Search
Close this search box.
Blog » Business Tips » Why Your Business Needs 2-3 Anchor Clients

Why Your Business Needs 2-3 Anchor Clients

Updated on May 10th, 2021

One of the most important tasks that you can do either as freelancer or small business owner is diversify your income. That means that you have multiple revenue streams that are independent from each other. The reason? If you lose one client, you still have several other ways, such as anchor clients, to supplement your income.

What is an Anchor Client?

The idea behind “anchor clients” comes from anchor stores. Those are the department stores, such as Nordstrom or Macy’s, that draw in customers when they visit a shopping mall, which in turn provides financial stability.

Alexis Grant, a career blogger, defines anchor clients as “a client that pays you a good chunk of what you need to earn every month, and on a recurring basis.” Just like anchor stores at your local mall, these clients are vital for freelancers and small business owners because they can help you gain exposure and keep the cash flowing.

Why Your Business Needs 2-3 Anchor Clients

Since you know what an anchor client is, let’s explain why having a couple of anchor clients under your belt is beneficial for your your business.

Stabilizes Your Cash Flow

Numerous studies throughout the years have determined that “cash flow problems can be one of the leading causes of failure for businesses.” And, that’s probably the main perk of anchor clients; they help stabilize your cash flow.

Recurring payments allow you to create an accurate monthly budget so that you can handle all of your expenses and overhead, as well as help you plan for future growth and alert you to any potential red flags.

Allows You to Focus on Your Work

Another benefit is that it frees up your time from constantly looking for work. Instead of trying hitting the freelance market, you can jump into a project and do what you’re great at.

If you’re a blogger, for example, wouldn’t you rather by writing for the same clients each month, and getting paid for your service, instead of marketing yourself to numerous one-off clients? Not only do you have that predictable income, you also have a predictable workload that you’re comfortable writing about.

Helps Attract More Clients

The final benefit of anchor clients is that they can help bring in additional clients. I’ve experienced this myself throughout my writing career. I’ve been able to network and gain exposure through my clients, which has lead to writing gigs for new clients. Without those them, I wouldn’t have been able to secure these opportunities because they gave me their stamp of approval.

And as a freelancer, those word-of-mouth referrals are one of the best ways to grow your business.

How to Land an Anchor Client

There’s no doubt that anchor clients are important for your business. But how can you go out and land them?

  • Identify Your Ideal Anchor Clients. Who are the clients that specifically could use your product or service?
  • Build Your Portfolio. If you want to attract top clients, make sure that you have online portfolio that showcases your best work.
  • Use Your Existing Network. Whether it’s a fellow freelancer, a current client, or an industry thought leader, you want to use your current network to help you find an anchor client. For example, maybe your web designer friend just built a site for a company. That company is looking for a writer for their new site. Your friend could introduce you to their client and just like that you landed a client.
  • Ask For Testimonials. Don’t hesitate to ask your satisfied clients for a testimonial that you can place on your website.

Once you have those 2 or 3 anchor clients, you should still look for a healthy mix of clients that includes your anchors, several semi-regular clients and one-time clients when you have the spare time.

Max Palmer

Max Palmer

I'm Max and I love helping businesses we work with to expand their businesses online. I help with invoicing, time tracking and overall business needs for business owners. If you need help contact me today.

About Due

Due makes it easier to retire on your terms. We give you a realistic view on exactly where you’re at financially so when you retire you know how much money you’ll get each month. Get started today.

Categories

Top Trending Posts

Due Fact-Checking Standards and Processes

To ensure we’re putting out the highest content standards, we sought out the help of certified financial experts and accredited individuals to verify our advice. We also rely on them for the most up to date information and data to make sure our in-depth research has the facts right, for today… Not yesterday. Our financial expert review board allows our readers to not only trust the information they are reading but to act on it as well. Most of our authors are CFP (Certified Financial Planners) or CRPC (Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor) certified and all have college degrees. Learn more about annuities, retirement advice and take the correct steps towards financial freedom and knowing exactly where you stand today. Learn everything about our top-notch financial expert reviews below… Learn More