How to Quit a Freelance Job

The internet is lousy with posts about how to find freelance jobs and how to get them. But how to quit a freelance job? That’s not something we talk about very often. If it’s so much effort for us freelancers to even find and land jobs, how on earth could we think about quitting them?

Turns out, it actually happens quite a bit in the freelance world. I’ve been full-time freelance since Nov 2016 and in that time I’ve quit a freelance job or two (or three). And I’ve picked up new jobs. It’s the ebb and flow of freelancing – getting new gigs, losing gigs, leaving gigs, finding gigs, and so on.

So how do you actually quit a freelance job? Let me walk you through it. But first, some FAQS! 

Do freelancers have to give notice? Two weeks’ notice?

Maybe. It all depends on what is written in your contract. Most freelance contracts will have a section covering cancellation or termination of the contract where it states how much notice either party (freelancer or client) must provide. If your contract doesn’t have a termination clause or you didn’t sign a contract, you technically do not have to give notice as a freelancer.

However, I would highly recommend giving at least two weeks’ notice in most situations, even if you’re not contractually obligated to do so. Giving notice is a professional courtesy and means you are not leaving your client scrambling. Even if you never want to work with this client again, you don’t want to burn bridges by leaving them high and dry.

Do you have to write a formal freelancer resignation letter?

In most freelance jobs, a formal letter addressed to HR is not required in order to resign. Once again, double check your contract to see what the termination terms are. In most cases, a slightly less formal resignation email with all of the important details, like your last day of work, will suffice. I’ll cover this in depth (and with a sample letter!) in step #5.

What happens if your client takes it poorly that you’re resigning from a freelance job?

Ideally, your client is sad that you’re leaving but supports your decision. However, it is entirely possible that your client could withhold your pay, badmouth you in your industry, or never respond to your resignation email. Hopefully, that’s not the type of client you’re working with.

Luckily, that’s never happened to me anytime I have quit a freelance job, but it is a risk. If something like that happens, you can speak to a lawyer about drafting a message with stronger language or look into taking your client to small claims court if payment is owed. Of course, both of these options can be expensive and time-consuming with no guarantee of success.

If you’re worried about your client reacting negatively and withholding pay, try to time your resignation for once you’ve been paid all or most of what you’re owed. Keep all your communication professional and in writing, so you have a paper trail should you need it.

How to quit a freelance job in 8 easy steps

Step 1. Figure out why you are quitting this freelance work

Before you actually quit a freelance job, you need to be clear on your why. Are you quitting for the right reasons? Is there something that can be changed about the job that would allow you to keep working? Is this a gut reaction to a new job or has it been a long time coming? Is there a new opportunity you want to pursue that would mean giving up this job?

Sometimes it can be hard to tell if you really want to quit or if you’ve just had a bad day. I’ve certainly read an email (usually on my phone after work hours), had a negative reaction to it and immediately started drafting my resignation letter in my head. It can help to take a step back and think of the job as a whole. If there are many aspects of the job you dislike, if you’ve felt negatively towards it for some time, and if even on good work days you’re still not enjoying it, that may mean it’s time to quit.

Spend some time figuring out exactly why you’re quitting and make sure it’s an answer that feels right to you. Some reasons why I have quit a freelance job in the past include not having enough time to dedicate to the workload, not being comfortable with the pay rate, and not connecting to the material. When you picture yourself quitting this freelance job, what is the immediate feeling? If it’s relief, you are probably heading in the right direction.

PS: Your “why” for quitting doesn’t need to be the same “why” that you share with your client. More on that in step #5!

Step 2. Make sure the timing is right (for you & your client)

With freelance jobs, it’s not the same as a full-time job in an office. You likely won’t go through weeks of training, shadowing and on-boarding. Nine times out of ten, you’re jumping right into the work on day one.

So you want to make sure you’ve given this job a good crack before you decide to throw in the towel. It’s natural to have some tension at the beginning of a new freelance job as you work out the kinks with your new client. You’re learning each other’s communication styles, expectations and work habits. Don’t quit a freelance job because the first day of work was confusing or stressful.

On the other side of the coin, you also don’t want to waste your client’s time, or your time, if you know this job isn’t a good fit from day one. If the day one difficulties feel like they can be worked out with time, try to stick with it. If they seem like fundamental differences you can’t overcome, maybe bow out. Don’t wait until you’re weeks or months into a project, with significant time and resources invested by both parties, to quit a freelance job.

