Should I freelance through an agency or find my own clients?
Last Updated: April 2026
Finding your own freelance clients gives you far more freedom than working through an agency.
Agencies can make freelancing feel easier at first because they bring the work to you. No marketing. No pitching. No hunting for leads.
But the tradeoff is control over your time, your rates, and the kind of business you are actually building.
I was able to quit my full-time job and turn my side hustle of freelancing into a career within 9 months. I:
Had no network
Grew it through organic marketing, with no paid ads
Did not subcontract with an agency
I’d like to home in on the third point because subcontracting with an agency appealed to meI wouldn’t have to market myselfI didn’t have to find my own clients!
You see why that sounds so nice, right? One of the most intimidating parts of starting a business is trying to find your own clients.
But as I continued to search, I realized one important, HUGE factor:
I would be bound by their rules.
Specifically, at that time, I had to be available for clients at certain times of the day which usually meant some portion of standard business hours.
I could not commit to that with a full-time job. That was impossible and I would be in very big Bantha poodoo if my employer found out.
And the more I researched, the more I realized how limiting subcontracting through agencies were. They set the rates, the time you had to work, and picked the clients.
Wait a minute. You know what this sounds like?
Another job.
Yes, I didn’t have to find clients or even market my services, but I was going right back to where I wanted NOT to be - one without time or income flexibility. A world where others are controlling what I do, to a certain extent.
When you are trying to step away from being employed, every little shift in mindset matters, every single change you’re trying to make in how you view yourself, operate and come into the business world should be an intentional decision.
When you decide to subcontract early on in your career, you are setting yourself up for continuing to operate in an employer mindset. You are allowing someone else to dictate your time and income.
You will not hit your full potential when subcontracting. You will remain in the employee mindset, always searching for “jobs” as opposed to proactively creating your own future.
Here’s the part most freelancers do not want to hear.
Subcontracting is not wrong. It can be a bridge. It can help you gain experience. It can give you quick cash in the beginning.
But it is not freedom.
When you subcontract, you are still waiting for someone else to hand you work and you are still adjusting your life around someone else’s rules. You are still operating inside a structure you did not design.
And if you are trying to fully shift out of an employee identity, that matters.
Building your own client base forces you to think differently. It forces you to own your value by deciding your rates, figuring out when to powerfully say “no” and see yourself as a business owner.
That shift is uncomfortable when leaving the corporate world, but it is powerful, especially for women who generally are passed over way too often.
If you want flexibility, autonomy, and the ability to grow beyond what any agency would pay you, then you have to be willing to build something that is actually yours.
And that starts with thinking like an owner, not a subcontractor.
For those of you who’ve worked through agencies, did it help you grow long term, or keep you playing small?
Common Questions You Might Have After Reading
Q: Is working through a freelance agency bad for your career?
A: Not necessarily. Agencies can be a good bridge when you’re starting out. They can give you experience and some early income. Just remember they usually control the rates, schedule, and clients.
Q: Why do freelancers make more money when they find their own clients?
A: Because there’s no middle layer taking a cut. When you work directly with clients, you set the rates and structure. That gives you far more earning potential. It also allows you to shape the kind of business you want to build.
Q: What’s the biggest downside of relying on agencies for freelance work?
A: Control. Agencies often decide how much you get paid and when you work. That can make freelancing feel surprisingly similar to a job. If your goal is true independence, building your own client base matters.
Q: Can freelancers use agencies and still build their own client base?
A: Yes, and that’s often a smart move early on. Agencies can provide stability while you learn how to market yourself. Just make sure you’re still building your own relationships on the side. That’s where long-term freedom comes from.
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If you also want ease, sustainability or just a new life for yourself - please reach out to me. I’d love to chat about what that looks like and if you’d be a good candidate for my programs.
