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Pros and Cons of Full-Time Freelancing

September 12, 2019

Are you thinking about making the jump to freelancing full time? No matter what, you should weigh the pros and cons before taking that step. Full-time freelancing isn't for everyone and jumping in blind is never a good idea. To start, here are some of the benefits of a freelancing career:1

  • Freedom! – Being a freelancer means you're in charge of your own work and career. You set your own schedule and hours, set and negotiate your own prices, and work on your own time. You also get the advantage of being able to work anywhere. Yes, this means you can potentially work in your PJs!
  • Control – Being a freelancer is a question of control vs. convenience. Traditional jobs give you the convenience of always having stable work. However, freelancing gives you control over your work. You have the power to manage your own work and make decisions yourself. You also decide who you want to work for, which means you are free to choose to not work with clients who are being too difficult.
  • Health – Traditional employees are more likely to get sick. They spend time around a lot of different people every day and viruses can spread around offices. Also, they often can't control how many breaks or how much sleep they get. As a freelancer, you avoid these issues, and it's easier for you to stay healthy. While it's possible to overwork yourself as a freelancer, you have the final say in how much work you will take on at once.
  • Fulfillment – Being a freelancer gives you the opportunity to do something you care about and drives your passion. You'll also be able to directly see the results of your work. If you feel that your day job prevents you from doing what you really want to do for a living, freelancing might be for you.

As for cons, here are few you should keep in mind:

  • Lack of structure2 – Traditional jobs give you structure and order, and freelancing can be unpredictable. You may not have a steady and constant income. While freedom can be a good thing, it can also be stressful to be responsible for everything. This is the main trade-off of being a freelancer: You get freedom, but you must be able to change your approach and mindset as needed.
  • You're on your own2 – When you're completely self-managed, you don't have a boss telling you what to do. While this may be a good thing, bosses don't just shout orders. They also give you direction. Without a boss, you'll have to find that direction yourself, and this can be intimidating for some people. In short, your career will be entirely your responsibility. There won't be anything or anyone to "fall back" on.
  • It's not as stable2 – Freelancing has many ups and downs, unlike the stability of a traditional job. Your income will depend completely on the work you can find. You will not receive a fixed paycheck every two weeks. This can be anxiety-inducing and make you more stressed.
  • Less separation between work and home life1 – As a traditional employee, there are set times and a set place for your work. This makes it easier to divide your life into different sections and to set aside certain times for work and personal matters. As a freelancer, that line can blur. There aren't any set-in-stone hours, and you will probably work from home a lot of the time. Because of this you're always "on the clock" in a way.

Remember that you don't have to quit your job to freelance. Many people take freelance projects on the side while holding a day job. In fact, this is probably a good idea, especially when getting started. A day job gives you something to fall back on in case your freelance career doesn't take off. Starting on the side lets you "test the waters" to figure out if freelancing is for you and practice networking for paid assignments.3 It also lets you see if you can bring in enough by freelancing to turn it into a full-time career.

Before you start, find out how much time you can dedicate to freelance work. Decide whether you even need to quit your job. After all, you should never quit without having other stable work lined up.

For more information on freelancing, including how to get started, read this article by Toptal, a company that promotes and connects freelancers.


Sources

1https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/10-advantages-disadvantages-becoming-freelancer-faten-amin

2https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-questions-to-ask-yourself-before-quitting-for-a-dream-freelance-career

3https://www.themuse.com/advice/want-to-freelance-3-mustdos-before-you-take-the-leap

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