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Ask HN: Freelancers what are the top 3 problems preventing your business growth?

8 points by timjahn 12y ago

As a freelancer, what are the top 3 problems preventing you from growing your business? What obstacles are in your way?

orky56 12y ago
Having the stability to chase higher quality clients without sacrificing the steady ones I have.
orky56 12y ago
Having the stability to chase higher quality clients without sacrificing the steady ones I have.
lsiunsuex 12y ago
1 - finding new work when I'm available for it - when it rains, it pours. Sometimes I have to much work, sometimes nothing for weeks. 2 - Inconsistent pay times. I freelance primarily for a company. Sometimes I get half down, sometimes payment is late. This is probably me being lazy, but I'm expected to get the work done by a certain day; I in turn, expect to get paid by a certain day. 3 - Lack of benefits. I haven't pulled the trigger on freelancing full time because I don't buy into the health care for everyone thing in the USA yet and having a day job that pays me on time and provides me full medical / dental / vision is nice to have. Plus; my wife works nights so may as well earn some extra cash and not watch tv / play video games all night.
mxstbr 12y ago
Getting clients, getting clients, getting clients. I just started out, and with 0 work to show, nobodies going to hire you.
- Jeremy1026 12y ago
  This. I even have a small portfolio but am unable to secure any new work.
- mhoad 12y ago
  Agreed. Even as someone who has a ton of experience I struggle with this more than I care to admit.
i0nutzb 12y ago
I only have one problem: comfort. Once you start to earn a certain amount of money, you are comfortable enough to not push further so hard. I mean, sure, an extra 50k/year would be nice, but not really necessary, considering that for extra money I should search for new clients and/or take more projects, sleep less and so on. The alternative would be to hire some help, but then you are not a freelancer anymore.
gee_totes 12y ago
1) Getting quality clients 2) Not having demo videos of the web apps I've built 3) Not having enough business intel to build a solid deal pipeline
v_ignatyev 12y ago
I have only one problem: freelance is not a business.

8 points by timjahn 12y ago

As a freelancer, what are the top 3 problems preventing you from growing your business? What obstacles are in your way?

orky56 12y ago

Having the stability to chase higher quality clients without sacrificing the steady ones I have.

orky56 12y ago

Having the stability to chase higher quality clients without sacrificing the steady ones I have.

lsiunsuex 12y ago

1 - finding new work when I'm available for it - when it rains, it pours. Sometimes I have to much work, sometimes nothing for weeks. 2 - Inconsistent pay times. I freelance primarily for a company. Sometimes I get half down, sometimes payment is late. This is probably me being lazy, but I'm expected to get the work done by a certain day; I in turn, expect to get paid by a certain day. 3 - Lack of benefits. I haven't pulled the trigger on freelancing full time because I don't buy into the health care for everyone thing in the USA yet and having a day job that pays me on time and provides me full medical / dental / vision is nice to have. Plus; my wife works nights so may as well earn some extra cash and not watch tv / play video games all night.

mxstbr 12y ago

Getting clients, getting clients, getting clients. I just started out, and with 0 work to show, nobodies going to hire you.

Jeremy1026 12y ago
This. I even have a small portfolio but am unable to secure any new work.
mhoad 12y ago
Agreed. Even as someone who has a ton of experience I struggle with this more than I care to admit.

i0nutzb 12y ago

I only have one problem: comfort. Once you start to earn a certain amount of money, you are comfortable enough to not push further so hard. I mean, sure, an extra 50k/year would be nice, but not really necessary, considering that for extra money I should search for new clients and/or take more projects, sleep less and so on. The alternative would be to hire some help, but then you are not a freelancer anymore.

gee_totes 12y ago

1) Getting quality clients 2) Not having demo videos of the web apps I've built 3) Not having enough business intel to build a solid deal pipeline

v_ignatyev 12y ago

I have only one problem: freelance is not a business.