F50 Issue #34: Ten Ways to Grow Your Business in 2025!

F50 Issue #34: January 7, 2024

Start the New Year Off Right: 10 Ways to Grow Your Freelance Business in 2025

It’s December 31, 2024, and Ryan Seacrest introduces the iconic ball drop on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. Over the skyline of Manhattan, screens and buildings light up with the countdown clock, and a fleet of drones projects the numbers in a starry formation.

Excitement builds. Then, as the countdown approaches the 10-second mark, Seacrest announces,

“Get near someone you love. It’s time to count it down.… Over all the revellers tonight, a million people in Times Square, here we go!”

The glittery, luminous ball slowly descends, while Seacrest and the revellers shout, “10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 — HAPPY NEW YEAR!”

The crowd roars, accompanied by a live orchestra playing “Auld Lang Syne.” And with that, 2025 has begun!

What goes through your mind during that countdown?

Excitement? Hope? Anticipation? Fear?

The new year can bring conflicting emotions, both in life and in business. If you’re considering starting a freelance business (or freelancing already), you might feel nervous, but the future is bright.

The statistics portal Statista predicts that there’ll be 86.5 million freelancers in the United States by 2027, equalling 50.9 percent of the entire U.S. workforce. The freelance industry continues to grow and expand, not just in the U.S. but worldwide.

So, as the confetti flies, and the Times Square Ball hits the ground, here are some practical tips to grow your freelance business in the year to come. Get ready to hit the ground running and make the most of the new year!

Like the Times Square Ball, let’s start with a bird’s eye view of your business and work our way down — progressing from the back end (the less visible internal operations) to the front end (the more visible client-facing activities).

1. Organize Your Finances.

Monitor your financial health by setting a budget that includes technology, marketing, and training expenses. Regularly track your income and expenses using tools like FreshBooks, Harvest, or HoneyBook.
Separate your business and personal finances to simplify financial tracking and tax preparation.
Consider diversifying your income streams by offering consulting services or earning passive income from affiliate marketing or digital products (e.g. online courses or ebooks).

2. Update Your Contracts and Proposals.

Choose a client management platform like HoneyBook, Bonsai, or Dubsado that includes templates you can customize for your business.
Create or revamp your freelance contract to ensure the deliverables, payment terms, and timelines are clear.

3. Streamline Your Systems and Processes.

Do an audit of your administrative tasks and workflows to see how much time you’re spending on each one and whether any could be streamlined.

Choose automation tools like Zapier, or use an all-in-one business management tool like HoneyBook to automate repetitive tasks, like follow-up emails, client onboarding, and invoicing.

4. Improve Your Project and File Management.

Organize and safeguard your files by uploading them to a secure cloud storage system like Dropbox or Google Drive.
Use project management tools like Notion, Trello, ClickUp, or Asana to organize, track, and collaborate on tasks with clients and team members.

5. Upgrade Your Technology.

Maintain your hardware (e.g. computer, headphones, internet router) and regularly update it so that you don’t lose time because of technical issues.
Invest in high-speed internet to boost efficiency, and keep your computer healthy with the latest antivirus protection.

6. Enhance Your Business Branding.

Decide whether you need to refresh your logo, color palette, and website design to enhance your professionalism and attract your ideal audience.
Create or update your tagline so that it sends a clear message about the unique value you provide through your freelance services.

7. Refresh and Expand Your Portfolio.

Showcase your current skills by adding recent, high-quality work to your online portfolio.
Include case studies or project summaries that highlight the results you achieved for clients’ businesses.
Take relevant courses or certifications to update your current skills, or learn a complementary skill to expand your services.
Ask clients to provide a testimonial you can showcase along with your portfolio.

8. Create or Update Your Marketing Plan.

Set clear goals for the channels you’ll use to reach your ideal audience.
Plan consistent content you can share online through a blog, social media, YouTube channel, or online newsletter.
Use search engine optimization (SEO) and keyword strategies to increase your online visibility and attract your ideal potential clients.

9. Build and Nurture Your Client Relationships.

Send holiday greetings or thank-you notes to existing clients through email or physical greeting cards.
Offer loyalty discounts or value-added services to encourage current clients to continue using your services.
Consider offering long-term clients a retainer package for ongoing freelance work.

10. Connect with More Potential Clients.

Expand your network by attending virtual or in-person networking events or industry meetups.
Post valuable content on social media that relates to your freelance niche so you can share your knowledge and build credibility.
Join relevant online groups or forums to build connections.
Optimize your LinkedIn profile and reach out to potential clients in your network.
Use freelance marketplace platforms like Upwork to promote your services.
Collaborate with freelancers who have complementary skills so you can acquire new leads from their network.

And remember this quote from Bill Watterson, the cartoonist behind the beloved Calvin and Hobbes comic strip:

“A new year. A fresh, clean start! It’s like having a big white sheet of paper to draw on!”

Fill your big white sheet of paper with any additional strategies that will help you make the most of the new year.

Handy Tools

Our software partner, HoneyBook, offers an all-in-one client management tool that can help you streamline your systems and improve client relationships. It offers a wide variety of features including invoices, proposals, contracts, scheduling, automation, payments, client management, and a state-of-the-art mobile app.

And not only that — in our Freelance University Student Group, we recently talked about their free Email Signature Tool you can use to professionalize your email messages.

Freelance After 50 Feature Video:

Top Five Careers You Can Start After 50 Without Experience

Are you over 50 and looking for a fresh start? In this video, Craig shares 5 exciting careers you can do from home after 50 with no experience! Whether you're seeking a flexible job, a career change, or simply want to earn extra income without a steep learning curve, these options are perfect for you.

We'll explore roles that are in high demand and require little to no previous experience—from becoming a Virtual Assistant to diving into the world of Podcast Production and Outreach. Plus, if you've ever wondered how you can use your life experience to your advantage, Craig will show you how to get started in careers that play to your strengths even if you're a complete beginner.

Wishing you all the best in the year ahead! We’re always here for you if you have any questions, and we look forward to helping you make the most of 2025!

Team FreeU

P.S. Also, we are VERY excited about our upcoming "2025 Freelance Income Challenge" designed to help you kickstart your freelance success and hit your income goals this year! Keep an eye out for an email on the Challenge shortly!