ray363•29d ago

Hit 50 regular clients this month, took me 4 years to get here

I started freelancing from my kitchen table in Austin back in 2020 with zero clients. Last week I counted up my recurring folks and realized I finally crossed 50. It doesn't sound huge but it feels solid, like I'm actually building something. Any other freelancers track their client count over time or just focus on income numbers?

3 comments

3 Comments

walker.cole29d ago

I used to be all about the income numbers, thought that was the only thing that really mattered. But seeing you mention the client count stopped me and made me realize that steady, recurring people is its own kind of success. It shows you're building trust, not just making money, and that's honestly harder to do.

daniel_lane3029d ago

Flip that client count thing around and think about it this way - it's not just about trust, it's about proof of concept. If people keep coming back without you having to chase them, that's a signal to the market that you're actually delivering something real (and that's worth way more than a big number on a spreadsheet).

laurac9626d ago

Wait wait wait, you used to be ALL about the income numbers? Like, that was literally the only thing you looked at? I honestly can't even imagine running a business that way, it sounds exhausting. That's like dating someone just for their paycheck, it never works out long term. But yeah, when you've got clients who stick around month after month without you having to twist their arm, that's the real flex.