Freelancing: Why or Why Not?

Freelancing: Why or Why Not?
Written by Samuel in Freelance Resources

It's been a while since we've given out free stuff on Friday, so I figured we should treat some people to coffee today. Simply comment on why you do or do not freelance and I'll pick three random commenters tomorrow night and send them some liquid happiness (in the form of a $5 St*rbucks gift card - comments open to all, but coffee open only to US/CAN/UK/AUS residents). So let me kick this off with my top 3 reasons for freelancing:

Options - I like pursuing various opportunities and enjoy the freedom to start side ventures whenever I want. If you can sustain yourself on your own, you have the ability to pursue many other options in the future, like a promising web start-up (maybe even your own).
Control - Despite the increased stress and responsibility (which feels overbearing sometimes), I like the fact that I can control my own "destiny." Sure, I still have bosses and deadlines, but at least I have some say in who and what those are.
Freedom of Schedule - I like the fact that I can work all night if I'm in the mood and not worry about clocking in at 8. I like making breakfast at 2 PM in my pajamas. And although I don't get paid vacations, it's nice to have the freedom to visit friends and family when I want.

There are other pros (and cons), but overall, I enjoy the freelance life. You?

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Community Comments

Jarkko
11/30/2007 3:22:09 AM

Those are all great reasons. I'm still in the middle (or in the beginning) of transitioning from an employee to a freelances, but for me your first bullet is one of the most important reasons.

I see myself as a person who is interested in many things (everything?), not just one. So, a regular job in which you have to choose whether you are a programmer or a sales guy feels too limiting.

The other big reason is that I want to work from home so that I can be close to my family, and balance work so that when my son is awake and wants to play with me, I can leave the work aside for a while, and continue it then a bit later in the evening (or even better: start earlier in the morning).

And one more thing: In a regular job you're pretty much paid for showing up at the office. So, even if there is nothing productive for you to do on a specific day, you can't go home or work on a side project... Which is frustrating at times. :)

Pedro
11/30/2007 3:51:07 AM

Out of US out of Starbucks ;)

I think that the major reason for me to not going freelance is the income security, i think that i will in the future, but in a progressive way, with partial time job or something like that.

There are other reasons, like tech insecurity (am i good enough to go "on my own"?), or marketing insceurity (will clients choose me even if i am good enough?)

Otherwise, the pros are juicy too, work from home, relative free timetable... all this freedom is unvaluable, almost like the income security. ;)

Oh, the pajamas reason is cool too...

jason milburn
11/30/2007 5:56:19 AM

I'm also keeping one foot in the steady job door, and the other trying to find some footing in the freelance world. Having 2 kids makes that steady paycheck very important, but I would love nothing more than to have my own schedule and the ability to work on a variety of projects. The biggest stumbling block for me right now, besides securing freelance work, is finding time to develop as a designer and learn new skills while handling client needs and a full time job as well as family responsibilities.

Clinton Montague
11/30/2007 6:01:35 AM

I'm attempting to make the transition at the moment from in-house developer to freelancer. It can sometimes be boring working on the same website day in day out for months/years. I am trying to break out and get into freelacning so that I get a change of project every so often!

This website is a great resource and makes very good reading. Thanks!

Stephanie Cockerl
11/30/2007 7:31:35 AM

The main reason I chose to freelance, having the flexibility to care for my grandmother.

julie
11/30/2007 8:44:21 AM

I freelance & work full-time. I like being able to pick & choose what i work on outside of my 9-5 job, and having a steady paycheck allows me that flexibility. Thankfully, i also have a boss who's ok with me working on the side.

Mike
11/30/2007 8:57:20 AM

I don't because i am too scared of losing a steady paycheck.

may convert though.

Jen Simmons
11/30/2007 9:38:39 AM

There are many reasons I like working for myself, but one of the biggest is that I get to pick my clients. Instead of creating marketing sites for random companies, most of whom I'd feel 'random' about — I get to nurture and encourage people who do things I believe in: artists, non-profits, indie-online shows, bloggers with progressive voices... and of course, sometimes the occasional random whatever to pay the bills is ok too. But meanwhile, I get to channel most of my techy super-powers into projects that I want to see succeed.

