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In early 2025, we asked a simple question to freelancers across multiple countries: What’s working, and what’s not?
What we received was a candid look into the modern freelance experience — the wins, the frustrations, and the tools they wish existed.
This focused survey brought together insights from both Juuli users and non-users, spanning industries from design to software development. From managing fluctuating income to chasing late payments, the responses reveal a workforce that’s highly adaptable yet still underserved in many ways.
Survey Scope
- Countries represented: 15+
- Industries covered: Tech, Design, Writing, Consulting, Marketing
Respondent types: Juuli users and non-users
Key Findings at a Glance
- 78% report income instability as their top concern
- 63% struggle with taxes and accounting
- Only 20% use monthly retainers
- 56% plan to raise their rates in 2025
- 62% want early access to payments
- Just 9% earn over €5,000/month
The Realities Freelancers Face
When asked about daily pain points, freelancers most often mentioned financial unpredictability. While the promise of flexibility remains a key driver behind independent work, the reality is often shaped by late payments, difficult budgeting, and complex administrative tasks.
“Even with great projects, the lack of predictability makes it hard to plan long-term.”
— Survey participant, Portugal
“I'm tired of jumping between five platforms just to invoice, track, and follow up.”
— Developer, Greece
Freelancers also voiced frustration with the number of tools they have to juggle just to stay afloat — from invoicing apps and time trackers to manual spreadsheets and bank transfers.
How Freelancers Set Their Rates
- 47% charge hourly
- 33% price per project
- 20% operate on retainers
While retainers are often suggested as a path to financial stability, many freelancers struggle to convince clients to adopt them or lack the infrastructure to support such models.
Average Income (Global)
- €1,000–€2,500 is the most common monthly bracket
- Only 9% earn more than €5,000/month
- 56% plan to increase their rates in 2025 due to demand, inflation, and experience
What Freelancers Want in 2025
Freelancers are no longer just looking for invoicing tools — they’re asking for a full financial ecosystem.
Most requested features include:
- Early payouts before clients pay
- Credit card access and expense tracking
- Lower service fees
- Automation across invoicing, taxes, and savings
- Integration with tools like QuickBooks, Toggl, and Notion
Community features for learning, collaboration, and peer support.
Where Juuli Stands
At Juuli, we don’t just see freelancers as users of financial tools — we see them as early adopters of a new way of working and living.
Independent work isn’t just a trend. It’s a shift in how people define security, freedom, and purpose. But while the world celebrates flexibility, the systems behind it haven’t kept up. Too often, freelancers are left navigating late payments, unpredictable income, and financial tools that weren’t built for them.
That’s where we come in — not just to fix what’s broken, but to reimagine what’s possible.
We believe freelancers deserve tools that don’t treat them like edge cases. Tools that work when they do — across time zones, currencies, and contracts. Our mission is to build financial experiences that are responsive, respectful, and rooted in how freelancers actually live and earn.
Because the future of work doesn’t run on outdated systems. It runs on trust, speed, and tools that meet freelancers where they are — and help them go further.
