How to Set Freelance Goals You’ll Actually Hit This Year

Happy New Year from Lapland 🇫🇮!

I’ve been spending the last few days up in North Finland (Santa’s backyard 🎅) at a cozy resort with my girlfriend. We wrapped up the year with a beautiful Christmas and NYE, and honestly, it’s been the perfect way to reset.

But even with all the travel and holiday chaos, I made sure to carve out an hour to sit by the fire, sip my favorite tea, and write out my goals for 2026. It’s a ritual I never skip, no matter where I am in the world.

And today, I want you to do the same!

To help you, I’m going to share the four categories of goals I always put on my list, and how you can set them for yourself. So take a moment, wherever you are, and let’s get intentional about your freelance business this year.

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1. Revenue Goal: Get Specific and Break It Down

Don’t just say “I want to make more money.” Set a real number and break it down by month or quarter. For example, $120K a year is $10K a month. But don’t stop there, visualize your client mix:

• 2 clients at $5,000 each?
• 3 clients at $3,500 each?
• 4 clients at $2,500 each?

There are many ways to hit your revenue goals so make sure to break it down according to your pricing and service offering. This makes your goal feel real and gives you a clear target for your outreach and pricing.

Not sure what to charge? Check out my freelance pricing guideline for a breakdown of what top marketers are earning and how to set your rates.

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2. Client Quality Goal: Work With People Who Make Life Better

Define your ideal client: industry, budget, personality. For me, freelancing is only worth it if I can create a schedule that lets me enjoy more of life, not just work more hours. And I certainly don’t want to be dealing with nightmare clients anymore at this point in my career, they are never worth it.

Read The Micro-Moments That Make Freelancing Actually Worth It for inspiration on building a business that fits your lifestyle.

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3. Skill Investment Goal: Become the Go-To Expert

Pick one or two new skills or certifications to master this year. Remember, the best source of new income is referrals from clients thrilled with your outstanding work. Want more referrals? Keep leveling up.

Read Most Freelancers Don’t Have a Sales Problem—They Have a Skills Problem for a reality check and a roadmap to becoming the go-to expert in your niche.

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4. Lifestyle/Wellness Goal: Protect Your Sanity

Set a boundary or habit that supports your health and happiness. Maybe it’s “No client calls on Fridays” or “Take a real vacation in July.” Remember, health = wealth!

Curious how to actually make this work? Here’s how I built a 4-day work week as a freelancer and why it’s the best thing I ever did for my business and sanity.

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How to Make Your Goals Stick

Write them down and review monthly. Share them with an accountability partner or mastermind. For your revenue goal, use a tracker like my free Sales Pipeline Tracker. Celebrate small wins along the way.

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The Old Freelancer Way vs. The Modern Freelancer Way

Old way:

• Work harder, hope for the best, set vague resolutions
• “Get more clients” and “make more money” with no plan

The Modern Freelancer way:

• Set clear, measurable goals and reverse-engineer your year
• Break down revenue targets, define dream clients, invest in skills, and protect your time

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Your Action Step

Write down your four goals for 2026 using the framework above. Be specific. Break down your revenue target, define your dream clients, pick a skill to master, and set a wellness boundary.