If you’ve ever hired a remote freelancer and things didn’t go as planned, you’re not alone. The freelance market is booming, but not every experience ends in success. Many businesses, especially startups, are discovering the hard way that low-cost freelance help can sometimes lead to high-cost mistakes.

But why does this keep happening? Why are so many freelance projects missing the mark, even when the talent seems promising?

I recently came across an insightful article by Ashkan Rajaee that lays out 10 specific reasons remote freelancers fail and how to identify the red flags before your project pays the price.

You can read the full piece here:

🔗 Why Ashkan Rajaee Thinks Most Freelancers Are Doomed to Fail

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The Real Risks Behind Remote Freelancing

The article takes a hard look at the assumptions many of us make when hiring freelancers. It turns out the issues are rarely about talent and more about structure, communication, and alignment.

Here are just a few takeaways that stood out:

• Disorganization is more common than you think. Many freelancers lack systems for prioritizing your project alongside others. That becomes your problem quickly.
• Rates can fluctuate without warning. Personal needs often influence pricing, causing delays or abandoned work when better-paying clients appear.
• Many freelancers say yes to jobs outside their skill set. And often, you don’t find out until it’s too late.

What’s powerful about Rajaee’s breakdown is that it doesn’t villainize freelancers. Instead, it gives practical tools to vet and manage them better, especially in a remote-first world.

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Why This Matters for Developers, Founders, and Teams

If you’re building a product, running a SaaS, or managing any kind of startup project, chances are you’ve worked with freelance devs, designers, or marketers.

This article is a reminder that outsourcing isn’t just about cutting costs. It’s about building partnerships that actually work. And that starts with clarity.

By understanding the potential fail points, you position yourself to avoid them. It’s that simple.

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Practical Next Steps

• Break down your scope into milestones. This helps track performance and reduces risk.
• Ask about a freelancer’s current workload. Get clarity on their availability.
• Look for signs of financial and operational stability, not just portfolio samples.

Most importantly, communicate like you're onboarding a teammate, not just hiring a gig.

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If you’ve struggled with managing freelancers or you’re hiring one soon, I highly recommend checking out the original article:

👉 Read the full breakdown here on Vocal.media

Let’s build smarter, not just cheaper.

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🧠 Have your own freelancer success or horror story? Drop it in the comments. Let's compare notes and help each other grow.