It’s an understatement when we say being a freelancer can be tough. And once you’ve added Christmas into the mix, think clients’ hours all over the place, the pressure to hit your own personal goals before the New Year, etc – it can all feel a bit too much.
The good news is it’s not all bad. There’s Christmas lights, mulled wine and chocolate yule logs galore just on the horizon. And we have some tips to ensure you enjoy all that, whilst running your freelance business!
First things first – keep on top of your admin!
Keeping on top of admin is stressful at the best of times, but it’s vital around the Christmas period to ensure you have more free time to enjoy the festivities.
Take some time to ensure subscriptions and invoices are all paid, accounts are up to date and all emails and customer enquiries are answered.
Paying any outstanding invoices and sending invoices to your clients before Christmas will help you maintain a steady cash flow, so you don’t end up out of pocket.
Decide how much time you want to take off
The good news is you’re your own boss, so you don’t need to send in any annual leave requests for approval. Or you could but you’d be the one signing them off…
Even though you have this freedom, it can still be difficult to decide how your working schedule should look during this period.
You need to consider the projects you have on, their deadlines, and realistically how much time you can afford to take off.
Many of your clients will likely have a ‘Christmas shutdown’, so if you do plan to work during the Christmas period, it’s best to ask your clients any burning questions in advance before you crack on with any projects, as you likely won’t hear from them until the New Year.
And of course, if you do decide to work some days, you can always adjust your hours and have shorter working days, or longer if you’d prefer to work fewer days over the holidays.
… and update your availability to show this
Update your festive working hours on your email signature, website, and social media so your clients know when they’ll hear from you. Many businesses do this, so don’t feel like it’s cheeky or rude to be taking time off or working a little less!
Having clear working hours will give you peace of mind that your clients know why you haven’t got back in touch yet. It also gives them realistic expectations of how much work you can do during this time.
Make sure to block out the time you’re having off on the calendar too. There’s always a client or customer that fails to read the notices on your social media and emails.
Keep your clients in the loop
So, you’ve got on top of your admin, you’ve thought about how much time you can take off, and you’ve updated all your lines of communication. Job almost done. To ensure you and your clients are on the same page, it’s best to have a call (even if it’s a quick 10 minute chat) to outline where you are right now with any projects, where you plan to be once business is back to normal – as well as any other bits that need to be mentioned before you both take a break.
This allows for peace of mind all round, so you can enjoy your time off.
Can I increase my rates around Christmas?
You’re entitled to increase your rates at any time – which is one of the perks of being self-employed! But many freelancers would only charge Christmas rates if they had to work during unsociable hours, or they have to work Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day etc in order to meet their clients’ requirements – and only then if it’s down to the clients’ demands rather than your own time management!
If you do decide to raise your rates, it’s best practice to let your clients know first, to avoid any surprises or breakdowns in your relationship.
Can I delegate freelance work out?
Yes you can. You can hire an accountant to take care of the financial side, bookkeepers or even someone like as a virtual assistant if admin gets too much.
Head over to our freelancer information hub for more guides, news and advice.
