

Freelance to Founder
Millo
Freelance to Founder is a call-in show helping real-life freelancers grow their businesses and escape the feast-famine lifestyle.
The podcast is hosted by Preston Lee, a former freelancer who has started, built, and even sold successful businesses of his own.
Preston is joined nearly every weekday by other expert founders, freelancers, and entrepreneurs to help you take your solo business to the next level.
You can submit your questions at FreelanceToFounder.com/ask
If you enjoy content from shows like The Futur, Being Freelance, The Accidental Creative, Smart Passive Income, or The Side Hustle Show, then you'll love Freelance to Founder.
Join us every weekday to take the next step on your journey from ... freelance to founder.
The podcast is hosted by Preston Lee, a former freelancer who has started, built, and even sold successful businesses of his own.
Preston is joined nearly every weekday by other expert founders, freelancers, and entrepreneurs to help you take your solo business to the next level.
You can submit your questions at FreelanceToFounder.com/ask
If you enjoy content from shows like The Futur, Being Freelance, The Accidental Creative, Smart Passive Income, or The Side Hustle Show, then you'll love Freelance to Founder.
Join us every weekday to take the next step on your journey from ... freelance to founder.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 27, 2025 • 18min
[Q&A] Client-Converting Portfolio Tips
In this Q&A episode, Oliver asks us what it takes to create a portfolio that actually brings in new long-term clients. And since Clay and I are real marketing geeks, we have quite a few ideas for turning your sleepy portfolio into a client-converting machine. It’s all in today’s show, and it starts right now.
This episode was originally aired on August 29, 2023.
To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK, and we'll feature you on an upcoming episode.
Listen to our full-length coaching calls: http://freelancetofounder.com
Support our Sponsors
Our generous sponsors make this show 100% free to you. Support them at the link below.
https://freelancetofounder.com/sponsors Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 22, 2025 • 58min
Too Busy to Grow?
On today’s show: Do you ever feel like you’re just way too busy to actually spend time growing your business?
If so, you’re not alone. We chatted with Will Gibbons, who works with cool clients like Peloton, 3M, and Vizio.
But Will’s got a problem. A great problem. He’s got too much work. Which means he’s busy.
And he’s worried he doesn’t have time to grow.
Clay and I help him punch through those barriers in this episode of Freelance to Founder. Here we go…
This episode was originally aired on September 14th, 2023.
PS: Get featured in an upcoming Q&A! Just visit http://freelancetofounder.com/ask and submit a question.
Support our Sponsors
Our generous sponsors make this show 100% free to you. Support them at the link below.
https://freelancetofounder.com/sponsors
Get your own on-air coaching call
We'd love to feature your business and offer some free on-air advice for growing your business. To see if you're a good fit, click here.
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts:
If you enjoy the show, can you do us a favor and leave us an honest rating and review on Apple Podcasts? We'll love you forever. Click here to leave a review.
More Recommended Listening:
This show is a part of the Podglomerate, a company that produces, distributes, and monetizes podcasts. We encourage you to visit the website and sign up for our newsletter.
We suggest you also try other Podglomerate shows about entrepreneurship, business, and creativity, such as Rocketship.fm and Creative Elements. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 20, 2025 • 14min
[Q&A] Should I hire a CPA or use a tax software?
Today’s question comes from our free Mastermind group on Facebook.
Anna Keith asks: "I’m getting ready to do my taxes and am considering trying software rather than hiring a CPA.
What insights or pros/cons about using software vs. hiring a professional do you have?"
This episode was originally aired on May 3, 2022.
To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK, and we'll feature you on an upcoming episode.
Listen to our full-length coaching calls: http://freelancetofounder.com
Support our Sponsors
Our generous sponsors make this show 100% free to you. Support them at the link below.
https://freelancetofounder.com/sponsors Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 15, 2025 • 31min
Should I Even Try?
On today’s show: is it even worth trying to grow your freelance business?
