The transition from salaried employment to independence is often seen as a quest for absolute freedom. However, the first year as a freelancer is a pivotal period, a true endurance test where enthusiasm can quickly collide with the reality of running a business. To make it stick and sustain your activity, it is crucial to identify the obstacles that trip up the majority of new freelancers.
1. Neglecting the choice of legal status and accounting organization
This is the root mistake. Many freelancers jump in headfirst under the micro-entreprise regime for simplicity's sake, without checking whether this choice is really optimal compared to their actual expenses or their growth ambitions. A poor status can lead to disproportionate taxation or insufficient social protection.
To avoid these administrative setbacks, support from a professional is a major safeguard. Calling on Amarris Expertise Comptable, a specialist in entrepreneur advisory for 25 years, makes it possible to validate the most profitable structure for your project. By choosing an accountant for freelancers from the start, you delegate tax complexity to focus on what you do best: your profession.
2. Underestimating the importance of cash flow and costs
One of the most dangerous pitfalls of the first year lies in confusing turnover with net income. Seeing thousands of euros land in your business account is exhilarating, but that money is not entirely yours. Between social contributions (URSSAF), VAT (if you are subject to it), income tax and operating expenses, the deduction can represent 30% to 50% of your receipts.
The classic mistake is spending all your cash before paying your charges. The solution? Systematically set aside a provision in a separate account so you are never caught off guard at tax deadlines.
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3. Charging rates that are too low for fear of emptiness
At the start, the temptation is great to “undercut prices” to get your first contracts. It's a risky strategy in the long run. A rate that is too low devalues your expertise in the eyes of clients and traps you in a spiral where you have to work a lot for a paltry return. Moreover, it is always more difficult to raise your rates later with an existing client.
It is imperative to calculate your Average Daily Rate (TJM) by including not only the desired salary, but also vacation days, periods between contracts, health insurance, income protection and computer equipment.
4. Forgetting prospecting when the order book is full
The freelancer often lives according to a “roller coaster” cycle. When assignments follow one another, there is a tendency to neglect business development. Result: once projects are finished, you find yourself facing a void, with no serious leads for the coming months.
The golden rule for longevity is to devote at least 10% to 20% of your weekly working time to prospecting, networking or updating your portfolio, even during busy periods. Regularity is the key to financial stability.
5. Not setting boundaries between work and personal life
Working from home or in a coworking space without a clear framework often leads to burnout. With no boss to tell you when to stop, the risk is working 7 days a week, answering emails at 11 p.m. and sacrificing your social life. This lack of structure is the number one enemy of productivity.
It is essential to define office hours, set up a dedicated space and learn to say “no” to certain intrusive requests. An effective freelancer is a freelancer who knows how to rest.
Preparation as a driver of success
Going freelance is an exciting challenge that demands as much professional skill as rigor in business management. By avoiding these common pitfalls — poor choice of status, approximate financial management, rock-bottom pricing and lack of prospecting — you lay solid foundations for your activity.
Don't forget that isolation is often a cause of failure: surround yourself with peers, join communities and lean on management experts to secure your path. Your first year should be one of learning and consolidation, so that the following years are those of fulfillment and success.
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