Whether you’re a freelancer or run an agency, you have to talk to clients about money.

You’re probably uncomfortable talking about money. You wish you didn’t have to, but since you’re running a business, you have to if you want to get paid.

So, let’s review all the ways to talk about money with a client.

This is for freelancers or owners/partners of small agencies.

It summarizes what I learned over many years.

I did some of this deliberately and some by habit. All of these tips paid off for me.

Clients are looking to make the most of their content budgets.

As a creator, learn how to re-purpose one core piece of content across many platforms.

It will become your competitive advantage. Here’s how…

Some freelancers think it’s impossible to ask clients for deposits, while others have been doing it for years.

Here, three successful freelancers share how they ask for and get deposits and why it’s important to their business.

In summary: just start asking for deposits.

Every project should start with a deposit. Getting a deposit solves many problems: It smooths out your cash flow, gets clients engaged, and weeds out bad clients before it’s too late.

Not getting deposits now? Here’s how to start.

For many freelancers, income is “bumpy”. Rich one month, poor the next.

By using these techniques to manage your cash flow, you can smooth out the bumps and create a more predictable income stream. Learn how today.

Answers from freelancers who worked in agencies before freelancing. Benefits of agency jobs include building a network, getting your first clients, learning how to price projects, and more.

Thinking of freelancing or starting your own agency? Get an agency job and let someone else pay for your education.

Knowing yourself is especially important if you’re starting a new business. Take inventory of your skills, goals, limits, and risk tolerance.

Think about how you work best—solo, part of a team, or leader of a group.

Then, put your ideas into action!

In the fourth year of his agency’s life, Ben Hagon made a critical change.

He focused the agency on a niche, changed the name, and how they operate.

Learn about the steps he took, and how he grew his company to be a leader in the non-profit agency sector.

Learn how one designer went from agency employee to agency founder.

It started with one freelance client offering him enough work to launch his own company.

Then, his network kicked in and more big clients came calling.

With no practical experience as a designer and an immigrant to Canada, Ben worked his way from employee to successful agency founder.

But it took some free work (!), creating spec portfolio pieces, and freelancing to augment his 9–5 jobs, to get where he wanted to go.

This is the first of three posts.

This template is for detailed estimates that will help you win bigger projects.

We used it for years. It gives clients confidence that you understand the project and know how to deliver it.

Be a professional. Use this template to create winning estimates.

To move forward, you have to make decisions and then act on them.

Any progress you make is the result of your decisions, followed by appropriate actions.

Saying you’ll do something without taking action is just wishful thinking.

Here’s how to get started, with examples.

Imagine if all of your clients were similar to your best clients.

Wouldn’t that be ideal?

Here’s how to define your ideal clients, find them, and contact them.

Once you get started it’s easy. Follow these steps to get going.