Most freelancers don’t have a business plan.
And honestly, I get it.
When I first started freelancing, the idea of sitting down and mapping out a full-on business plan felt unnecessary (not like I knew where to start).
I figured as long as I was getting clients and making money, I was on the right track.
Can you relate?
But there’s a big problem with wingin’ it in freelancing →
You end up building a business based on what falls into your lap, not what you actually want.
And that’s how you end up as one of those freelancers who are completely overwhelmed, underpaid, burnt out, and stuck in a cycle of taking whatever work comes your way just to stay afloat.
No better than a desk job, right?
That’s why this year, I want you to do things differently and make a business plan.
The problem with no business plan:
You’re living on feast-or-famine income with no long-term vision for sustainable growth.
The benefit of solving it:
Building a business that supports your life, your long-term goals, and doing it in a sustainable way.
Why what you’ve tried has failed:
You’ve got no plan, and we’ve all heard it before…
“failing to plan is planning to fail!”
Here’s how to solve it:
Your business plan shouldn’t be a one-time document you forget about come March.
It’s a living strategy that you refine as you learn, change, and grow.
Here are some things to consider when it comes to building your plan for 2026:
#1 - Map Out Your Lead Generation Strategy
Clients don’t just magically show up needing your services, you have to bring them in.
But relying on random job boards or waiting for referrals isn’t a strategy.
So make sure your identify each part of your lead gen efforts, including:
HUNTING: Direct outreach. This could be pitching clients via cold outreach, job groups, or following up with past clients.
FISHING: Creating inbound opportunities, like optimizing your LinkedIn profile, sharing valuable insights on social media, or contributing to industry discussions where your ideal clients hang out.
FARMING: Building long-term relationships by staying visible and positioning yourself as a go-to expert. Think email marketing, content creation, and nurturing connections with complementary freelancers.
If you’re stuck in the “feast or famine” cycle, this is where you want to start.
#2 - Audit Your Client Roster & Set Boundaries
Not all clients are created equal, so take a hard look at who you’re working with and think about what all your favorite clients (and more… challenging clients) have in common.
Think about who you genuinely enjoy working with, and use that to help guide your lead gen strategy.
Then get organized and intentional by setting minimum project rates, establishing clear scope boundaries, and (if needed) letting go of the low-paying, high-maintenance work that’s holding you back.
#3 - Productize or Package Your Services
The easiest way to scale without working more hours?
Stop selling hours and start selling outcomes.
To make this happen this year, start to think about how you can take your most in-demand services and turn them into standardized, repeatable offers.
Like:
A fixed-scope project at a set price (ex: “5 social media posts for $500”)
A strategy session clients can book instantly
A monthly retainer for clients who need ongoing support
Having clear, easy-to-say-yes-to offers makes selling, and hearing YES, so much easier.
#4 - Refine Your Online Presence
Your website, portfolio, and social media should all be working together for YOU.
So make sure you are showing up online to build trust with your audience (aka, potential clients), and that you’re not sending mixed signals across your website, social media, and emails.
Freelancers who position themselves as experts get hired faster.
So, focus on creating valuable, shareable content that attracts your ideal clients (like helpful tips, insights, and advice tailored to your niche).
#5 - Set a “Level-Up” Skill for the Year
The fastest way to increase your value? Learn something new that makes YOU more valuable.
Maybe it’s getting better at sales calls, learning a new industry tool, or learning how to incorporate AI into your workflows and business to be more efficient.
Pick one skill that will make you a stronger freelancer, and set a plan to develop it this year.
Remember, this is all part of a living strategy that evolves throughout the year as you do.
I know this can be hard to get started on, so this week I recommend you:
Choose one area of the plan to focus on first (lead gen, client boundaries, packaging, authority, etc.)
Block out time in your schedule to work on it DAILY
Revisit your plan every quarter to adjust as needed
By going through this process, and revisiting your plan often, you’ll take control and build a freelancing business that is sustainable, profitable, and actually enjoyable.
And if you’re serious about scaling to $100k+ this year, let’s build your strategy together.
Book a 1 hour coaching call with me and we’ll map out a plan 100% tailored to your unique goals and current status of your business.
Best,
Jamie
More support for your freelancing success in 2026:
→ Ready to escape the feast-or-famine cycle? Join The Freelancing Program and master the Client Domino System that turns chaos into consistent $10K+ months (1,000+ freelancers and counting).
→ Not sure how to price your services? My FREE pricing mini-course reveals the exact framework that gets you premium rates.
→ Serious about scaling? Let's build your custom $100K+ roadmap in a focused 1:1 coaching session.
