Tools
Freelance checklists
Checklists turn "I know what to do" into "I did it." These are interactive, reusable, and designed for the moments that usually derail freelance work: discovery, scoping, onboarding, scope changes, late payments, capacity drift, and the recurring game-theory problems underneath them.
Each checklist is interactive (progress is stored locally in your browser). Use "Copy as Markdown" to paste it into your own docs.
Good defaults
- Run one checklist end-to-end, not five at once.
- Copy it once, customize, then reuse.
- Use checklists early, while you still have leverage.
- When the same problem keeps repeating, start with the Game Diagnosis Worksheet.
On this page
Browse
Game Diagnosis Worksheet
A worksheet for seeing the structure under a freelance problem before you react.
Open Game Diagnosis Worksheet checklistFirst 30 Days Checklist
An interactive first-month checklist for setting up your freelance offer, outreach, pricing, invoices, and scope documents.
Open First 30 Days Checklist checklistClient Screening Checklist
A checklist for qualifying freelance clients before discovery turns into unpaid consulting or bad-fit work.
Open Client Screening Checklist checklistDiscovery Call Checklist
An interactive checklist for prepping, running, and following up on discovery calls so they turn into scoped next steps.
Open Discovery Call Checklist checklistQuote to SOW Checklist
A checklist to turn discovery notes into a scoped quote and a lightweight SOW with boundaries, review windows, and payment terms.
Open Quote to SOW Checklist checklistClient Onboarding & Kickoff Checklist
An onboarding checklist: access, stakeholders, cadence, review windows, and next steps so delivery doesn’t stall.
Open Client Onboarding & Kickoff Checklist checklistScope Change Checklist
A change request workflow checklist: clarify the request, estimate impact, get approval, and keep scope changes procedural.
Open Scope Change Checklist checklistClient Concentration & Capacity Scorecard
A manual checklist for reviewing client revenue share, meeting load, payment risk, and capacity. Completion is not a calculated risk score.
Open Client Concentration & Capacity Scorecard checklistLate Payment Checklist
A checklist for collecting overdue invoices: prevention, follow-ups, work pause, and escalation without making it personal.
Open Late Payment Checklist checklistSubcontractor Brief + QA Checklist
A checklist for briefing subcontractors, defining done, and reviewing quality before client delivery.
Open Subcontractor Brief + QA Checklist checklistWeekly Review Checklist
A 20-minute weekly admin reset checklist for pipeline, delivery, and money so your freelance business doesn’t run on panic.
Open Weekly Review Checklist checklistStart Here path checklists
Each Start Here path page includes an interactive "what to do next" checklist. Use it as a guided plan: check items off, keep the cadence small, and avoid turning the checklist into a new project.
If you want a guided route, these are often the best starting point because they force one decision: which bottleneck are you solving right now?
I'm leaving my job
Make the transition without panic: runway, offer, pipeline, and the first client outcomes.
Open I'm leaving my job checklistI need more/better clients
Build lead flow you control: positioning, outbound, referrals, partnerships, and a weekly pipeline rhythm.
Open I need more/better clients checklistI want the freelance game playbook
A guided path through the real games inside freelance work: credibility, fit, pricing, scope, payment, retention, and capacity.
Open I want the freelance game playbook checklistI'm already freelancing but inconsistent
Stabilize the machine: pipeline, delivery, admin habits, and pricing boundaries.
Open I'm already freelancing but inconsistent checklistI need to raise rates
Raise rates with less fear: anchors, packaging, negotiation scripts, and scope boundaries that keep prices true.
Open I need to raise rates checklistI need to get paid on time
Invoices, follow-ups, and contract language that reduces late payment without burning relationships.
Open I need to get paid on time checklistI'm drowning in admin
Reduce admin without becoming a productivity influencer: minimal tool stack, templates, and weekly rhythms.
Open I'm drowning in admin checklistI'm scaling to agency-of-one
Increase capacity without chaos: delivery standards, subcontracting basics, QA, and margin discipline.
Open I'm scaling to agency-of-one checklistI'm burned out
Stabilize workload and boundaries: capacity ceilings, communication windows, and cashflow fixes that reduce panic.
Open I'm burned out checklistHow to use a checklist
- Choose the task. Match the checklist to a real call, project, invoice, or weekly review. For a broader business decision, choose a starting path first.
- Complete the work, then mark the item. A checkbox records completion. Keep meeting notes, calculations, decisions, and client approvals in your own document; checking an item does not produce those records.
- Copy and adapt. Use Copy as Markdown to export the prompts and completion state. Add your own notes and remove irrelevant steps in your document. The export is not an automatically completed client deliverable.
- Keep a reusable version. Use your adapted checklist at the next relevant moment. Local browser progress is not a backup or a shared client workspace; clearing storage or changing devices can lose it.
From discovery to delivery
A useful sequence is discovery → quote and scope → kickoff → change requests → payment follow-up. Use only the steps your project needs. Pair a checklist with the actual document you need to prepare:
- Statement of work template for deliverables, fees, and responsibilities.
- Change request addendum for agreed scope changes.
- Invoice and follow-up templates for billing and payment reminders.
Completion measures whether you checked the prompts, not whether an agreement is legally sufficient, a client is low risk, or a plan will succeed. Review the resulting decisions and get qualified advice for legal or tax questions.
FAQ
Do these checklists store my data?
Checklist progress is stored locally in your browser so you can leave and come back without losing your place. If you clear browser storage or switch devices, your progress may reset.
Can I reuse these in my own docs?
Yes. Use "Copy as Markdown" on a checklist tool page, paste it into your own doc, and customize. The best version is the one that fits your terminology and the kinds of clients you actually work with.
Why copy as Markdown instead of copying the page?
Markdown is a simple, portable format. It pastes cleanly into most doc tools, notes apps, and internal wikis. The goal is to let you reuse a checklist without rebuilding it, and to make customization easy.
Should I share these checklists with a client?
Sometimes it helps to share parts of your process (an agenda, an onboarding checklist, a review cadence) so the client understands what you need from them. But you do not need to share everything. Share what improves coordination and reduces ambiguity.
What if I do not finish a checklist?
Do not treat checklists like perfection tests. Treat them like guardrails. If you skipped a step and things feel messy, return to the missed step and fix it. Most checklist value comes from catching the basics you would otherwise forget under pressure.
How do I keep checklists from multiplying?
Keep a small set of defaults. When two checklists overlap, pick one and retire the other. The goal is not to collect processes. The goal is to have a few repeatable operating rhythms you can run without thinking.
What if I want a full guided path instead of individual checklists?
If you want the guided route, start with Start here. It helps you pick a path based on your current bottleneck.