More than half of self-employed creatives and freelancers say their stress and anxiety levels have increased over the past year, as tightening client budgets, rising costs and growing financial uncertainty continue to put pressure on the sector.
New research from The Accountancy Partnership found that 50.6% of creative freelancers and self-employed workers report feeling more stressed than they did a year ago.
The survey of 1,060 freelancers and self-employed creatives suggests client spending cuts are a major factor, with 50.2% saying reduced budgets are driving increased stress. Rising household bills were also cited by 36.2% of respondents, while 26.4% said tax administration is negatively affecting their business.
Many creatives are also working longer for less. More than four in five (80%) said they regularly work unpaid hours, with almost a quarter (24.7%) reporting more than 10 unpaid hours each week.
Nearly half (47.2%) believe unpaid work is simply expected within the industry, while 27.1% said such expectations from clients are becoming increasingly common.
The findings also highlight growing concerns around financial security.
Only 12.6% of freelancers said they feel secure about their finances over the next 12 months. Meanwhile, 26.8% said they do not feel very secure and 9.5% said they do not feel secure at all.
Confidence around future earnings is also subdued, with 36.4% saying they are not confident about matching or exceeding last year’s profit.
When asked about losing clients, almost a third (32.5%) cited clients running out of budget as the biggest reason. Pricing pressures followed at 23.8%, while 19.9% pointed to market saturation.
The survey also explored attitudes towards artificial intelligence, with two in five respondents expecting AI and automation to have a negative impact on the creative industry over the next five years. Just 22.6% viewed AI as an opportunity.
Lee Murphy, Managing Director of The Accountancy Partnership, said: “The data tells a story that a lot of freelancers will recognise immediately and sadly is one that’s a bit too close to home for a lot of people in the industry.
“The freedom of being self-employed is valued, although it doesn’t come without its consequences: unpaid hours, tightening client budgets and increased tax admin.
“Creative freelancers and small business owners need better support, fairer rates and a bit more financial security in 2026 to feel a bit more settled. The amount of stress being reported in the industry compared to last year is clearly on the rise, and this isn’t something to just gloss over.”
