{"id":164141,"date":"2017-05-05T13:00:29","date_gmt":"2017-05-05T13:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/premium.wpmudev.org\/blog\/?p=164141"},"modified":"2018-08-03T15:50:06","modified_gmt":"2018-08-03T15:50:06","slug":"run-wordpress-freelance-business-like-agency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/run-wordpress-freelance-business-like-agency\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Run Your WordPress Freelance Business Like an Agency"},"content":{"rendered":"

Having managed a startup marketing agency for a few years, I can tell you that it’s not easy work. Although I had managed projects for nearly a decade, this was my first time handling the management of a company on such a large scale. Needless to say, there was an adjustment period.<\/p>\n

Once I became acclimated to my new role, I discovered something interesting. Aside from the number of people that reported to me, there really wasn\u2019t much of a difference between managing a project workload and a company. Why? Because it always boiled down to the same thing: how well I could manage the smallest of units. Thankfully, that meant I could offload a lot of my responsibilities to automated processes and tools.<\/p>\n

As a WordPress freelancer, you should be thinking the same way. How can you cut out the waste, streamline your processes and communications, and produce better websites?<\/p>\n

I hesitate to use the word \u201cscale\u201d here since that sometimes elicits thoughts of having to ditch the freedoms and flexibility of freelance life in order to start your own agency<\/a>, which I don\u2019t believe has to be everyone\u2019s end goal.<\/p>\n

However, I do think that scaling\u2014in the sense of taking your freelance business to the next level (whatever that means to you)\u2014should be. The thing is, you can\u2019t do that as a one-man show. Your business will eventually outgrow you and then where will you be?<\/p>\n

So here is what I suggest: I think there are some great lessons that can be extracted from how agencies run their ships, and I think automation plays a big part in that. If you can take those automation tips and put them to use in your own business, you\u2019ll be surprised to see how much more time you have to dedicate to the work you love rather than entrenched in the most repetitive of tasks.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take some time then to figure out how you can run your WordPress freelance business like an agency, and start reaping the benefits today.<\/p>\n

12 Steps to Running Your WordPress Freelance Business Like an Agency<\/h2>\n

In any job comprised of smaller tasks or responsibilities that get repeated over and over again, automation is a lifesaver. When it came to managing an agency centered around building websites in WordPress, I was thrilled to discover how much of it I could automate.<\/p>\n

You know what I found? The more we could streamline, the easier it was for us to scale our business.<\/p>\n

Here is how I suggest you get started on your own path to running your business like an agency.<\/p>\n

Step #1. Ditch the Paper and Spreadsheets<\/h3>\n
\n
\"WordPress
For when you want all your project management, collaboration, and design tools in one place<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

If you want to run your WordPress freelance business better, you need to ditch any inefficient tracking and recordkeeping methods you use. Everything you do for your business\u2014project management, time tracking, wireframing, team communication, etc.\u2014should ideally all be stored in and managed from one or two online tools.<\/p>\n

The one I use for my own business is Asana<\/a>. It allows me to schedule projects out on a super granular basis and I can keep all my client communications, files, tasks, and timelines in one place. My business doesn\u2019t have a heavy wireframing or prototyping component, though, so I\u2019d recommend something like InVision<\/a> for that.<\/p>\n

Step #2. Appear Larger Than You Are<\/h3>\n
\n
\"WordPress
Bonsai contract management is free (and easy!) to use<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

One of the problems I ran into often while working for a small startup (and later as a freelancer) was having to get past the perception that, because we were small, we couldn\u2019t handle our clients\u2019 needs. As you are well aware, that doesn\u2019t matter. If you\u2019re a consummate professional, then you know your stuff. So long as you don\u2019t overcommit or you\u2019re not bad at time management, you shouldn\u2019t have issues meeting their needs.<\/p>\n

To get around this, you\u2019ll want to make your freelance business look bigger than it is. One of the things I found tipped clients off to our business\u2019s small footprint was the fact that almost all communications came from the same person. There\u2019s actually an easy way around this.<\/p>\n

First, create a number of generic-named email addresses (like \u201csales@mycompany.com\u201d or \u201cfinance@mycompany.com\u201d). Then use software to automate non-WordPress-related messaging. For example, you could use contract and invoicing software like Bonsai<\/a> or email marketing software like Constant Contact<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As a bonus, you won\u2019t need to hire someone else to manage these processes while still giving the outward appearance that your business is managed by a larger team of professionals.<\/p>\n

Step #3. Take the Guesswork out of Pricing<\/h3>\n

Ever had a prospective client ask you on the spot about pricing for a service, but you couldn\u2019t remember it or didn\u2019t know if you\u2019d even set one off the top of your head? If you don\u2019t have one already, I\u2019d suggest you create a pricing sheet for your business.<\/p>\n

Once you have one, store it on a landing page on your WordPress site (hidden or public). This way it\u2019s one-and-done. Pricing is set, there\u2019s no haggling from your clients\u2019 end, and there\u2019s no potential revenue loss from your side if you give them too low an estimate.<\/p>\n

Step #4. Streamline the Billing Piece<\/h3>\n
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\"WordPress
Take the pain out of managing your WordPress business’s finances<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

You\u2019re probably looking forward to the day you can afford to hire a finance manager for your business (aren\u2019t we all?). Until that day comes, someone needs to stay on top of client contracts, invoicing, and collections. These are the three things to keep in mind when streamlining your freelance business\u2019s billing:<\/p>\n