#2 Freelance Wasn't Entirely Right For Me
Here's why I built something bigger.
When I started freelancing, I loved the freedom.
I could choose my clients, work from anywhere, and be my own boss.
But over time, that freedom started to be… limited.
I realized I had built a business that completely depended on me, my time, my energy, my availability.
If I got sick, the work stopped.
If I went on holiday, the revenue paused.
If I was fully booked, I had to turn down great clients, not because I didn’t want to help, but because I physically couldn’t do more.
That didn’t sit right with me.
I Wanted to Help More People
One of my biggest motivations was simple: I wanted to help more clients.
I was getting referrals and requests from people I wanted to work with, but I had to say no. There just weren’t enough hours in the day.
That’s when I started to wonder:
What if I could build a small team that shares my values and quality standards? What if I could say yes to more projects, go on holiday without stressing out and really scale my income?”
That was the seed of the boutique agency idea.
I Wanted Real Scalable Income, Not Just the Illusion of It
Freelancing gave me flexibility, yes, but it also tied my income directly to the hours I worked.
No work = no earnings.
That’s not true freedom. That’s just self-employment with nicer branding.
What I really wanted was:
Time off without panic
Breathing room in my calendar
The ability to work on the business, not just in it
Creating a boutique agency gave me all of that. It gave me space to think bigger, to delegate, to lead. (Mind you: I will be very open about all the downsides too).
I Wanted to Build Something That Could Grow Without Me
I never set out to build a big agency or manage dozens of people.
I wanted to create something small, excellent, and scalable, something that reflected my values and delivered even better service to clients.
That’s exactly what I built.
Today, my agency Entre les lignes (www.ell.agency) works with clients I respect, on projects I care about, with a team I trust.
And we’re able to help more people, without compromising on quality.
Why This Might Matter for You
If you’re a freelance translator, maybe you’ve had similar thoughts:
“I’m fully booked, but I’m hitting a ceiling.”
“I want to earn more, without working more hours.”
“I love translating, but I don’t want to do only this forever.”
“I want to build something that’s mine.”
If any of that sounds familiar, this path might be for you too.
You don’t have to grow fast.
You don’t have to hire a team tomorrow.
But you can create something bigger than yourself, something that gives you more options, more freedom, and more impact.
That’s what I’m here to share.
If you’re ready to start walking that path, I’d love to help.
— Tim Renders
Hi, I’m Tim. I turned my freelance translation business into a boutique language agency that has generated millions of euros in revenue. Now, I’m sharing everything I’ve learned, and mentoring entrepreneurial translators and language specialists who want to build their own boutique LSP.