For many Australian freelancers, the period from mid-December to late January is a "dead zone". Clients go on holiday, projects pause, but your rent and bills don't stop.
1. The "September Surge" Strategy
Anticipate the slump. heavily market yourself in September and October to book "rush" projects that need to be finished before Christmas. Use this extra income specifically to build your January buffer.
2. Retainer Arrangements
Try to move ad-hoc clients to a monthly retainer model. A client paying $1,000/month for "up to 10 hours" provides stable income through quiet months, even if they don't use all the hours in January.
3. Incentivize Early Payment
In November, offer a 5% discount if clients pay their invoices before December 20th. It’s better to have 95% of the cash in your hand before the holidays than chasing 100% of it while everyone is at the beach.
4. Maintenance and Housekeeping
Use the downtime to work on your business, not in it. Update your portfolio, write blog posts, refine your workflow, or do your tax admin with InvoiceBuddy. This sets you up for a strong February launch.