You’re a freelancer, which means you often work alone. But it also means you work with lots of other people, too. Some of them are clients who pay your bills. But whether or not they pay your bills, they are still people.
And that can make keeping secrets difficult. After all, if you’re out of the office and working at home, you might feel compelled to share the details of your life with people you interact with all day long via Slack or email. But what kind of information should a freelancer never share with a client?
To help you protect your privacy and your professional reputation, we’ve put together this list of nine things a freelancer should never reveal to a client:
| Takeaway |
|---|
| Avoid discussing personal financial struggles. |
| Keep your client list confidential. |
| Do not disclose sensitive contract terms. |
| Avoid sharing negative opinions about past clients. |
| Refrain from discussing your other clients’ projects. |
| Keep private health or family issues to yourself. |
| Never reveal specific rates or pricing negotiations. |
| Avoid disclosing the details of other ongoing projects. |
| Refrain from revealing internal company information. |
| Keep your future business plans to yourself. |
| Do not share confidential client communications. |
| Avoid revealing the names of anonymous clients. |
| Never discuss legal issues related to your clients. |
| Keep your non-compete agreements private. |
1. How Much Money Do You Make From Other Clients
Even if a particular client seems like they’ve become a friend, it’s best to keep your financial details about other contracts private. You never know when this information could be used against you, so play it safe and keep it under wraps unless absolutely necessary.
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2. Your Spending Habits
A client might be tempted to pay you less if they know you tend to splurge on things like designer socks, or on eating out every night. Be honest about your expenses, but also be honest with yourself: If you have a client who is willing to pay what you’re worth, then use that money to save up and buy those designer socks when you’ve earned more.
3. Your Opinion About Their Clients’ Business Practices
We get it. You’re probably working from home, maybe without regular business hours regulated by a commute. It’s easy to feel like you’re close to your clients—that you can slide into that direct message and say whatever you want.
But here’s the thing: if you’re working with a client, they aren’t your buddy—they’re your boss. So as much as you might want to say “I’m so glad I don’t have to deal with that crazy person anymore,” or “my god, what were they thinking?,” resist the urge!
It’s okay not to have an opinion. And if your opinion is just going to lead you down a path of negativity, it’s probably better to just not have one at all when it comes to their clients.
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4. Your Personal Feelings About The Project Or Client
A client wants to know that you are committed to the project and that you’re not going to let your personal feelings get in the way. For example, imagine being assigned a project by an especially difficult client. You don’t need to tell them what you really think about them—just focus on the work at hand and leave it at that.
5. Your Opinion About The Company Or Industry
Opinions about companies or industries should be kept separate from work-related conversations. Your clients want to know that you respect their work and the work of others in their field, even if you don’t agree with everything they do. If they bring up controversial topics, stick to business-speak and avoid commenting on any issues they touch on.
6. Family Or Vacation Plans That May Conflict With Your Work Schedule
Even if you’re just trying to make small talk, never tell a client you’ll be going on vacation soon, or that you need something by a certain date because of your kids’ school schedules. You never know when a client will ask for something last-minute, and it’s not your place—or even appropriate—to give them this information.
If a client asks about your schedule, or wonders if there’s any way you can finish something by a certain date, just tell them that it might be difficult—you can’t commit until you check with everyone involved.
7. Bad Work Habits Or Unprofessional Behavior
If you’re anything like us, you probably have a few things that hold you back from being your most productive self. Maybe you can’t resist checking Instagram every five minutes or maybe you have a tendency to end up watching cat videos on YouTube when you should be working on your latest project.
Whatever it is, there’s no reason for a client to know about it. Instead of telling them all about your bad work habits, just focus on showing them how amazing your work is and how quickly you can produce it. After all, the results are all that matters in the end!
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8. Your Credit Card Information
Never tell a client your credit card information. First of all, there’s no reason they need it; if they want to pay you for work that you’ve completed for them, then they can do so by transferring funds directly into your bank account or PayPal account.
9. Your Political Views
In today’s political climate, it’s easy to feel like we need to defend our beliefs. But when it comes to your relationship with your clients, politics should be a non-issue.
It may seem obvious that the best way to avoid any conflict is to keep political conversations out of the workplace altogether. But sometimes, it can be hard to know where that line is. Are you allowed to talk about who you voted for in this week’s election? Can you tell a client that you’re going to attend a march?
The bottom line: No matter how good of friends you are with a client, never let them know who you voted for or what your political views are. It can be tempting to use work as a way to connect with people, but if the conversation starts veering in the direction of politics, steer it back toward something more professional.
10. Your Religious Views
These can be just as polarizing as politics, so it’s best to avoid them altogether when discussing your business. While religion can be an important part of your life and who you are, it’s best not to discuss this topic with clients, who may not share your views. The last thing you want is for someone to feel like they’re being preached when all they wanted was an app built for their business!
