One minute, you’re thanking the freelance gods for filling your schedule with juicy work, and the next, you’re staring at your inbox, praying for some action.
I get it! I’ve been there. Multiple times.
When a client cancels a freelance project at the last minute, it’s easy to feel panicked. Even as I’ve gained experience in the industry, this situation still fills me with dread. But I’ve experienced enough of these moments now, and I have a sure-fire plan for when I get professionally ghosted.
No more sulking! It’s time to get to work. Scroll down to learn what to do when your freelance project gets canceled at the last minute.
Why Do Clients Cancel Projects?
Why is the sky blue?
Clients can cancel projects for any reason! From losing funding to simply not wanting to work with you, there are many reasons why a client pulls the plug at the last minute.
In my experience, it’s not helpful to dwell on why a client has canceled or stopped responding. Yes, you may have wasted time on a call or sending a few emails. But it’s an unfortunate part of the industry.
As long as there isn’t money on the line, it’s best to move on.
How Do You Deal With A Client Who Cancels?
If you didn’t sign a contract and haven’t started the project work, all you can do is accept the cancellation and let the client know your availability for future work—should they want to continue in the future.
If a client has stopped responding despite asking for work, you should follow up and ask them whether they’re still interested. Say something along the lines of:
Hi [Client’s Name],
I hope you’re doing well! I wanted to check in regarding the project we discussed.
I’ve set aside some time in my schedule for this work and wanted to confirm if you’re still interested in moving forward. If your priorities have changed or if there’s anything else I can assist with, please feel free to let me know.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Best regards,
Going forward, all you can really do is take note of how the client acts.
If they’re extremely apologetic and communicative, keep them in your network. Whereas, if they ghost with no warning and only reply with short emails, don’t hold onto them too tightly.
The latter type of client tends to pop up out of nowhere asking for URGENT work for the next day and then ghosts again regarding payments. As you work with more people, you’ll get a gut feeling for them!
How To Make The Most Of Quiet Periods As A Freelancer
A canceled freelance project usually leaves a gaping hole in your calendar. It can also come with a few money worries, especially if you haven’t got much lined up.
Here’s what you can do to manage stress and keep moving forward.
1. Take A Deep Breath
Cancellations can make your blood pressure rise. Literally!
Taking a few deep breaths or stepping away from your laptop for a moment has been proven to improve anxiety and stress.
And at The Freelance Balance, we’re all about navigating self-employment without these worries!
2. Hit Up Your Network
If you want to fill up your work schedule, the best way to get started is to message current or previous clients. These are called warm leads.
Ask whether they need any work, explain what services you currently offer, and ask for referrals.
Don’t forget to be polite!
3. Market Yourself
Next, you’ll want to invest your newfound spare time in your marketing.
Love it or hate it, part of being a freelancer is marketing yourself. Personally, this isn’t my favorite thing. I prefer doing the work. But I’ve accepted it’s a necessary evil — especially when winning clients and proving that I’m a worthwhile hire.
Ways you can market yourself include:
- LinkedIn profile refresh
- Refresh your website
- Social media posts
- Newsletters
- Cold pitching
4. Job Boards
This tip won’t work for everyone, but it’s worth a try.
Check out freelance job boards (e.g., Upwork or Fiverr) to see if there’s anything worth your time.
Speaking as an Upwork user, these boards keep getting worse and the rates continue to drop. So, take what you see with a pinch of salt — and don’t drop your rates to compete.
Working for less makes you a busy fool. And drags the rates down for other professionals!
5. Personal Projects
Alongside working on new leads, spare some time to nurture that project you’ve left on the back burner. You never know. You could even flip it into a side hustle one day.
That’s what I’m doing right now. Literally.
I should be working on a 10-blog project as I write this blog. But that’s gone awry.
So, I’ve sent a few emails, finished any leftover work, and drafted this piece!
6. Learn Something New
If you don’t fancy working or emailing potential clients, hop onto YouTube. There’s a world of new information waiting to be discovered.
Whether you fancy developing your professional skills or simply learning cool facts, it’ll feel better to learn something new rather than scroll on Instagram.
My current favorite? The Modern Knight.
Forget online learning. Why not use your extra time to cook up something in the kitchen? These maple and pecan cookies were divine.
7. Bask In The Silence!
We freelancers are all too familiar with the concept of feast or famine.
I’ve experienced countless busy and quiet periods now, and I know work always turns up eventually. However, I’ve never gotten used to the eerie quiet after a freelance project gets canceled.
Learning to be okay with the fluctuations is critical. You’ll wish for a moment of stillness when everything starts again and work is keeping you up at night!
Accepting Canceled Projects – The Takeaway
I’d never tell you to get over it when a freelance project is canceled. It’s tough—especially when your income’s on the line. However, building resilience against these moments and having an actionable plan is critical.
I hope the tips and tricks above have inspired you to keep going. Keeping your head up sometimes is tough, but another client will always appear. You just never know when!
Keep learning about life as a modern freelancer. Check out The Freelance Balance blog now.