Brad
11/30/2007 10:00:08 AM

I love my new freelancing business. Two reasons:

1. I can blast my music without bothering anyone. To me there is no better work than sitting down on one project and cranking away for 4 straight hours with your favorite music carrying you along.

2. The flexibility and ability to change and grow. When you are employed by someone else you are often limited to their way of doing things. When you are on your own you can learn about new systems and implement them if you decide they will work better than what you already do.

Peter Alvarez
11/30/2007 10:00:28 AM

I'm interested in freelancing for two reasons:

1. The freedom of schedule mentioned by Samuel. I like being able to work whenever I need to work, and not be at work wasting time when there's nothing to do.

2. The freedom to choose what you will be working on, and not doing busy-work to fill the day (similar to reason 1).

lornadoone
11/30/2007 11:18:50 AM

I freelance for a few reasons:

1. I'm expecting my first baby and could not stand the idea of putting her into daycare when she was a week old so I could return to an office job I didn't really want.

2. I generally get to pick how I spend my days. If I want to write a couple of articles or a blog post, that's my perrogative; as long as I've lined up my gigs properly, of course!

3. I get to work with my friend. My business partner and I get along very well and offer each other a lot of professional and personal support.

Danny Outlaw
11/30/2007 11:28:08 AM

I freelance so I can finance my move to Costa Rica in March. I have been freelancing for a few years now and can finally afford to live off my freelance skills in Costa Rica. Its not much (about $2300 a month) but plenty for costa rica

Malayika
11/30/2007 11:44:08 AM

I'm transitioning from working as an employee to working for myself mainly because I want to escape the lack of control that comes with being an employee.

For one, there's an annual salary cap. When you get your offer, they tell that you'll make 70,000 a year and unless you get a miraculous mid-year raise or bonus, that's all you'll be making that year until they decide your deserve a raise next year. As a freelancer, you determine how much you make by the types of projects you choose, how hard/smart you work, etc and there is no cap. Sure you could make 4,000 one month and 1,000 the next, but the point is you are in control and you can make adjustments to fix what’s wrong.

Also as an employee, you only get a set amount of weekdays per year that you can not be at work, generally between 10-30 days. You're told how many hours you have to work per week, generally 40, usually more than that. Vacations are limited and so is the number of times you can get sick. As a freelancer, you’re never stuck in front of a computer telling yourself that although you have no work to do, you’re going to sit in front of the screen and pretend you do just to meet that day/week’s minimum hours.

toogie
11/30/2007 12:02:59 PM

My main reason NOT to freelance is insurance. I'm a school employee in Michigan, which means I have access to MESSA -- which is about the most reliable health insurance you can get. I can't get MESSA if I'm not an education employee, no matter how much I am willing to pay.

My reasons FOR freelancing are many -- freedom, control, and other things that have been mentioned. An additional one is an easier escape from a hostile work environment. If you have a negative client or vendor, you just stop associating with them.

k rain leander
11/30/2007 2:32:45 PM

I don't know - I'm one of those in the middle people.

I've been freelancing to supplement my full time job for years and recently made the leap from full time to part time supplements. For two months, it was INCREDIBLE - work in the jammies, nice paycheck, lots of options.

I leapt from part time supplement to nothing, just freelancing.

Then the bottom fell out.

I finished a large contract and now the client won't pay. I have other clients to work with but now that I've been burned, I hesitate to continue down this path. I mean, I realize that this is part of the business, but the reality of it is that it's harsh and I need to buck up.

I *continue* to freelance because of the flexibility and the control but now I'm careful. Really careful.

I hope to have a more optimistic comment in the future.

Ben Henschel
11/30/2007 2:48:11 PM

I enjoy freelancing because of the flexibility over your hours and when you work. But probably the biggest thing is that you are not stuck working on one project. If you go work for a company sure you will work on different projects but they are basically going to be all for that company's site. If you freelance you can have a new project every month if you want. You can work on as many different project and work with as many different people as you want. Which I think keeps things fresh.

Jamie
11/30/2007 3:00:18 PM

I love having the freedom to live my life on my own terms. As a freelancer, I have a lot more control in making my work schedule fit my life schedule and not the other way around. I missed out on so many great opportunities and valuable time with friends and family when working as a corporate indentured servant because my company decided just about every aspect of my personal life by setting demands on the biggest chunk of my time -- and most of that time was spent taking up space because I could accomplish most of my work in less than half the time I spent in the office.

