How to Let Go of a Freelancer
(Side note: I’m NOT an attorney and cannot offer legal advice. This article is solely meant to help you navigate splitting with a freelancer as smoothly as possible, but I cannot guarantee this process will legally protect you.)
Let me guess...
You’ve been doing your best to make it work with the freelancer you’ve hired.
You’ve had meetings, given feedback, and it’s still not working out. (Keep in mind that even the right hire will miss the mark every once in a while.)
But when they continue to disappoint you again and again — and nothing you do to alleviate the problem changes anything — it may be time to part ways.
How to Know When It’s Time to Fire Your Freelancer
If your freelancer is:
Consistently missing deadlines
Producing unsatisfactory work on a regular basis
Too busy with other clients
Constantly questions your ideas and assignments
…then it may be time to let them go.
*Cue the confrontation nerves and sweaty palms.*
I know it can be nerve-wracking to do it. But remember this — you’ll both be better off moving in a new direction.
The freelancer gets the chance to work with a client they are more aligned with. And you get the opportunity to bring in someone who may be a better fit.
So when you’re certain it’s time to part ways with your team member — how do you go about doing it in a way that protects your business and isn’t totally awkward for everyone?
These next steps guide you through how to release your freelancer quickly and smoothly and in a way where everyone keeps their dignity.
Still not convinced you want to fire your freelancer? Read this article for more signs it’s time to let your freelancer go.
3 Stress-Free Steps to Let Your Freelancer Go
1. Turn off access to everything prior to communicating with the freelancer.
It’s best to remove their access to any and all systems and software before you reach out to them.
Take note of anything you’ve given them access to, such as:
Project management tools
Google Drive
Social media accounts
Your website
Accounts shared via LastPass
…and anything else you can think of.
Ideally, you have a list of who has access to what or a process that’s so simple you don’t really have to think about it.
Odds are your freelancer will be understanding (and likely agree things aren’t working out). But on the off chance they’re upset and choose to retaliate, you want to make sure all of your assets are fully protected.
Here are some examples of what turning off access to your business could look like:
➡️ Stop sharing files in Google Drive.
Everyone on my team has access to just one Google Drive folder.
I implemented this after learning the hard way that hunting for hours trying to find all the nooks and crannies a previous freelancer had access to was no fun!
It can be time-consuming figuring out which files someone has access to.
Now my team works out of one main folder, and that’s what we stick to.
There are a lot of subfolders to keep things organized, but I manage access at the top folder level. I recommend you do this to save yourself time later!
These images demonstrate how to grant and remove access to the main folder.
Once you click on the share button, you can find the freelancer’s name and remove them from the folder.
➡️ Remove shared items in LastPass.
If you use a program like LastPass, you can easily see what the freelancer has access to through your dashboard.
Simply remove your freelancer’s current access by:
Logging into https://lastpass.com/?ac=1
Clicking on “sharing center” on the left side
Hovering over the folder you want to stop access to and click “manage”
Click on the X icon next to the person you wish to remove
Finish the rest of the prompts and click save
(If you’ve never heard of it, LastPass is an online business owner's dream. It allows you to give your team access to accounts that don’t allow multiple users without sharing your actual password.)
➡️ Change all passwords you may have shared.
If you don’t use LastPass, you’ve likely shared passwords to your website, social media accounts, email accounts, and more.
Take note of which passwords you gave to your freelancer, and go through and change each one.
2. Be clear but concise.
Once you’ve cut off access to everything, the next step is to communicate clearly and concisely.
After you’ve made the decision, you don’t have to explain or justify it. Don’t get too in your head about it.
You’ve likely already invested quite a bit of time and energy into training, giving feedback, and trying to make it work. And it still wasn’t what you envisioned.
At this point, it’s not likely you’ll change your mind about calling it quits with your freelancer.
Before you spend too much time feeling guilty things didn’t work out, remember there’s a good chance they’re already aware it’s not a good fit.
But, it’s much harder for a freelancer to release a client because they are being paid… even if the fit is a painful experience for them, too.
Here are a few common ways to fire your freelancer with grace...
Write an email.
This is probably the most common. Keep it simple and direct. Thank them for their time and contributions, and let them know it’s not working out on your end.
Record an audio note.
If it’s easier for you to record a three-minute message than put the emotional labor into writing an email, this can be a good alternative. Like the email, keep it brief by thanking them and letting them know you’re going in a different direction.
Share in a meeting.
This is probably the hardest and most awkward option. But, when it comes to a freelancer you want to maintain a good relationship with or even possibly work with in the future (maybe the timing just wasn’t right for you), a meeting can be a good option.
3. Do something to take care of yourself.
Letting go of a freelancer is never easy.
And it’s even harder if you’ve put a lot of time and energy into finding them and it doesn’t work out long-term.
It can be really discouraging, but try not to beat yourself up. Give yourself some credit. And remind yourself of everything you’ve learned from this experience.
Then do something enjoyable for yourself… take a walk, go to a yoga class, call a friend, or book a pedicure.
Do something to bring your spirits up and remind yourself it’s just business. Remember, you have another part of your life outside of your work.
Firing a Freelancer Ultimately Leads to More Clarity
It can be easy to think of firing your freelancer as a moment of “failure.” But think about how much it’s helped you realize who you want contributing to your business.
No challenge is wasted. They are learning experiences.
And I know firsthand, working with someone who’s the wrong fit can be frustrating. But now you have a better idea of what kind of support your business needs moving forward. And that’s a gift in itself.
Want to stop wasting your time, money, and energy on hiring freelancers who just aren’t cutting it?
In my free 5-day mini-course, I share with you the hiring secrets that took me years to perfect.
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