How to find your first client on CollaboTokyo
Freelancer, creator or studio? A 7-day plan to land your first paying client on CollaboTokyo using your portfolio, agent, board posts and events.
Key takeaways
- Clients find you when you’re visible in the right place: your niche’s district, its board and its rooms.
- Get the basics in: 3 pinned portfolio pieces + a sharp agent brief + a clear offer.
- Post an “Offering” on the board, then show up daily in one room — conversations convert, profiles don’t.
- Make your first offer small and specific (a fixed-price starter package) to lower the yes.
On this page
Before you look: get these three right
Package a starter offer
- Fixed scope, fixed price beats “contact me for rates”.
- Small enough to say yes to this week.
- Upgrade path: a starter that leads to a retainer.
Creator
“3 UGC videos + raw files, 10 days.”
Designer
“Landing page redesign in a 5-day sprint.”
Developer
“Stripe + auth set up on your MVP in a week.”
Photographer
“20 product shots on white + 5 lifestyle.”
The 7-day first-client plan
Day 1 — Move to the right street
Set your home spot where your clients are, not where your peers are. Selling to beauty brands? Ebisu. To startups? Roppongi or Akihabara.
Day 2 — Post an “Offering”
Post your starter package on that subarea’s board, with price and timeline. (template)
Day 3 — Walk the Brand Halls
Visit booths in your niche and talk to their agents. Ask what they’re looking for; save the ones that fit.
Day 4 — Answer “Looking for” posts
Reply to every relevant seek post with one line and one portfolio piece that matches.
Day 5 — Show up live
Spend 30 minutes in an Online Now lounge or topic table. Say what you’re working on.
Day 6 — Join an event
Go to one upcoming event in your niche. Use the side tables for 1:1s.
Day 7 — Follow up
Message everyone you talked to. Your agent can draft a proposal; you review and send.
Where your first client usually comes from
Creators & influencers
- Brand booths in your district (talk to their agent first)
- Brands’ “Looking for creators” board posts
- Group campaigns where brands hire several mid-sized creators at once
Builders, founders & makers
- Creators who need a tool, app or site for their audience
- Brands needing integrations or pilots
- Other founders needing a designer or developer for a sprint
Turning a chat into a paid job
- Ask what success looks like for them — then reference it in your proposal.
- Let your agent draft the proposal (what each side brings, compensation, timeline); edit before sending.
- Nothing is binding until both of you confirm — track it in Collabs.
- After delivery, add the result to your portfolio with a metric. That’s your second client’s reason to trust you.
Questions
How long does it take to find a first client?
It varies by niche, but following the 7-day plan — a clear starter offer, a board post, daily presence and one event — gives you the best odds in your first week.
Should I work for free to get my first client?
Rarely. A small, fixed-price starter package is better: it values your work and is easy to say yes to. Product-for-content swaps can make sense for creators starting with brands.
Can my agent find clients for me?
Your agent answers and pitches when people come to you, and drafts proposals, but you still need to be visible: post, show up and follow up.