When I first started freelancing, I took on any job I could find. After all, it was money and I was brand new to freelancing and not sure that I knew where the next job was coming from. I think that’s a pretty common reaction for first time freelancers. I hope that freelancers grow out of that (although I’ve discovered that they don’t always).

Over time, I learned the right project was not always the project that was being offered. I had to re-train myself to take on only the projects that were right for me and my situation. If you want to be in the freelancing business for a while, and if you want to grow your freelancing business, you’ll need to figure out which projects are right for you and which aren’t and you’ll need to get to a point where you only accept the ones that are.

For most freelancers, I’d suggest that the following parameters should be used to measure what makes a “right for me” project and what doesn’t.

1. Do I feel good about this project? (i.e., do my instincts tell me that this is a project to accept?). If yes, go on to the next question. If no, decide if there is a negotiable element in the project that can be modified to bring it in line with what your instincts are telling you. If there is, give it a shot. If there isn’t, just walk away.
2. Does the client believe in me and do they seem to be working towards a win-win situation? If yes, continue to the next question. If no, end the project right away.
3. Does the project support my brand? In other words, if someone found out that I worked on this project, would that seem congruent with who I am and with other projects I’ve worked on? Even if this project is being ghosted, would it be something that I would put in my portfolio, given the chance? (Note: I learned this one the hard way. I ghostwrote a project that wasn’t congruent with my brand. The client liked what I wrote so much that he thought he was rewarding my work by slapping my name on the cover. I had to fight tooth and nail to get it removed and the client never understood why I didn’t want my name on it. Since then, I never took on another project that I wouldn’t happily have my name associated with).
4. Can I actually accomplish the project? If yes, continue. If no, figure out if it’s possible to collaborate with someone who can help. It might be worth your while to take on the project and outsource part of it just to gain the experience.
5. Does the project pay me fairly for my time, effort, and talent, and, does it look like I will be paid on time? If yes, go on to the next question. If no, see if you can renegotiate a different rate.
6. Are there opportunities for long term work in the future? If yes, then you can start the project. If no, decide whether you want to invest in a client relationship that is not going anywhere. (Perhaps you want a one-off project to fill in some empty space; that’s okay. Or perhaps you think that the customer will give you more work even if they haven’t said so; that’s okay, too. But some clients are adamant that this is a one-time project and it might not be worth your time to take on the project).

I’m sure that there are other factors that you might consider for your particular situation. But in my business, this is the series of questions (in this order) that I typically run through when a new client contacts me about a project.