That’s where Rakesh finds himself. He gets most of his clients from freelancing platforms like Upwork.
And the market for web designers and developers is just so saturated, he doesn’t even know if he should continue with his business.
If you’ve ever felt this way, today’s show is for you. It all starts right now on this episode of Freelance to Founder.
Oh, and really quickly before we start: the audio on this episode is a bit rough. We’ve done our best to clean it up. But between the audio and Rakesh’s very thick accent, you may have to focus extra to follow along. But we believe it’s important to share stories from all over the world whether a guest has a quality mic setup or a flawless accent. Thanks for supporting us as we support freelancers around the world. Ok, now on to the show.
This episode was originally aired on April 8, 2024.
PS: Get featured in an upcoming Q&A! Just visit http://freelancetofounder.com/ask and submit a question.
Support our Sponsors
Our generous sponsors make this show 100% free to you. Support them at the link below.
https://freelancetofounder.com/sponsors
Get your own on-air coaching call
We'd love to feature your business and offer some free on-air advice for growing your business. To see if you're a good fit, click here.
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts:
If you enjoy the show, can you do us a favor and leave us an honest rating and review on Apple Podcasts? We'll love you forever. Click here to leave a review.
More Recommended Listening:
This show is a part of the Podglomerate, a company that produces, distributes, and monetizes podcasts. We encourage you to visit the website and sign up for our newsletter.
We suggest you also try other Podglomerate shows about entrepreneurship, business, and creativity, such as Rocketship.fm and Creative Elements. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 13, 2025 • 11min
[Q&A] Can I Put In-House Work in My Portfolio?
This episode's question came in via email.
Nico works as a designer for a company right now, and he wants to start freelancing on the side and build a business.
He said, “I was thinking of creating a portfolio, including the projects I've completed in my current company, but in a fictitious way (use different names, organizations, etc.) Also, state that this is a fictional project but that the process and outputs are the same. Do you think this will work to close deals?
If you were a company that would be reviewing my portfolio, would you think that I'm experienced or just someone trying to fool you?”
Note: we are not attorneys, and we will not even touch the question of if it’s something legal or not. We are not providing legal advice in any way. This type of advice should be provided by a certified professional, and we are not.
This episode was originally aired in July 5th, 2022.
To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK, and we'll feature you on an upcoming episode.
Listen to our full-length coaching calls: http://freelancetofounder.com
Support our Sponsors
Our generous sponsors make this show 100% free to you. Support them at the link below.
https://freelancetofounder.com/sponsors Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 7, 2025 • 45min
Is a VA a Good First Hire?
On today’s show: Is a VA a good first hire in your company?
We’re joined by call-in guest Nils, who wants to know when and how to hire a VA—a virtual assistant.
But Clay and I slam on the brakes and force Nils to answer the question: Is a VA even the best first hire to make?
The answer might surprise you. It’s all on today’s episode of Freelance to Founder. Let’s go!
This episode was originally aired on September 7th, 2023.
PS: Get featured in an upcoming Q&A! Just visit http://freelancetofounder.com/ask and submit a question.
Support our Sponsors
Our generous sponsors make this show 100% free to you. Support them at the link below.
https://freelancetofounder.com/sponsors
Get your own on-air coaching call
We'd love to feature your business and offer some free on-air advice for growing your business. To see if you're a good fit, click here.
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts:
If you enjoy the show, can you do us a favor and leave us an honest rating and review on Apple Podcasts? We'll love you forever. Click here to leave a review.
More Recommended Listening:
This show is a part of the Podglomerate, a company that produces, distributes, and monetizes podcasts. We encourage you to visit the website and sign up for our newsletter.
We suggest you also try other Podglomerate shows about entrepreneurship, business, and creativity, such as Rocketship.fm and Creative Elements. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 5, 2025 • 10min
[Q&A] Best Software for Getting Paid Faster?
Today’s question comes from our free Mastermind group on Facebook.
Darielle asks: "What's the BEST Software for getting paid faster?"
