If freelancing feels harder than it used to, you’re not imagining it. In this post, I share why quieter months are more common than you might think, how I’m adapting my business as the freelance landscape changes, and a few practical ways to build more stability without chasing unrealistic expectations.
Listen to the podcast episode below, watch it on [Youtube], or scroll down for the summary!
Prefer to read it? Here are the main points!
If you’ve been feeling like freelancing is harder than it used to be, you’re not imagining it.
Recently, this came up during one of our calls inside the Freelance Business Lounge. One of the things I love most about those conversations is how honest everyone is. Nobody is pretending to have the perfect business or constantly celebrating huge wins. Instead, people share what’s really happening, the good months, the quieter months, the challenges and the successes.
It reminded me how easy it is to compare our reality with someone else’s highlight reel. So I wanted to talk about what freelancing really looks like right now.
Social media rarely tells the full story
When we scroll through social media, we usually see the wins.
Someone has landed a dream client. Someone else is celebrating a record month. Another person is posting from a beautiful holiday.
What we don’t often see are the quieter months, the projects that fell through, the uncertainty or the difficult years.
I’ve certainly seen changes in my own business over the last couple of years, and I know I’m not alone. Many freelancers and online business owners have experienced lower income than they were earning two or three years ago.
That doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.
The freelance world has changed
Freelancing today isn’t exactly the same as it was ten or fifteen years ago.
Artificial intelligence has changed parts of the industry, particularly for professions like copywriting and graphic design. Online courses aren’t selling in the same way they once did, and many freelancers are finding they need to adapt how they market or deliver their services.
That doesn’t mean freelancing is no longer possible.
It simply means we have to keep experimenting, learning and evolving.
Look for patterns in your business
One of the most useful exercises you can do is look back over your income from the last few years.
Most business banking apps make this fairly easy.
Ask yourself:
- Which months are consistently busy?
- Which months are quieter?
- Are there seasonal patterns?
For me, January and September are usually strong months because people often feel motivated by a fresh start.
August tends to be much quieter, which actually works well because I like to take time off during the summer holidays.
Knowing those patterns allows me to plan promotions and offers ahead of quieter periods rather than reacting once they’re already here.
Don’t compare yourself to six-figure headlines
There’s a lot of pressure online around six-figure businesses.
The reality is that when someone talks about making six figures, they may be referring to turnover rather than profit.
They may also have:
- A large team.
- Significant advertising costs.
- Affiliate commissions.
- High business expenses.
The number itself rarely tells the whole story.
It’s far more helpful to focus on building a business that works for your life than comparing yourself to someone else’s headline.
Build recurring income where you can
One thing that really helps smooth out the ups and downs of freelancing is recurring income.
For me, that comes from a mixture of:
- My membership.
- Coaching retainers.
- Book sales.
None of these income streams are huge on their own, but together they provide a level of consistency that makes planning much easier.
If you can introduce retainers, memberships or other recurring offers into your business, they can provide a valuable foundation.
Make saving automatic
Saving isn’t always exciting, but it can make a huge difference.
I’m not very good at remembering to move money manually, so I automate as much as possible.
Every time money comes into my business account, a percentage is automatically moved into separate pots for things like:
- Tax.
- Holidays and sick pay.
- Future expenses.
I do something similar in my personal account too, putting a small amount aside every week for Christmas.
Automation removes the need to remember and makes saving much more consistent.
And while you’re thinking about finances, don’t forget your pension. It’s one of those things that’s easy to put off, but your future self will thank you.
Keep marketing, even when business is busy
One of the easiest mistakes to make is stopping your marketing because you’re fully booked.
It’s understandable, but it can create a cycle where work dries up a few months later.
You don’t need to do huge amounts.
Small, consistent actions can make a big difference:
- Share an older podcast episode.
- Repurpose existing content.
- Send your newsletter.
- Update LinkedIn.
- Post in relevant Facebook groups.
- Reach out to potential clients.
If you’re busy, it’s perfectly okay to tell new enquiries that you have availability next month or the month after.
A waiting list is far better than disappearing altogether.
You’re not alone
The reason I wanted to record this episode wasn’t to tell you that freelancing is impossible.
It was to remind you that if things feel difficult right now, you’re not the only one.
There are plenty of freelancers who are adapting, trying new approaches and figuring things out as the world changes.
That’s completely normal.
If you’re finding it hard, don’t assume everyone else has it all worked out just because their Instagram feed looks polished.
Behind the scenes, most of us are still learning, experimenting and adjusting too.
And if you’d like a supportive place where you can talk honestly about freelancing without pretending everything is perfect, I’d love to welcome you into the Freelance Business Lounge. It’s a space where freelancers share ideas, ask for help and remind each other that none of us have to figure it all out alone.
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