Another note on timing: You want to be aware of busy times for your client. If you’re writing website copy for a client, it would be very poor form to quit the day before the website launch. Similarly, it would be bad to quit a freelance job with an e-retailer right before their holiday rush. Of course, sometimes extenuating circumstances mean you have to resign at an inconvenient time. But if you can help it, try not to quit during busy season to avoid a worse reaction from your client.

Step 3. Read your freelance contract

All right, now that you know why you want to resign from your freelance job and you’ve considered when, it’s time to jump into your contract. Assuming you signed one, you now need to figure out how to terminate a freelance contract with your client.

As I mentioned above, most freelance contracts should include terms for terminating or cancelling the contract. These usually include who can terminate the contract, the required notice period, and any clauses around money owed or reasons for terminating. Ideally you read through this part of your contract before signing and are comfortable with the terms.

Most contracts will have a 15 or 30 day termination notice period, meaning you need to give your client 15 or 30 days’ notice before your last day. You’ll want to keep that notice period in mind as your contract is a legal document that you want to abide by. Double check if the contract stipulates whether you need to give notice in a certain way (e.g. formal letter) or if an email will do.

PS: Don’t have a contract? When I first started freelancing, I didn’t have a contract and I’ve learned the hard way how important it is to have one. But even I don’t always learn from my mistakes and have had clients without contracts (and might still!). So do as I say, not as I do, and get yourself a contract ASAP! You can find simple templates online and tweak them for your needs. But if you didn’t have a contract for the freelance job you’re now trying to quit, you don’t technically have to give notice. However, I strongly recommend giving 15-30 days’ notice, if possible.

Step 4. Have an exit plan

Before you quit a freelance job you’ll want to have an exit plan. Actually, you’ll want to have two exit plans – one for you and one for your client.

The exit plan for your client should outline how much notice you’re giving them, how you plan to wrap up your projects, due dates for any deliverables, and any other loose ends you need to tie before you go. Your client will appreciate your initiative and professionalism in laying this out and you’ll benefit from a clear plan of action.

For your personal exit plan, you’ll want to think about your next steps after you leave this freelance job. How to resign as a freelancer is just one part but what is your plan for replacing this client? Do you already have a new client to replace this one? If not, how will you find one? How will you make up for the loss of income? Quitting a freelance job can be really scary if you don’t have something already lined up to replace it. If that’s the case, I recommend spending some time thinking about your next steps. That could mean tapping into your freelance network or scouring job boards.

Step 5. Choose your medium of communication (hint: email)

In a traditional 9 to 5 job, general wisdom is that you would email your supervisor to arrange a time to meet in person so you can verbally give your notice. You would then follow that up with a formal letter of resignation, in print or in email, to your supervisor, HR and any other higher ups. But it’s not the same when you quit a freelance job. For some clients, you may have never met them in person and might not even live in the same country to have an in-person meeting.

I suggest you quit a freelance job via the medium you most often use to communicate with your client. So if you’re regularly calling your client, you can give your notice during a phone call. However, I think email is the best option for resigning from a freelance job. Rather than being on the spot on a live phone or video call, email gives you time to gather your thoughts and fine tune your words. Email also provides a paper trail, should you or your client need to refer to your resignation communication.

I would advise not giving notice via more informal channels, like Slack or text, even if that’s how you usually communicate with your client. For something as serious as resigning, you’ll want to stick to a more formal communication channel. If email feels too impersonal to you and you don’t mind answering questions on the spot, you can always offer to do a follow-up phone or video call.

Step 6. Craft your freelancer resignation letter

Now is the time to take action and put your resignation into motion. Congrats, you’re officially quitting! Assuming you’re quitting via email, this can be done with a freelancer resignation letter that is brief, professional and polite.

Here’s the basic template for your freelancer resignation letter:

1. Short pleasantries
2. Official resignation
3. Proposed exit plan
4. Gratitude
5. Wrap up

Let’s dive into each of these sections:

1. Short pleasantries

Like any email, you want to start with some brief pleasantries. Since you’re about to share some not-so-great news, you don’t want to ramble on for paragraphs about the weather or a funny thing you saw on TV. A simple, “I hope this email finds you well” will suffice.

2. Official resignation

Next, you want to get into your resignation. Many people scan their emails so you want to make sure the important information is clear and at the beginning. If your mind is made up, don’t be vague. Saying, “I think I should probably quit, maybe, if that’s okay…” helps no one.

