7 Freelance Red Flags: Learn From My Mistakes!

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When you first start out as a freelancer, it’s easy to get pulled into toxic working relationships.

In Summer 2021, I experienced a period of burnout. This came after working for a toxic client. I ignored a lot of red flags – and I ended up re-directing my freelance career because of it.

This was a horrible experience – so I want you to learn from my mistakes! It’s important to learn how to spot client red flags and understand how to step away from opportunities that don’t work for you. So, let’s dive in…

What is a freelance red flag?

We hear about red flags a lot when it comes to relationships, but they can also apply to your career. A freelance red flag is anything that makes you feel uncomfortable or unsure about what you’re doing.

It might be that your client has asked for a significant discount without reason, or they may be making unnecessary demands about your work processes. Like any toxic relationship, they may be controlling, demanding or even nasty.

It’s so important to look out for red flags. Freelancing is all about trusting your gut and understanding when to step away from a client. More often than not, your intuition is spot on – and if something seems off, that’s because there’s a problem.

It goes without saying that there are so many great clients out there – and I feel lucky to work with incredible writers, creatives and site owners who really respect what freelancers do.

However, by learning which red flags to spot, you can avoid going down a difficult road – and you could prevent yourself from working for a damaging client.

7 freelance red flags – how to learn from my mistakes!

There are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to spotting red flags. As with any relationship, you need to use your gut to understand what feels right – and this can take some practice, particularly if you’re just starting out.

To help you out, I’ve put together 7 freelance red flags to look out for during your next project. I didn’t spot some of these signs until it was too late!

1. Asking for free work

Unfortunately, there will always be clients who want to take as much as they can for free – and it’s a popular myth that freelancers should work for nothing. Everyone loves a good freebie, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of a business owner.

You may be told you’ll receive something other than payment, like a product. Or you might be told it will be great “exposure” for your business. Unless it’s an opportunity that offers clear benefits for you, this could be a sign of a red flag client.

Some clients might ask for free samples of your work. Use your judgment to decide whether it’s worth offering free work. More often than not, good clients will pay you for your time, even before you’ve agreed to a contract.

It’s important to note that there’s some work that you might be willing to do for free, or at a reduced rate, such as writing a guest post for a magazine or working with a charity.

As with anything else in the freelance world, it’s about understanding how the opportunity benefits you, especially if you’re not getting paid at your usual rate.

2. Urgent deadlines

Sometimes, a client might come to you with an urgent deadline. Maybe they want you to complete something for the next day, or even the same day.

Although there will be some instances when this makes sense, urgent deadlines can be a big freelance red flag. It might indicate that the client didn’t plan their time properly – and they’re now expecting you to make up for lost time.

Constantly completing work to urgent deadlines can also lead to burnout. Remember: no client is worth tying yourself in knots for.

3. Withholding the information you need

While freelancers are typically very resilient, it’s important to find a client that gives you the information you need to successfully complete your project. As a writer, that might mean information about tone and style, or a content brief.

In some cases, a red flag client may ask for one thing, but expect another thing. Of course, no one can nail the brief every time – but if you complete an article according to a brief, and your client asks for something different, it might be time to go back to the drawing board.

4. Pushing your boundaries

So you’ve set out clear boundaries about your work hours, how long you’ll be spending on this project and how you expect to get paid – that’s great! However, some clients will start pushing those boundaries, so it’s important to stand your ground.

For example, a client might try to contact you outside your normal working hours. Some clients might treat you like their employee, or they might ask for extra work on top of your agreed contract.

It’s important to manage expectations before things get out of control. If something feels off, take a step back – and don’t let someone make you do something you don’t want to do.

This is something I learned the hard way, so learn from my mistakes. Set clear boundaries and don’t let anyone push them!

5. Refusing to pay you on time

If a client acts shifty about paying you, that’s a big red flag. You’re a professional – and you deserve to get paid on time for your work.

Whether you’re asking for a portion of your money in advance or you’re waiting for an invoice, pushing your payment terms is a freelance red flag.

Make sure you clearly set out your terms in advance – and don’t let a client push you around when it comes to paying you on time.

6. Complaining about previous freelancers or employees

Yes, a client may have had an issue with other freelancers in the past – but complaining about other people is a big red flag. It looks unprofessional and it suggests that not everything is right within the company.

Why do other people keep slipping up? Why is there such a big turnover of employees? Why are you expected to clean up someone else’s work?

If your client has already worked with a few other freelancers on this project – without success – this could also be a sign that the client isn’t clear or asks for unreasonable demands.

7. Ghosting

Some clients might ghost you before you start working together – but it can happen at any time.

Although there are plenty of rational reasons why a client might go quiet, if it happens all the time – and when you’re trying to find out something important – this is a freelance red flag.

It’s hard to work for a client who won’t communicate what they want. You’ve got to think about how much it will add to your workload if you’re constantly chasing them up.

Do you have any freelance red flags to add to my list? How do you spot a great freelance client? Do you have any experience working for toxic clients?

Tell me all your thoughts in the comments below 🙂

Happy reading x