What to Have Ready Before Working with a Freelancer

So, you’ve decided to hire a freelancer — amazing choice. Whether you’re getting a new website, updated branding, or help with content and marketing, coming prepared is the best way to keep your project on track (and stress-free).

Every freelancer’s process looks a little different, but most of us need the same core materials to do our best work.

Here’s what to gather before your project officially begins:

1. Signed Contract & Deposit Paid

Before any project starts, make sure your contract is signed and your deposit is paid.

This might seem obvious, but it’s what officially secures your spot in your freelancer’s schedule and protects both sides. A clear contract outlines the scope of work, payment terms, timelines, and expectations — so everyone’s on the same page from day one.

Once your deposit is in, your freelancer can start prepping, scheduling, and planning with confidence.

2. Brand Assets

Your logo, color palette, and font preferences form the foundation of your brand identity. If you already have a brand kit — perfect. If not, send over whatever versions you have. Even screenshots or Canva exports are helpful starting points.

Having these assets ensures that everything your freelancer creates feels cohesive, intentional, and aligned with your brand.

3. Photos

From headshots and product photos to images of your space or work examples, visuals make a huge difference. The right photos help your freelancer design or create content that truly represents your business.

If you don’t have professional photography yet, no worries — even iPhone photos can work for mockups or placeholders until you do (but make this clear to your freelancer from the start, please!).

4. Contact Information

Gather the basics: your business address, phone number, email, and social media handles that you want the public to see. If you have team members who handle customer inquiries, include those contact details too.

This ensures your freelancer has everything they need to make your website or marketing materials accurate and easy to navigate.

5. Copy

You don’t need a fully polished brand story — bullet points are fine. Just share the essentials:

• What your business does

• Who you serve

• Your key services or products

• Any team bios or “about” info

Your freelancer can help refine or format your copy, but having your ideas written down keeps things moving quickly and prevents missing details later.

6. Examples of What You Like

Whether it already exists in your industry or not, share examples of what you’d like to see. This could be websites, designs, campaigns, social media posts, sketches — anything that captures the look, feel, or flow you’re going for.

If you’re a visual thinker, don’t be afraid to include mood boards, notes, or even rough drawings. These examples help your freelancer understand your taste and preferences, so everyone’s on the same page from the start.

8. Logins & Access Information

Your freelancer will likely need access to certain tools or accounts to do their work effectively. What that looks like depends on the project — it might be:

• Website: domain host, CMS, or builder platform

• Email marketing: CRM or email service provider (like Flo desk, Klaviyo, or Mailchimp)

• Social media: account manager or scheduling tools

• Branding: shared file storage or design platforms (like Canva or Dropbox)

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Share any relevant logins or access codes securely, so your freelancer can get everything set up without delay.

9. Competitors

Send over 2–3 of your direct competitors. This gives your freelancer insight into your market, helps them differentiate your brand, and ensures your final product stands out while still feeling relevant.

10. FAQs

What questions do your customers ask most often? Sharing these helps your freelancer design material or write copy that answers them upfront — saving you time on repetitive emails or DMs later.

11. Anything Else

If there’s anything not covered above, but you feel it’s relevant, send it over! Think: press features, testimonials, style guides, or mood boards.

When in doubt, share it. It’s always better to have too much information than not enough.

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Final Thoughts

Coming prepared with these materials helps your freelancer hit the ground running. You’ll spend less time digging for files and more time creating something beautiful, strategic, and actually done.

If you haven’t already, check out my previous post on How to Work with a Freelancer (and What to Know Before You Start) — it covers expectations, communication, and how to set yourself up for a smooth collaboration.

If you’re looking for help with web design, social media, or email marketing, I’d love to collaborate with you. Let’s make your business look (and work) even better online.

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