Freelancing means choosing my clients, choosing my work, choosing my schedule, and working according to my own natural ebbs and flows of productivity and creativity.

Jason
11/30/2007 5:38:05 PM

The biggest reason Im making the leap soon from employee to freelance is the freedom to expand my expertise, and not be stuck doing the same lame stuff at my current company. Sure i could get another job, but the freedom will still be limited by whatever technologies they currently use in house (and most companies will not dare switch from say .Net to Ruby on Rails, etc). I want to be able to look at each project as a totally new and fresh experience, and continue to challenge myself in how to handle them. Plus, its only going to make me stronger if I should decide to get back into the employee role.

Ive learned this the hard way, unfortunately, as I approach my 8yr anniversary with my current company and it makes me sad to look back and realize what i have NOT accomplished in that time (compared to what i HAVE accomplished in only the last year with my moonlighting).

Best of luck to everyone deciding to make the switch!

Ryan
12/1/2007 1:00:44 AM

I want to do freelance, but high school gets in the way!

I don't have the time to start my own career or find clients at the moment. The best I can do is make websites for my teachers and classes. I have to be up at 6am and don't get home 'till at least 3pm. Oh what I wouldn't give to have my own schedule.

I do make time for the joy that is website development. My current big project is a website for my school's FBLA club, complete with user system and shopping cart style components. I am often working until 2am because I can't find the time anywhere else.

Shoot me an email if you want to see any of the things I have done. A couple tall drinks would go a long way in furthering me in becoming a freelancer. =)

Luke
12/1/2007 4:10:50 PM

My reason for not freelancing yet is I kinda like the social culture and security of the office job. For now, I don't have much stress/responsibility and maybe that's why it's not so bad...

Samuel
12/2/2007 4:46:34 AM

There's some really good comments here -- I find it quite interesting that while most employers think people "go freelance" to make more cash, most freelancers actually do it for freedom, less stress, more family, and a host of other reasons.

Anyways, in regards to the free coffee, having used random.org to choose 3 random commenters, I'll be buying a coffee for Brad, Stephanie, and Ben. Thanks again for the input!

Mark H. Abucayon
12/2/2007 6:23:37 AM

One thing I like about freelancing is that you are the boss in your own... but as always there are also deadlines same as you work in the company but the fact is that you will be the one to manage your own time... I like freelance very much but one thing I dont like about freelance is that if you dont have much client in your business, not all time you can have client well that is the real world of freelancing. Thanks nice post you know.

Pedro
12/2/2007 1:30:37 PM

SUCCESS
The best thing about Freelance work is that if you are good and take care of your clients you will soon find yourself earning way more than you ever could with a company. Cream rises to the top so if you are shit then you should fuck off to a low-rung agency.

MONEY
Create 5-10 original websites a month, billing each site between $3000-$15000. Kaaching! How is that possible? Outsource the parts you are not comfortable with, or hate.

SATISFACTION
Building a grassroots movement is fun.

CHOICE
After a couple of years you can sniff out annoying clients from a mile off. "Sorry, I am too backed up to help"

FREEDOM
Who says you have to do it from home? Set up your own sick office space for yourself and you don't have to talk to arseholes by the water cooler.

mayneee
12/2/2007 2:17:39 PM

when you say outsource do you mean get other people to do the part of web design your not comfortable with?

Brett
12/4/2007 7:25:20 AM

I was freelancing for awhile until I received a very attractive offer to go back into the corporate world. I can't complain about the steady paycheck every 2 weeks.

Being without kids I also have the luxury of taking on other projects outside of work. I probably commit an extra 4-6 hours a day outside of my 9-5 to freelancing. My freelance works gives me the open creativity and direction that I wouldn't normally have working for someone.

Freelancing has also opened up a much larger community for me. It allows me to connect with other designers and people in the web world.. something I wouldn't normally have the chance at with my 9 to 5.

Mark H. Abucayon
12/4/2007 8:22:37 AM

I like what Pedro point, the 5 keys of freelancing- this is nice blog and I always reading blogs here.

