The client onboarding process is a critical part of your work as a freelancer.
Take the time to master it, and you’ll have a MUCH easier time figuring out your services, doing work that gets you great testimonials (and more business), and basing your rates on the value you provide for your clients.
It’s tempting to just jump in and, but trust, that’s a mistake.
As good as you are at what you do, your client isn’t buying your services. They’re paying you to help them solve a specific problem. That’s why the most important thing you can do from the jump is set aside some time to figure out what exactly that problem is.
Remember, this is part of the process where you’re deciding whether you want to work with them, not the other way around, so take your time to develop questions and conversations that will get you the information you need. (Use the Client Interview Template as a skeleton for your own, custom question list.)
The better you get at this, the better you’ll be able to position yourself as a professional who’s worth their continued investment and partnership as a business. (And always, always work with a contract.)