11. Your Current Financial Situation
A client has no obligation to pay you more than what they’ve already agreed to pay you, so trying to guilt them into giving you extra won’t actually help your cause. Plus, clients prefer working with freelancers who are confident and reliable. If they sense that you’re desperate or struggling, they may choose someone else next time they need work done. Just focus on doing your job well and getting paid on time for the work that’s been agreed upon.
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12. Don’t Give Away All Your Secrets
One of the worst things you can do as a freelancer is to reveal more about yourself than necessary.
Your employer hired you for your skills and expertise, not because they want to be best friends. While it’s great to build relationships with clients, sharing personal details and going on long-winded stories isn’t always appropriate.
Especially if you are new to the freelance world, you may feel the need to make yourself more appealing or likable by sharing certain things, but what you should really be doing is focusing on your work and building a solid reputation as a professional.
If you don’t think revealing details about yourself is that big of a deal, consider this: one of the worst things that could happen is your client finding out something about you that makes them uncomfortable and then firing you because of it. So keep the personal stuff out of it!
13. How Much Do You Dislike The Project
It’s tempting to bring up your feelings about a project. Maybe you’re not a huge fan of the subject matter, or maybe it just doesn’t have enough detail.
But remember, your client is paying you to do this job. They may not realize that they aren’t providing information in a way that helps you, so it’s best to help them see where they’re going wrong. This will make your work more efficient, and it will make your client happier! Plus, if you complain about the job, your client may replace you with someone who can get the job done better.
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Final Thoughts
To summarize, freelancers may find that some of these tips on how to not give up too much information to a client come in handy when they’re on the job. It might not always be easy to deliver bad news, but sometimes it’s necessary if you have genuinely good intentions. In short, “client confidentiality” is more than just a way of saying “keep the client happy.” It’s a way of doing your job effectively and professionally – and that benefits both you and the client.
Further Reading
Common Freelance Mistakes to Avoid: Discover the most common mistakes freelancers make and gain valuable insights on how to steer clear of them.
The 20 Biggest Mistakes Freelancers Make and How to Avoid Them: Learn about the top 20 mistakes that can hinder freelance success and find practical tips to overcome them.
Types of Clients You Should Avoid When Freelancing: Understand the types of clients that may not be a good fit for your freelance career and learn how to identify and avoid them.
Things A Freelancer Should Never Reveal To A Client – FAQs
Why Should I Never Reveal The Following To A Client?
You may not realize it, but these things can really hurt you and your career as a freelancer. It’s important to be aware of how revealing certain information about yourself can affect your business and relationships with clients.
What If My Client Asks About My Personal Life?
It’s okay to answer a few questions about yourself without revealing too much information—but remember that not everyone wants their business known at all times! You don’t have to be completely open all the time; sometimes discretion is best when dealing with clients. Just make sure what you say will not offend them in any way!
What Are The Benefits Of Keeping Some Things Secret?
There are two great benefits of not revealing everything you know or think to your client, regardless of how well you get along.
First, if something goes wrong, you don’t want your client thinking that you should have known better and that it’s your fault.
Second, clients appreciate and respect people/businesses who appear to be an authority in their field and who command their own expertise.
How Are Freelancers Paid?
Freelancers are paid per project, which is different than employees who are paid hourly or by salary. There are a few different ways to pay a freelancer: they can be given an upfront payment and then a bonus if they complete their job within the specified parameters, or they can be given payment upon completion of the project.
Where Do Freelancers Work?
This is one of our most asked questions! The answer is: anywhere! Freelancers can work from their own homes or offices, but sometimes they choose to work from coffee shops or other public spaces. This is something that’s up to them and their preferences, as long as their work meets all necessary standards.
Should I Reveal My Age To A Client?
No. It’s not necessarily that you should feel ashamed of your age, but it’s better to keep the focus on your work instead of how many years you’ve been alive.
Should I Reveal My Marital Status To A Client?
No. It’s good to keep this information private. You don’t want your personal life interfering with your professional relationship.
Should I Reveal My Gender Identity To A Client?
No. This is another example of information that has nothing to do with the quality of your work, and it can lead to misunderstandings or difficulties in terms of communication on the job.
What Is The Most Effective Way To Communicate With Clients?
I prefer email over phone calls and texts. I find that it’s easier to keep track of threads this way, and it’s more convenient for both me and my client to reference.
How Can I Make Sure My Client Doesn’t Feel Like I’m Ignoring Them?
It’s important to set expectations with your client at the beginning of the project. Layout not only what you’ll be doing and when you’ll be doing it, but also what they will receive in return, by when. This will help you avoid any problems that might come up later based on confusion or miscommunication.
What Information Should I Never Divulge About Myself?
I would never reveal anything that might compromise my work-life balance or my ability to perform as a freelancer. Things like my home address or schedule are private, professional boundaries that I like to maintain as much as possible.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.