. It can write a decent blog post, spit out some visuals, and summarise a call (love it for that).

So, what are clients really paying for now?

They’re paying for you.

Your thinking. Your originality. Your perspective. Your ability to connect the dots and build trust.

It’s kind of beautiful when you think about it: being human is our competitive edge, and I am HERE for it.

But it’s also exhausting. Because suddenly it’s not enough to be good. You also have to be visible. You have to perform. Post. Prove. Personal-brand your way into people’s feeds just to stay in the running.

And that changes how freelancing feels.

Freelancing was supposed to be freeing. But lately, I’ve been asking myself: have we turned it into just another hustle?

Have we traded bosses for followers, companies for content calendars?

When we start treating ourselves like brands, where does the person go?

I think a lot of us are quietly wondering:

• Can you build a quiet business anymore?
• Is it still freelancing if you’re always “on”?
• How do I balance staying relevant with staying sane?

​
I don’t have the answers. But I think these are the kinds of questions that help us build more thoughtful, human, and aligned businesses.

So what do we do with this?

Here’s what I’m learning:

• You don’t have to wear every hat. Choose one or two ways you like to show up, and show up there, well.
• Build trust before the first call. A visible body of work (blog, newsletter, podcast, whatever) creates a connection.
• Lead with your values, not the algorithm. You’re more than your output.
• It’s okay to go slow. Sustainable visibility > constant performance.

​
And above all: your story, your experience, and your voice are your biggest differentiators. AI can replicate style, but it can’t replicate you.

I dig into this topic in more detail in the latest episode of the It's Fine, I'm a Freelancer podcast. Listen here or wherever you get your pods.

This week, we have a full-time freelancer from Atlanta, Georgia.

Where are you based? Atlanta, Georgia

How long have you been freelancing? Since 2020.

What do you do? Journalist; Instructional/learning designer; developmental editor.

What was your 2024 revenue? $57,000 USD.

This person freelances full-time, and this was their highest earning year.

How much did you take as a salary?

$33,000. I made an LLC this year for 2025, so I will actually have a business balance this year.

How much did you pay in taxes?

Approximately $6,000 in total for federal and state (personal federal, self-employment aka Schedule SE taxes, and personal state). I pay quarterly taxes throughout the year instead of a lump sum. After taking the standard US tax deduction for a single person (which was about $13.8K for the 2024 tax year) and business expenses, it was only $6K.

What were your business expenses?

$19,000.

Do you contribute to a pension or investments?

I have a personal Roth IRA, which I max out every year.

Do you have any hot money-management tips?

(1) Keep track of every client, income, expense, and invoice you send in a business tracker spreadsheet or via an automated bookkeeper or accountant. You’ll thank yourself during tax time and it’s good to know how much you’re earning throughout the year.

(2) Do keep your personal checking and savings separate from your business checking and savings. This can literally look like having two separate personal bank accounts, one for those direct ACHs from your clients and one where you transfer money over to pay your bills and credit cards. Keeps things organized.

(3) Hire an accountant who understands small businesses and freelancers and has your back about finding write-offs and business expenses! The accountant fees will pay for themselves but you’ll save so much on taxes!

(4) Put your savings in a high-yield interest account. Absolutely must. (5) Don’t worry if you’re just starting out in your freelance career, you’re struggling to find and land clients, and/or you’re not earning much, freelancing gets more seamless (though not necessarily easier) the more years you do it.

I started out as a college student for some side income editing for peers and publishing companies and was earning like a few hundred.

2024 was my first year freelancing full time and I reached my goal of making as much as my old corporate salary, but I had a few months where I little to no work. And in 2025 I will be earning triple my old corporate salary from freelancing full-time!

I feel so much more confident and business saving and a lot has to do with this newsletter. I’ve learned so many great tips! You get wiser the more you do this, so trust yourself!

We need more Freelance Money Diaries submissions!

As you know, I'm on a mission to bring more transparency around rates in the freelancing world. And, to do that, it really helps to see what other freelancers are earning. I'd absolutely love it (and be eternally grateful) if you share your finances with us (you can do it totally anonymously!).

As always, happy freelancing :)

Lizzie ✨

Interested in sponsoring Friday Freelance Tips? Get your brand, product, or service in front of 6,500+ freelancers, entrepreneurs, and founders. See sponsorship options here.

Follow me on Instagram and on Linkedin, where you can see the behind-the-scenes of my business.