In this section you’ll also want to list your last day of work and why you’re leaving. The last day of work is important so that your client understands this is their official notice and so they know when work will stop. Once again, being brief and clear here is important.

When it comes to your “why,” you don’t need to share the emotional or negative details with your client. Keep it professional and keep it brief. However, you do want to give your client some sort of explanation so they aren’t left to speculate about why you’re leaving.

Not sure how to professionally explain why you’re quitting? Here are some common reasons to quit a freelance job and their professional email translation:

• “You’re paying me peanuts!” = “At this point in my career, I am no longer able to work at our current payment level.”
• “I got a better job.” = “An opportunity came up that I couldn’t say no to.”
• “This work is so boring and unsatisfying.” = “After reflection, I’ve decided to pursue some of my other career interests.”
• “Someone close to me just died and I can’t even think about working.” = “Due to a family emergency, I’m not available to continue our work.”
• “You’re demanding way too much of my time.” = “Unfortunately, I’m no longer able to accommodate the hours needed for this work.”
• “You suck/this job sucks/I hate it here.” = “Sadly, I don’t feel I’m a good fit for this job.”

3. Proposed exit plan

Next, introduce the exit plan you came up with in step #4. Lay out a brief explanation of your last deliverables and any key dates. Depending on the type of freelance work you’re doing, you may need to remind your client about your revisions policy, especially if it would normally extend beyond your last working day. You may also want to list any payment dates in this section, so it’s clearly laid out for everyone.

Keep in mind that your exit plan is just what you’re proposing; your client may have something else in mind. Depending on what they respond with, you might be open to their suggestions or you may need to hold firm to your terms. For example, they may ask you to help train your replacement and you’ll have to decide if that’s something you want to do. But by creating an exit plan and laying it out in your resignation email, you’re protecting yourself and showing your client that you’ve put thought and care into your decision.

4. Gratitude

Always, always, always end your resignation letter with a thank you. Even if you’ve had the job for less than 24 hours, even if the client was awful and even if you never want to hear from them again, be the bigger person and muster up a crumb of gratitude.

Assuming things weren’t awful, you can thank your client for any specific skills you learned from them or note any special projects you worked on. Being specific and sincere will go a long way to leaving a good last impression. Remind your client of the happy times you shared!

And if your client was truly horrible and you can’t think of a single nice thing to say, you can always write, “Thank you for the opportunity.”

5. Wrap up

To wrap up your freelance resignation letter, you’ll want to wish your client well and leave any details about continued communication, if you want. If you’re happy for your client to reach out to you with new opportunities or any questions, you can let them know and leave your contact info. If you want to offer to provide referrals for your replacement, you can also let them know in this section. Or if you’d rather not stay in touch a simple “Wishing you and your team all the best” works great!

While it can be tempting to end your resignation email with a scathing mic drop moment, resist the temptation and lean into professionalism. Remember that the freelance world, while global, is still small. You want to maintain a good relationship with every client, even if you quit a freelance job with them.

Freelance resignation letter example:

Dear Client X,

I hope this email finds you well. Unfortunately, I will need to resign from my work as Company X’s freelance photographer effective Dec 20, 2023. While I have thoroughly enjoyed this role, a new opportunity has come up for me that I could not say no to. 

I will continue to deliver weekly images to you with my final images being delivered by Dec 16. Please keep in mind that edit requests must be received by Dec 18 in order for me to complete them before my last day of work. 

Thank you again for the wonderful opportunity to work at Company X. It has been such a privilege to work alongside you and the team, and to learn so much from you all. 

If you have any questions, please let me know. 

Wishing you and everyone at Company X a wonderful rest of 2023! 

Sincerely,

Freelancia McFreelance 

Step 7. Follow up or deal with pushback

In a perfect world, your client responds to your beautifully crafted resignation email gracefully and timely. They let you know how sorry they are to see you go but that they completely understand and wish you well. They confirm everything you laid out in your exit plan. And maybe they even offer to write you a testimonial!

Unfortunately, you may find yourself in a less than perfect world situation. In the event that you don’t hear back from your client in a few days, you’ll want to send them a follow up message. Especially if you are giving a shorter amount of notice, you’ll want to make them aware of your departure as soon as possible. Send a follow up email and, if you still don’t hear back, reach out to them another way to ask if they’ve received your emails.

