Recaly - Problem Validation Survey

How do freelancers and small businesses handle client follow-ups?

We're a small team researching how independent professionals manage proposals, invoices, and client follow-ups. This takes about 3 minutes.

We're not selling anything here. We're trying to understand whether a problem we think exists actually exists.

Your responses are anonymous unless you choose to share your email at the end. We'll send you the aggregate results either way.

SECTION A — Screener

Full Name

Email Address

Q1. Which best describes your work?

Q2. What kind of work do you do?

Q3. How long have you been working this way?

Q4. Do you send proposals or quotes before starting work?

SECTION B — Proposal follow-up (behavioural, last 90 days)

Q5. How many proposals or quotes did you send in the last 3 months?

Q6. About how many got no reply?

Q7. If a client goes quiet, how many times do you usually follow up?

Q8. Have you ever won work because you followed up again?

Q9. The last time you didn't follow up, what stopped you? (Select all that apply.)

SECTION C — Invoice and payment follow-up

Q10. In the last 3 months, how many invoices were paid late?

Q11. How much overdue payment are you waiting on?

Q12. What's the first thing you do when an invoice is overdue?

Q13. How does following up for payment feel?

SECTION D — Current tools and time cost

Q14. How do you keep track of follow-ups?

Q15. How much time do you spend on follow-ups each week?

Q16. Where do you mostly talk to clients?

Q17. Have you ever paid for a client management tool?

SECTION E — Solution reaction

The idea: an assistant that connects to your email and WhatsApp, keeps track of every proposal you've sent and every outstanding invoice, and writes and sends the right follow-up at the right time — in your own tone, referencing the actual conversation. You approve each message before it goes, or switch on autopilot once you trust it.

Q18. How useful would this be for you?

Q19. What would make you hesitate?

Q20. What would you pay per month for this?

SECTION F — Commitment

Q21. Would you be willing to do any of the following?

Anything else about client follow-ups you think we should know?