I’m planning to start a project soon and want to find freelancers for design and engineering work.
I’m hoping to learn from the wisdom of the crowd, and some of the topics that come to mind are:
- best places to look for freelancers/contractors (of course I’ll start here 😌😃 but where else?)
- how to screen applicants
- topics to talk about to ensure neither of us is having their time wasted.
What has worked for you?
If you work freelance, what makes a good client? What do you wish more clients did?
Thanks!
Top comments (1)
Great set of questions — I think every client who plans ahead like this sets themselves up for better results.
From my experience:
• Finding freelancers: GitHub, Dev.to, and even LinkedIn communities can be just as good as Upwork or Fiverr, since you often find people who are already showing their work publicly.
• Screening: A small paid test task or walking through one of their past projects together is the best way to see how they think, not just what’s on their profile.
• Conversations: Talk early about expectations around timelines, communication style, and what success looks like. Clear alignment saves everyone time.
As for what makes a good client — most freelancers I’ve worked with say clarity, respect for deadlines, and timely feedback are what they wish more clients did consistently.
I’m also working on expanding my own business into the U.S. and European markets, so building relationships with reliable freelancers is a big priority for me too.