The WMF Archives

By Rebecca Sebek

Some freelance writers are under the impression they need 50+ clients to make a comfortable living as a freelance writer. If you'd like to manage 50, 100, 200, or 500 clients, go for it! If you'd like to have five to 10 solid clients you could easily manage, start looking for them. Size really doesn't matter. What matters is that you have solid clients that pay you on time, treat you well, and give you work that is aligned with your passions and interests.

Many people become overwhelmed with becoming a freelance writer because they believe they
need more than 10 clients to make a great living. This is not true. If you find five great clients who pay your rate without batting an eyelash, you struck gold. If those clients continue to utilize you and pay your rates when you increase them, you struck gold. It's a matter of whether you see the glass half full or half empty.

There's nothing wrong with having 100 clients as long as you can manage all of them successfully. This is where creating a schedule will help you ensure you complete your projects on time. You may have to work 40 or more hours per week to complete your writing.

Having more than 10 clients could result in you hiring other writers to help you out. Are you ready for this next step in your freelance writing career? Actually, you'll be getting away from freelance writing and becoming a boss! The point of freelance writing is to be your own boss and not manage people. How do you feel about hiring one or two writers to help you? Will you be able to give up control? How good are you at managing people? What if your writers telecommute? You may want to consider these and other questions before you take your freelance writing business to the next level.

Before you begin freelance writing, you may want to think about your goals. Do you want to have five to 10 solid clients or do you want to go full force and attract 50 or more clients? If you're not ready for more than five clients, think about where you'd like to be in five years. Yes, it's the dreaded "where do you see yourself in five years?" question, but it could help you determine the direction of your freelance writing business. There's no right or wrong answer. Do what you feel is best for you and your writing will take-off!

Does Size Matter? How Many Clients do You Think You Need?