Another uncomfortable situation you might find yourself in is if your client tries to push back on your resignation. They may quibble with the terms of your leaving or may straight up try to get you to stay. Depending on why you’re quitting, you may want to contemplate if their new offer solves the problem.

For example, if the only issue was low pay and they offer to pay you more, why not stay? But if their pushback not only doesn’t solve the problem but reinforces why you want to leave, stand firm. Politely restate your position and hold those boundaries!

Step 8. Wrapping up the final days of your freelance contract

So you’ve made it to the final days of your freelance contract – congrats! By this point, you and your client should both be well aware that your final day is approaching and you should be wrapping up your work and any loose ends.

Even though you have given your notice to quit a freelance job, you still need to do good work. In fact, you might want to do your best work in those final days. Your client is likely already inconvenienced by your resignation; don’t make it worse by phoning it in at the end. Give them a reason to give you a glowing review!

How you end your freelance job with your client really depends on your relationship with them and why you’re leaving. If it was a great relationship, you may want to make plans to keep in touch. You could ask for a testimonial for your website, offer to refer other people to the company, and ensure you’re connected on LinkedIn. You may even be in a position to give or ask for feedback, but tread carefully, especially if the feedback you want to share is negative.

What happens if you get fired from a freelance job?

So we’ve covered how to quit a freelance job, but what happens if you get fired from one? Unfortunately, that happens too in the freelance world – either party has the power to terminate the contract. So what do you do?

First things first, take a deep breath. It can be awful to receive an email letting you know that your services are no longer needed. Don’t respond immediately. Take some time to process your emotions and return to the client when you’re in a better headspace. Remember that leaving jobs is part of a freelance career, and that this isn’t a reflection on you as a person.

Next, take a read through your contract. If your client isn’t following the termination terms that you both agreed to, you may want to remind them of something like how much notice you’re entitled to.

You may also want to understand why you were let go from your freelance role. Hopefully your client made that clear in their email but if not, it’s absolutely appropriate to ask why in a professional manner. You could say, “I’m so sorry to hear I won’t be continuing as a freelancer for Company X. If you’re able to share more details, I’d love to know why this opportunity didn’t work out and see what I can improve in my next job.” 

If you were fired on good terms – say a client’s budget changed but you didn’t do anything wrong – do your best to nurture the relationship. Ask your client if you can keep in touch and if they’ll reach out to you if a new opportunity comes up. You can also ask them for a testimonial or to refer you to anyone else looking for a freelancer in your industry.

Wrapping up: 3 tips for how to resign from a freelance job

1. How to quit a freelance job WITHOUT burning bridges

You should quit a freelance job with as much care and professionalism as you would approach anything in your career. Ghosting a client (disappearing without letting them know) is incredibly unprofessional and will hurt your future freelancing opportunities. Even if it’s not a great relationship, take the time to officially resign.

You don’t want to add a lot of extra emotions or negativity to your resignation. Trust me, I have resigned from some awful jobs where I want nothing more than to list out all of the horrible things the client did. But who is that for? Share that list with your freelance friends at Happy Hour while keeping things professional and brief in your resignation letter.

2. Remember that the freelance world is more fluid

When you quit a freelance job, it’s not as formal or procedural as quitting a 9 to 5. You likely won’t have to send a formal letter to HR or have an exit interview. But it still puts your client out. They have to find someone new and train them to do your job. Respect that this impacts your client negatively, even if it seems minor to you. Quitting a freelance job should still be taken seriously.

That being said, it’s important to understand that there is more bouncing around in the freelance world. Because the work is more fluid and most freelancers have multiple small gigs, quitting isn’t as monumental as it would be if you were to leave the one 9 to 5 job you’ve held for 30 years. Resignations happen and are something you should get comfortable with. At some point in your successful freelance career, you will need to quit a freelance job.

3. Learn something every time you resign as a freelancer

Most importantly, you should learn something every time you quit a freelance job. I’m not saying you’ll learn enough to never have to quit a freelance job ever again, but hopefully you won’t have to quit for the exact same reason.

For example, if you quit a freelance job because the pay is too low, you now know you can’t accept a job for under a certain number. You know that you need to discuss the pay rate in detail up front and only look for jobs in your desired pay range. Resigning from a freelance job may also teach you that you want to implement some safeguards in your next job, such as different payment terms, a trial period or a stronger contract.

Have you ever quit a freelance job? What advice do you have for other freelancers wanting to resign?