Freelance Blog by Bonsai

Looking for information on proposals vs quotes? Read our guide to get an in-depth understanding of the differences between proposals and quotes.

Want to learn how to write a work proposal that wins you clients and keeps them coming back? Check out our 6 tips and see how Bonsai can help.

Learn how to write a pitch the right way and secure more gigs. Explore this comprehensive guide if you want to take your pitch writing to the next level.

For freelancers, financial stability relies on finding new clients. Use these 10 strategies to master sending cold emails for jobs.

​You’re creative and you know how to throw the perfect event. But how do you convince your client? Here’s how to write a winning event proposal in 6 steps.

Your supply of freelance work depends on designing effective proposals, but sending follow up emails after quotations or proposals is equally important.

Building a successful freelance business means bidding on jobs and making a profit. Here’s all you need to know about how to make a quotation for freelance work.

Learning how to write a book proposal is a major step in becoming a published author. Use our book proposal writing guide to help you do it the right way.

RFPs are great for landing clients. Looking to improve how you respond to an RFP? Use these 5 tips to make sure you're writing compelling RFP responses.

Struggling with listing freelance work on your resume? Use this 4 step guide to get you started on the right foot - freelance resume samples included!

Are you a creative stuck looking for freelance clients? Use these 4 tips to take your career to the next level and rake in big freelance clients.

How to negotiate a contract that works for both you and your freelance clients? It can be a tricky process, but our 7 tips can help you navigate it all with ease.

Cold-pitching (sending cold emails to potential clients) is essential to your freelance business. Avoid these 7 mistakes - draft cold emails that get responses.

Wondering how to write a proposal that stands out, persuades and wins business? Here are our 6 easy steps for a winning proposal, every single time.

Learn what a marketing pitch is, and how to craft one for yourself and for your business. We provide a 11 step guide and 5 downloadable templates.

Landing the perfect marketing client requires you to know how to write a marketing proposal. Get your questions answered here.

Grow your freelance business quickly with this big list of ideas for how to get SEO clients. Learn the best ways to find, qualify, and pitch prospects that have the budget for services.

Looking for your next freelance marketing job? We got you covered! Check out our list of 35+ sites packed with freelance marketing opportunities.

This fast-paced career is in high demand by companies big and small. Anyone with a Facebook page or Twitter account will likely hire a social media manager. Those who haven't yet – probably will. Are you up to the challenge?

The flexibility of working for yourself is one of the reasons people leave their day jobs to become independent contractors. But what are the highest paid freelance jobs out there?

Here are some of the most popular – and promising – destinations for finding your next photography job from all over the world.

Writing a perfect freelance design proposals are the heart and soul of getting new business. Follow Linsey's expert tips on the subject.

Finding work as a freelancer can be a painful experience... Discover Linsey's top 50 websites to help you find your next freelance gigs!

6 critical tips to help you secure more clients for your freelance business.

These days, a photographer bio is key. We’re here to guide you through the steps of creating a truly winning bio to attract more clients.

Learn how to make an email signature look professional in just 8 steps. Discover what works and what to avoid in your email signature.

Asking for feedback from clients may seem daunting, but it can help grow your freelance business. Use this 5-step guide to get the feedback you deserve.

No freelancer wants to grind forever. Discover what is a creative agency, differences between agency types, and 12 reasons & signs to consider starting one.

Building a freelance portfolio website helps market your services, establish authority, and boost your online presence. Our 10 step guide is here to help you.

One way to show your value to new clients is sharing positive feedback. Boost how you ask for testimonials using 7 hacks and a sample request email.

Starting a digital marketing agency is tougher in 2018, but there is great potential if you have a solid plan and the right team. Get started with our 7 step guide.

A marketing communications plan is so important because it creates the foundation of the business and communication with clients. It incorporates your vision and business ethos.

Wondering how to become an SEO expert? We put together a step by step blueprint, covering everything from learning and practicing to getting clients.

Looking to become a freelance marketing consultant? Discover 4 key tips and download the detailed 12 step freelance marketing consultant cheat sheet!

What's a fair price for a website? How much is too much? Is it okay to be competitive? Discover how much you should charge for a website!

Everything you should know about putting your freelance design portfolio together for the first time, as well as polishing up your existing portfolio for the best possible presentation!

Starting a freelance business can be daunting, but having the right mindset and attitude, coupled with the right freelance business plan, will certainly lessen the chances of treading on rocky road.

No specific strategy will work for everyone, but getting the right advice will help you become a successful freelancer.

Getting to a steady stream of clients will always start with a good track record of successful projects. Learn how to build your freelance reputation!

Get to know the rates of more than 100,000 freelancers and use that data as an asset when negotiating new contracts.

Having a complete, clean, and descriptive online portfolio is key to getting inbound work requests. Here is what to build a stellar one.

Want to learn how to write invoice emails without the confusion? Read these powerful tips from Bonsai to streamline your business and get paid on time today.

A creative invoice thank you message can be your silver bullet to improving your customer retention and shortening payment cycles. Learn more from Bonsai.

