As a freelancer, once you’ve pitched for a job or a project with a potential client, or if they initiated the conversation and asked for the kind of deliverables that they can expect from you on a project, the client will then likely have some follow-up questions for you. There is typically a range of common questions asked by clients.
We’ve compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions by clients, to help you get a better understanding of the typical questions you can expect to be asked by both prospective and current clients.
The most common questions asked by clients
How long have you been freelancing?
This question helps the client to gauge how much experience you’ve had working as a freelancer and whether or not they think your experience is worthy of the prices you’re charging.
Who are some of your past clients?
Some clients like to know what type of clients you’ve worked with previously to see if you’d be a good fit for their business and the particular project they want you to work on.
Have you worked on similar projects before?
Following on from the question above, as well as wanting to know whether you’ve worked with similar clients before, they might also want to know if you’ve worked on any similar projects to help them determine your level of experience.
Can I see examples of your previous work or your portfolio?
Examples of your previous work can help clients to see how well you perform and the standard of work they can expect from you with the project they require you to undertake. Make sure you check out our post on creating a portfolio to help create a winning showcase of work to impress prospective clients.
How much do you usually charge?
This is probably one of the most frequently asked questions by clients so that they can manage their budgeting expectations and get a feel for how much the project is likely going to cost them. They will also want to know how much you charge as some clients may try and get a cheaper price if they’ve seen another freelancer who charges less for the same work.
We have a post covering how much you should charge for your freelance services that cover the pricing subject in more depth and also a freelance rate calculator that you can download to figure out exactly what you should be charging your clients.
What is your availability/how much time can you offer this project?
A client will need to know your availability and how much time you can commit to their project so that they have realistic expectations of when it will be finished.
What is the best way to keep in contact with you?
Depending on how you like to operate as a freelancer and your preferred method of communication with your clients, you will need to inform the client of the best ways to keep in touch with you throughout the duration of the project.
Some freelancers prefer to keep everything accountable via email so that there is always a paper trail, whereas some prefer to communicate via phone and video calls so that it’s more personal.
Do you have any references from previous clients?
As well as seeing examples from your freelancing portfolio, potential clients might also ask for references from your past clients, much like potential employers would like to see references from your previous places of employment in a traditional job interview.
While the above questions are by no means the only questions you’ll ever face from existing and potential clients, they are the most common and it will pay dividends to think of answers to each of them so that you are as prepared as possible if ever you get asked.
We also have posts dedicated to dealing with uncertain clients and building client relationships which are worth reading if you want to ensure healthy client/freelancer relationships and give projects the best chance of succeeding as let’s face it, most of what you do as a freelancer will come down to building strong relationships.
