Why You're Stuck at 5 Figures Freelancing
Welcome to the very first episode of Six Figure Freelancer! I’m Jaz—your pricing queen—and I couldn’t be more excited to kick off this bite-sized podcast series for creative freelancers who are ready to finally build the business they actually left their nine-to-five for.
If you’re feeling stuck in that awkward space where you know you’re talented, but your income just isn’t showing it, trust me—you’re not alone. I’ve been there too. For years, I struggled to break through that five-figure ceiling, always hustling, chasing clients, and getting pulled into the chaos of late nights, unpaid invoices, and a calendar that never seemed to let up.
This podcast is all about changing that. I’m here to share the exact shifts that took me from stressful, unpredictable months to running a $300,000-a-year solo freelance business—with high profit margins, no team, and zero burnout. You won’t just get vague advice or “charge your worth” pep talks here—these are real strategies and frameworks I’ve personally tested and refined, both in my own business and with hundreds of creative freelancers I’ve helped since 2021.
In this episode, I start with why so many talented creatives are stuck feeling underpaid and overworked. I’ll show you the biggest traps freelancers fall into and why mastering pricing, packaging, positioning, and client relationships is the real recipe for success. If you’re ready to shift from just another freelancer to a confident creative business owner, you’re in exactly the right place.
Grab the free guide at creativebusinesskitchen.com/6figures to follow along, and get ready to meet your future—one where you’re well-paid, in control, and finally running the business you dreamed of. Let’s get started!
Transcript
Hey there. It's Jaz, your pricing queen. And welcome to the 6 figure freelancer recipe, a bite sized podcast series for the creatives who are ready to build that freelance business they actually left their nine to five for. If you've been stuck in that awkward gap between I know I'm good at what I do and why doesn't my income reflect it, you're not alone, and you're not doing anything wrong. The truth is most creatives were never taught how to run a business, how to price properly, how to attract right fit clients, and structure things so that money isn't a monthly mystery. And that's what this series is here to change. Each episode, I'll be walking you through a specific shift that I made to go from mid 5 figures per year to running a $300,000 a year solo freelance business with high profit margins, no team, and zero burnout. These episodes are short, sweet, and super bingeable for that dopamine hit that you and I so desperately need.
Jaz [:Now let's get this clear. This is not going to be a pep talk. It's not going to be a cheerleader charge your worth energy or vague advice that you'd find tucked inside your algorithm. What I teach, what I share is what I've experienced myself as a freelancer with fifteen years and counting. The things that I've learned along the way, the hard way, and the teachings rebuilt for real creative brains. The pricing structures, the positioning frameworks, and the systems that actually turn talent into consistent income. Now if you haven't already, make sure that you go and grab the free guide that pairs perfectly with this series by heading to creativebusinesskitchen.com/6figures. I'll also pop that in the show notes.
Jaz [:You'll be able to follow along and start building your very own version of future freelance you, the version that is paid well, in control, and finally running a business that feels like yours and that feels worth it. Because truthfully, I know what it feels like when it feels barely worth it, where you catch yourself thinking even a barista job that I had in my teens looks kinda tempting right now. I've literally been where you are. For the first three years I went freelance, I struggled big time to reach beyond that 70 salary I left behind. I spent way too long chasing clients that weren't worth the effort, countless hours agonizing over where my business was going, and riding that feast or famine roller coaster so often that I may as well have had a season pass. And I could tell you that the moment I raised my rates, the right clients found me, the work flowed, and everything was just hunky dory. Everything turned around. But really, the transformation to a 6 figure freelancer is way more than just a pay rise.
Jaz [:It took me five years from quitting to reach that 6 figure revenue and then another two to reach 6 figure profit. But it's not going to take you as long as it took me because you have this recipe in your hot little hands and ear holes. To kick off this series, let's talk about why you're stuck at 5 figures and how we can get you out of this trap, the one that so many freelancers find themselves into. You've got all the creative skills a client could ever dream of hiring for, but that's not the problem. Your skills are not the problem. The problem is that you're not running a business. You're drowning in a chaotic mess of client demands, unpaid invoices, and 2AM panic sessions to meet deadlines. Your calendar is kind of a nightmare.
Jaz [:Your inbox is exploding. And somehow between the urgent client revisions and the proposals that you're writing until midnight, you've actually forgotten to get paid for last month's work. So here's why you're stuck. You're currently charging based on effort and not expertise, and, truthfully, that's leaving some serious money on the table. You're tying your value directly to the time and feeling guilty about charging what you're actually worth or the time you're actually spending. You're chasing work instead of positioning yourself as the go to expert who attracts aligned clients. And you've swapped one shitty boss for five mini ones and the clients who treat you like an employee, not a specialist. Your offers are single use problem solvers, great for getting clients once but terrible for creating reliable recurring revenue.
Jaz [:And you're constantly starting from scratch with new clients instead of building deeper relationships with existing ones who already trust you. Right now, you're probably offering them whatever they need instead of selling your solutions. This, my friends, is what I call the 5 figure freelancer trap. You left your nine to five for more freedom, and yet somehow you've recreated the same exact pressure, but now it's with lower pay and zero bloody annual leave. How rude. But here's the good news. This isn't about doing more. It's not about working harder, working longer hours, or learning another course to add to your skill stack.
Jaz [:It's about shifting how you price, package, position, and promote what you already do brilliantly. Since 2021, I have guided hundreds of freelancers from chaotic hustling to strategic 6 figure businesses. I don't teach theory. I teach what actually works in today's market, battle tested through my own journey of freelancing and refined through the success stories of my students. I've created frameworks for the freelancer that I used to be, talented but undervalued, overworked but underpaid, constantly wondering if the leap was worth it. But I also created it for the freelancer that you're ready to become, the one that you promised yourself you would be when you were brave enough to quit that job in the first place. That version of you is still totally possible. And, honestly, they're closer than you think.
Jaz [:See you in the next episode where we are going to have our first shift from just another freelancer to creative business owner. This first step is big, and I'm proud of you for taking it. And I cannot wait to meet future freelance you at the other side.