Do you find sending payment reminder emails to your freelance clients challenging? Use our 3-step process to ensure success.

Successful freelancers know how to write a budget, be it for their business, or as part of effective proposals. Here’s all you ought to know about writing budgets.

Looking to polish your freelance invoicing skills? Or preparing your first invoice? Our 9 step guide to mastering invoicing terms should do the trick.

Discover how to ask for payment in an email in just 3 steps. Download our 5 email templates and use them right away.

Many freelancers sell themselves short. By understanding what is billable expense income and adding it to your invoices, you can get paid what you deserve.

Creating professional invoices is the recipe for getting paid on time. Use this guide to figure out your invoice number meaning and how to number invoices.

Freelance careers can be rewarding, but invoicing is difficult for newcomers to navigate. Check out 5 (often overlooked) tips on writing invoices for freelance work.

Recurring payments save you time and can help with getting paid on time. Discover 3 reasons to set up automatic payments, and how to do it for your business.

Freelance done right is professional, and how you invoice clients is important. In just 7 steps, ensure your invoicing is right. You'll have more time for work.

If you're you wondering how to send an invoice to your client by email, we've got you covered with 5 professional email templates and tips.

When it comes to freelance, billing is as important as any other part of the business. Check out our 5 step process if you're wondering how to bill your client.

In addition to irregular income streams and projects, freelancers have to deal with clients that don’t pay on time. We looked at data from 100,000 freelancers.

If you’ve been freelancing for a longer amount of time, the topic of a retirement plan has probably crossed your mind at some point. Discover your options are.

Before you can file your taxes, you must ensure you have all of your forms and records. One of the most essential forms to include in your tax calculations and filing is the Form 1099-MISC. Discover why Independent contractors need it.

It takes both pieces – accounting and tax filing – to ensure a stable financial footing for independent contractors. But what are the best tax and accounting software for Self-Employed and Freelancers?

Discover Linsey's best bookkeeping tips for freelancers of all industries, experience levels, and worth.

As it's getting close to the time most freelancers dread -- tax time. If it's your first season filing as an independent contractor, you may have lots of questions. Discover the instruction for filling out your Form 1040.

Sole proprietorship vs LLC? Most freelancers need a little time to figure out the best structure for them, and that’s OK. Discover some insights on what might work best for you!

An EIN is becoming industry standard for freelancers and is a secure way to share your tax info for reporting purposes. Discover why you do need an EIN.

The home office deduction is just one of many money-saving tools available to help you keep more of your income and avoid overpaying on taxes. Discover our form 8829 instructions.

While PayPal is the more widely recognized option, that doesn’t mean you can’t educate clients on the benefits of Stripe. PayPal vs Stripe, discover which one to use for your freelance business.

PayPal may be the best option for those looking for quick payments from any source, discover the PayPal fees for receiving money through it.

The self-employment health insurance deduction can take hundreds of even thousands off of your tax bill, making it a good investment for many.

For those who have traditionally earned most income as an employee, you may not have much of an idea what it is for or how to fill out a W9 form. Follow our tips.

By working for yourself many of your expenses can help you save on your taxes. Discover the top self employed tax deductions that you should know!

In just 4 steps, you'll discover how to pursue collections and how late fees can assist. Download the 5 late fee clauses pack to use in your contracts.

Here are 5 financial tips to help you keep your freelance career running smoothly while avoiding common financial hurdles.

Writing a contract is a huge step in your freelance career. It legitimizes your business, protects your reputation, and safeguards your payment. Learn more on our blog.

How to review a contract as a freelancer? Use this simple checklist to safeguard yourself against legal ramifications, pay disputes and changes in project scope.

Looking to learn how to draft a contract? In just 9 simple steps, we’ll show you what to include and how to put it in writing for a legally-bound document.

What is a retainer fee, and how does a retainer work? We give you 9 key points to ensure a retainer relationship is successful for you and your client.

Many freelancers and clients don’t fully understand the differences between a proposal and contract. It’s time you learned.

Freelancers love retainers. Having a retainer agreement or retainer fee in place bring peace of mind. Use one of 5 downloadable sample retainer clauses!

The biggest points of confusion are always surrounding money. How to buff up your contract to protect you from late, or non-paying clients.

There are many excuses for not using an agreement with clients, but none of them are good. Here is why it's important to always get one.

10 HoneyBook alternatives reviewed - the best and greatest out there. Which one is right for you and your business?

10 Proposify alternatives reviewed - the best and greatest out there. Which Proposify alternative is right for you and your business?

10 Zoho alternatives reviewed - the best and greatest out there. Which Zoho alternative is right for you and your business?

10 Xero alternatives reviewed - the best and greatest out there. Which Xero alternative is right for you and your business?

Wave vs Xero - we review the two familiar platforms. Which accounting software is right for you?

HoneyBook vs 17hats - we compare two very well known platforms. Which one of them is right for you and your business?

We review 10 Dubsado alternatives - the best and greatest out there. Which one is right for you and your business?