Nikole Gipps
12/9/2007 2:52:40 AM

I work for myself so that I don't have to ask anyone's permission to take off the day to be with my toddler when she is sick or needs her mommy. When my grandma was dying for cancer, I packed up my toddler and my laptop to live in another state for 4 months so that my toddler could spend those last moments bringing her Nana happiness. When my husband will have knee surgery in January, I can take off to care for him. Working for myself means that my family will never take a backseat to my job, because I can make my own schedule and play by my own rules. My vacation time is not limited to 2 weeks a year, and my work does not have to get done between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm.

Binai
12/10/2007 7:24:03 PM

Freelancing!? Yeah! I've been into a lot of employers for about 6 years but It seems to me that I'm not improving. My life still in miserable and lots of debts in and out. But until such time I decided to myself doing this freelance, I rejoice because my status in life now prosper. So, go freelancing activities...

eTEQ
1/29/2008 5:03:35 PM

This is why you should freelance http://www.eteq.com/The_Way_Of_The_Freelancer.htm

Steve Ambielli
3/25/2008 8:39:52 AM

Freelancing is great, but I manage to do it on the side in addition to my full-time position. Why? I enjoy having the comfort of a constant paycheck every 2 weeks and using the benefits from it (medical, dental, etc). I also don't feel pressured to keep looking for freelance work when I'm lucky enough to have it fall in my lap quite often.

Great blog.

seo freelancer
4/7/2008 8:34:29 PM

Starting a freelancing job is a little bit difficult. You have to stablish good reputation and a good portfolio. But once you were able to establish contacts and clients, freelancing is a very rewarding job.

NJ Paust
6/6/2008 2:30:48 PM

I am in the baby boomer generation and have stayed relatively up to date in the online arena. After working in 2 trade unions and having the manufacturing base gutted in the USA I did "go back to school" in mid-life emerging with 2 MBAs. Not bad for a former dropout. Instead of trying to go corporate at my age I opted to freelance and though I am just getting started in a serious way, I am having a blast. Contract and telecommuting work is the only way to go. I love all aspects of the freedoms that go a long with it. Since I finished up my MBA degrees online from a local school, I was already used to working on my own and meeting deadlines. I wish the technology would have been available in my youth--I would have NEVER worked a 9-5 job. Sure, the *security* of a job is comforting, but in these economic times it's not a sure thing like it was in my parents' time, or for life with pensions and all guaranteed. The times have changed and you have to be able to adapt. I like having no commute, clothing, and travel costs. No *boss* just people I am interested in working *with* not *for*. And the opportunity to stay active and thrive (with classic rock and in my pajamas)beyond the societal limitations of chronological age. If you can get the job done in a timely manner with a high quality you're set. You can also learn to create passive income to go a long with your freelancing--and keep a part time job for now if you want to. (I can give you the source for a great FREE ebook that can help you with passive income--don't want to spam so I'll post the link at my blog and you can check it out for yourself--or just Google "passive income" and you may find it yourself.

Freelancing rocks! 8)

Ilcho Vuchkov
6/15/2008 6:35:47 PM

If you want to make really money see http://freelancers.co.nr

Julia
7/6/2008 2:20:38 PM

My main reason for wanting to freelance is the fact that I want to be able to start AND FINISH one project. I find at full-time jobs I end up starting about 15 projects, but only ever finish 2 or 3, which is a horrendous ratio, and a tad demoralizing.

That and the fact that I can work solid for a couple of months and then take a month off without stressing too much. :-)

seo freelancer
7/6/2008 9:44:53 PM

i agree with you julia... most companies will give you too much work that will make sleepless so many times.

John
8/23/2008 2:18:29 PM

When starting out freelancing, how do you guys generally go about finding work? Do you usually charge by the hour or by the project?

Mukto
11/19/2008 10:30:03 AM

Freedom is the most important motivator for me in freelancing. And I like to get paid for my work not for my hours :-)

Btw, I have found a new forum on freelancing, http://www.freelancefest.com. It seems new but I liked the categorization of topics in the forum.

BABPO
5/6/2009 1:49:00 PM

This is a good wake up for most of the starter freelancers. In fact one need to search for projects. I suggest starters and experienced freelancers to keep visiting www.babpo.com for new freelance projects or works.

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