What is Freelancing? Pros, Cons and Examples

That burden then falls on the individual to pay the insurance premium in a timely manner. Many companies also include the family of their employees in the insurance plans. https://deveducation.com/ Here the freelance con is to bear the cost of the insurance for self and the family. One of the big draws of freelance work is the ability to set your own pricing rates.

Teaching is the second biggest freelance occupation in the UK, with 158,000 individuals as of 2022. This could be working as a private tutor to help someone through their GCSEs or A-Levels, teaching English as a second language, or helping someone learn how to play a musical instrument. Proofreaders, editors, and translators are just as suited to freelance work.

The Pros and Cons of Being a Freelancer in 2023: Is Freelancing the Right Choice for You?

Bonus points if you have people who can vouch for those skills too. Freelancers don’t receive paid-for benefits like health insurance or paid time off, and those can come at steep costs when paying out of pocket. Five disadvantages freelancers have that people who work regular 9-to-5 jobs what is freelancing don’t have. If there had to be a bright side with this situation for freelancers, it’s that as a freelancer, you can “write off” your business expenses, just as a larger company would do. When you freelance, you can have more pride in your work and take ownership for your successes.

• Freelancers need to be more intentional in seeking opportunities that help them advance in their careers.
• Working from home or one’s own space gives them the liberty to design and customize their workspace.
• And you’ll find that you need a solid schedule to avoid working all the time.

Examining the types of skills, financial commitments, and time commitments that are required of freelancers could help guide you in the direction that makes the most sense for you. Freelancing can be the best career decision you’ll ever make, but be aware that you’ll need a lot of patience and be very proactive to start making real money. This is why it’s always a good idea to start part-time and get your first few clients before you quit your full-time job. One of the biggest drawbacks of freelancing is the lack of stability which leads to a myriad of other problems. Stressing about making next month’s bills is one of them, another one is not being able to take holidays.

What is a freelancer?

While I really didn’t enjoy the office politics and performative culture, there was at least always somebody to go for a coffee with, or to stop by and have a chat. Plus, having a strong network can also help provide you with support and resources that might be useful in the future. It’s also a great way to build your own personal brand and get your name out there. It’s also one of the reasons why freelance writing is such a popular job with digital nomads and other remote workers. Following on from the previous point, choosing to work on a diverse range of projects is, in my experience, a sure-fire way of developing new skills and broadening the range of your expertise. While I absolutely love the benefits of being a freelance writer (and there are many – which is why I do it), there are definitely a few downsides as I’ll explain below.

Your manager will choose a team of people that he believes are best for the company. With freelancing, you won’t have this problem anymore because you decide who you work with. For some people, this can be liberating and enables them to thrive. If you want to be successful as a freelancer and be your boss, you must have self-confidence, a desire to learn, and the ability to manage a business. Five advantages freelancers enjoy that people who work regular 9-to-5 jobs don’t have.

Here are a few of the pros and cons of freelancing that are common across industries and locations. In fact, many freelancers go for the first few months without ever getting a client, and the majority of people struggle with bills throughout their first year as freelancers. Although it can be fun to be on your own all the time in the beginning, most freelancers start to miss having coworkers sooner or later. Coworkers are not just there to chit-chat with by the water cooler, they also provide opinions and ideas about how to handle difficult situations. When you work on your own, you have no one to exchange ideas with and hear different opinions which can be difficult when you’re not entirely sure what you need to do.

When you have the power to decide on the types of projects you want to work on, you also have the power to envision and enact the type of schedule you want to work around those projects. Only take calls in the morning to make space for heads-down work in the afternoons? But, ultimately, freelancing empowers you to create the schedule—and lifestyle—that you want for yourself. One of the major cons of hiring freelancers is that they might not be available when you need them. Unlike permanent employees, one company is not a freelancer’s only source of income, and their contracts can be relatively short.

Unlike most people with 9-5 jobs, freelancers can pick up and move as needed. While some people enjoy the stability of a purchased home and a familiar town, it’s not for everyone. After establishing a client base, it’s crucial to maintain those relationships while actively promoting your services to expand your professional network. Many freelance websites like Fiverr, Freelancer.com, Guru, and LinkedIn, can help you find job listings in your niche. A portfolio is a great way to demonstrate your abilities to potential clients. A strong portfolio may include things like past work examples, testimonies, mock-ups for future projects, and accomplishments.