Dubsado vs HoneyBook - we put two well-known platforms head-to-head. Which client management software is right for you?

There’s more to becoming a good photographer than simply having a good camera. Discover the skills and know-how you need to go to the next level.

These days, a UX designer portfolio is a must. Learn how to create a successful portfolio that attracts the clients you want by learning from these 25 UX design pros.

Learn how to improve your coding skills quickly and effectively. Discover 15 practical tips you can put into action today, plus one you probably haven’t considered.

Design copyright is vital for freelance designers looking to create works of art for their freelance business. Get everything you need to know about protecting your work here.

Wondering what freelance tax deductions you might be eligible for this year? Find out with this ultimate list of tax write-offs for freelancers.

Navigating the world of taxation can be a real mystery. Solve your taxation puzzles with our 5 things you must know about filing taxes as a freelancer.

Email content is important, but how do you sign off? Choose from 50 of the best email sign offs and discover which to avoid.

Discover the differences between UX and UI, how to master each position, and why your design role is vital for your client’s user experience.

Learning about taxes on consulting fees isn't something a lot of independent consultants consider. In reality, there are 6 things you need to know.

Want to know how to illustrate for decent money? Here’s your guide to a well-paid freelancing career doing what you love to do the most.

Understanding the 1099 freelance form can make your life easier at tax time. Discover the answers to 7 questions about the 1099 freelance tax.

Use our 5 step guide to learn how to pay your taxes as a freelancer. Don't disregard this key component of running your freelance business!

Wondering how to find your niche in the crowded digital photography world? Discover 40 types of photographers to choose from and stay competitive.

Learn how to be good at giving and receiving design feedback with this 10-step recipe. If everyone embraces it, feedback in design is a powerful catalyst.

Using the best tools is essential for your success as a designer. These 35 best tools for graphic designers & web designers are a must-know!

Crafting proper design briefs is the backbone of successful design projects. Discover what a design brief is and how to create the perfect one.

Looking for a smart 10-question logo design questionnaire? Let us help you out and you're freelance logo design project will be set up for success.

Saying thank-you does a whole lot for business relationships. Find out how to thank a client for their business - 5 strategies to boost brand loyalty and more.

For freelancers, scope creep is detested… and inevitable. In this article, we show you not only how to avoid scope creep, but how to reverse it.

Account keeping is a key aspect of managing a freelance business. Use this guide to master how you maintain your accounts in Excel - explore 3 ways to do it!

Wondering how to fire a client who demands much and gives little? Explore our 11 step guide and fire your client with ease. Ready-to-use letter samples included!

Grow your freelance business - learn how to ask for referrals in just 5 steps with our guide to asking for referrals. 5 bonus sample referral email included!

For a freelancer, delivering successful projects is usually top of mind. Use this 5 step guide to impress clients with your handling of freelance projects.

As a freelancer, you might be asked for spec work. Discover 5 must know facts, and ways to deal with working on spec.

Health insurance for freelancers isn’t always easy. These 8 legit ways to get insurance will make sure your health is protected without breaking the bank.

Refine your workflow in just 5 steps with this guide to better time management for freelancers, and discover 3 popular time management techniques.

A creative brief can help you make sure you and your client are on the same page so you can deliver your best creative project yet.

23 best apps for freelancers, handpicked and sorted in categories: time management, organization, project management, finance & legal, and writing productivity.

Trying to (re)design your client's brand? Polishing your own? Get all the answers you need for solid brand identity with our 2 brand questionnaire samples.

Understanding client needs is one of the key aspects of any business, including freelance. Here are 5 tactics to ensure you identify and meet client needs.

Knowing how to deal with difficult clients is an essential skill for freelancers. Explore this 9-step guide to ensure you come out on top in such cases.

Bonsai now integrates with Zapier to help you connect with 1,000 other tools and software.

Using your time effectively is a key part of being a succesful freelancer. Here’s Bonsai's in-depth guide on how time blocking can maximize your productivity.

If you want to track your time, you’re probably wondering how to make a timesheet in Excel. We’ll give you two easy ways of building one, and another to win time.

Timesheets are a great tool for managing your time - but how do they actually work? Here are the 4 things you should know about timesheets.

A collection of 100 freelance tips from top designers, developers, writers and photographers, to help you build and grow your freelance business.

If you’re a freelance designer, you’re probably already familiar with the powerful and popular Sketch app. Find out what are our top 20 best Sketch Plugins to use.

Do you have the creativity, business sense, and customer empathy needed to be a UX Designer? Discover what it takes to become a UX Designer in 2018.

Many successful freelancers depend on at least one project management tool to keep everything sorted. Discover the best project management tools for freelancers.

Most freelancers can agree that doing more with less time and effort is a constant pursuit. Is Webflow the tool you’ve been waiting for to make it happen?

Are you making the plunge as a new freelancer? Here are our 6 top tips to help you get started.

Often thinking about how you could make your work less isolating? The flexibility of your freelancing status might actually be an asset.