I read a report that said most freelancers fail in their first year

I was looking at a study from a freelance website last week. It said that nearly 60% of people who go freelance quit and go back to a regular job within 12 months. I found that number really surprising and a bit scary. I'm about eight months into my own freelance writing gig and some days are really tough. It makes me wonder what the main reason is for people giving up. Is it mostly about not finding enough work, or is it the money stress? For those of you who made it past that first year, what was the hardest part to get through?

4 comments

4 Comments

logan_murphy1mo ago

Is that study counting people who just try it for a month as freelancers? Because I see a lot of folks who think it's a quick fix without a real plan. The hardest part for me wasn't finding work, it was the total lack of structure and learning to handle the quiet times without panicking. A lot of people probably quit because they expect steady pay right away, but it's more about building a system that works for you. That first year is really about figuring out how you work best, not just getting clients.

seth_singh201mo ago

That's a solid point about the first year being for figuring out your system. How do you actually build that structure when every client's needs and deadlines are different? Seems like the real skill is making your own routine stick even when the work itself isn't routine.

the_claire7d ago

Honestly the quiet times are the real test of a system. A lot of people build a routine around being busy, but it falls apart when a client goes quiet. The trick is having default tasks that move your own business forward, like updating your portfolio or learning a new skill, that you automatically do in those gaps. That way your structure isn't tied to client work at all. It becomes something you do for yourself, not just for them.

charlescraig1mo ago

Oh man, I read an article that said the same thing as @seth_singh20. It called that first year the "freelance boot camp" for a reason. You're just building your own rules from scratch.