Getting paid for your work FAST is key, but how do you make it happen?
You'll get the answer here!
This Q&A episode was originally aired on August 8th, 2023.
To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK, and we'll feature you on an upcoming episode.
Listen to our full-length coaching calls: http://freelancetofounder.com
Support our Sponsors
Our generous sponsors make this show 100% free to you. Support them at the link below.
https://freelancetofounder.com/sponsors Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 1, 2025 • 57min
Disrespectful Clients
On today’s show: What should you do when you’re not getting the kind of respect you deserve from your clients?
That’s just one of many questions we got today from our guest, Cathal, calling in from Germany.
A few times now, Cathal has been hired by a manager only to later have that manager’s team give him pushback once he gets to work.
So, we work with him on a few ideas on how to get everyone on board with the outside help of a freelancer or agency.
That and lots more questions are just ahead on THIS episode of Freelance to Founder. Here we go.
This episode was originally aired on August 31st, 2023.
PS: Get featured in an upcoming Q&A! Just visit http://freelancetofounder.com/ask and submit a question.
Support our Sponsors
Our generous sponsors make this show 100% free to you. Support them at the link below.
https://freelancetofounder.com/sponsors
Get your own on-air coaching call
We'd love to feature your business and offer some free on-air advice for growing your business. To see if you're a good fit, click here.
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts:
If you enjoy the show, can you do us a favor and leave us an honest rating and review on Apple Podcasts? We'll love you forever. Click here to leave a review.
More Recommended Listening:
This show is a part of the Podglomerate, a company that produces, distributes, and monetizes podcasts. We encourage you to visit the website and sign up for our newsletter.
We suggest you also try other Podglomerate shows about entrepreneurship, business, and creativity, such as Rocketship.fm and Creative Elements.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 29, 2025 • 17min
[Q&A] Best Tools as I Grow?
On today’s Q&A episode, what are the best tools to use as your freelance business grows?
That’s what Cesar asks us because his business is outgrowing tools like Google Drive.
So, Clay and I launch into our best advice on what makes a good business tool and what makes your business worse…
It’s all in this episode of Freelance to Founder. Let’s go!
This episode was initially aired on September 12, 2023.
To submit your question, visit FreelanceToFounder.com/ASK, and we'll feature you on an upcoming episode.
Listen to our full-length coaching calls: http://freelancetofounder.com
Support our Sponsors
Our generous sponsors make this show 100% free to you. Support them at the link below.
https://freelancetofounder.com/sponsors
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 24, 2025 • 57min
The Risk of Referrals
On today’s show, if you get most of your clients from referrals, is that a good thing? Or is your business at risk of failing?You’re about to hear a coaching call with Dwaynia, who’s calling in from Alabama in the USA. Dwaynia has a great writing business going. She’s working with clients she loves and has a small team to support her.But, Dwaynia literally lies awake at night worried about not having a client generation system in place to bring in predictable new work. Her annual goals are literally pulled out of thin air, and she’s not sure how to fix it.Clay and I share a few of our best ideas for building a predictable client referral system, as well as other ways to get clients in the door in a more predictable way. Here we go.This episode was originally aired on January 13, 2022.PS: Get featured in an upcoming Q&A! Just visit http://freelancetofounder.com/ask and submit a question. Support our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make this show 100% free to you. Support them at the link below.https://freelancetofounder.com/sponsorsGet your own on-air coaching callWe'd love to feature your business and offer some free on-air advice for growing your business. To see if you're a good fit, click here.Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts:If you enjoy the show, can you do us a favor and leave us an honest rating and review on Apple Podcasts? We'll love you forever. Click here to leave a review.More Recommended Listening:This show is a part of the Podglomerate, a company that produces, distributes, and monetizes podcasts. We encourage you to visit the website and sign up for our newsletter.We suggest you also try other Podglomerate shows about entrepreneurship, business, and creativity, such as Rocketship.fm and Creative Elements. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


