There are plenty of reasons why freelancing is the best thing ever. After all, you get to be your boss! Work when you want! Be the full-time CEO of your dreams!
But there are also a lot of things that people don’t tell you about being a freelancer like maybe having no idea where your next paycheck is coming from.
How to deal with clients who think they know better than you do, how to keep yourself motivated when you have no one telling you what to do, or even how in the world to dress for work when “work” is the same place where you eat Cheetos and watch The Price Is Right every day.
So if you’re considering freelancing (or if someone just told you that working from home sounds like a dream), here’s some advice: buckle up and get ready for the ride of your life!’
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Freelancing comes with its challenges, but it also offers unique and rewarding experiences. |
| 2. Embrace the ups and downs of freelancing, as they contribute to personal and professional growth. |
| 3. Time management is crucial for freelancers to balance work and personal life effectively. |
| 4. Don’t be afraid of setbacks or account suspensions on freelancing platforms; there are ways to overcome them. |
| 5. Freelancing provides opportunities for creative freedom and the potential to earn well. |
Freelancers Don’t Get Paid While They Are On Vacation
I think that it’s a good idea to take time off from freelancing, but I also think that freelancers should be compensated for the time they spend taking time off.
Many freelancers don’t get paid while they are on vacation, and sometimes this is a good thing if you work hard enough to make sure your clients are happy with your work, then they might not need you as much while you’re not working.
But if your clients aren’t happy with the quality or speed of their work when they come back from their vacations? Then there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be paying for yours!
Many freelancers struggle with their finances due to common mistakes. Learn how to avoid these pitfalls and boost your earnings by checking out our guide on 10 Freelancing Mistakes That Are Keeping You Broke.
It’s Hard To Get People To Pay You On Time
One of the biggest downsides to freelancing is that it’s often difficult to get people to pay you on time. It’s not a surprise, considering that so many people are worried about money and expenses, but having trouble getting paid is one of the most common complaints from freelancers.
You can avoid this problem by being firm and persistent with your clients! You need to make sure you have a system in place that ensures you get paid on time and if someone is paying late too often, it may be time for another client.
Having systems like invoicing or email reminders can help remind clients when they’re supposed to be paying for your work (and also prevent them from forgetting).
You Need To Stay On Top Of Your Money
You need to know how much money you have coming in and going out. If you don’t keep track of your finances, freelancing will probably not be a good time for you.
You’ll need to figure out how much money is going into your bank account at the end of each week/month/quarter.
The most important thing is to have an idea of how much money is coming in and going out so that if something unexpected comes up (like I got hit by a car while riding my bike home from work), then I know exactly how much it’s going to cost me.
Additionally, keeping track of what income sources work for me helps me make more informed decisions about where I want my career path to go as well as what jobs might be worth applying for or taking on full-time
You Have To Meet Deadlines, Every Single Time
I know this sounds like a bad thing, but it’s very important. That’s because it gives you a goal to work toward and keeps you focused on what matters most: the project at hand. It also helps prevent procrastination from happening too often which can get in the way of meeting deadlines promptly (if at all).
You might think that having an end date would make freelancing less fun and relax but actually, being able to see your finished product will keep you motivated throughout the process!
Freelancers often face challenges in managing their time effectively. Discover practical time management techniques and improve your productivity with our comprehensive guide on Time Management Tips for Freelancers.
You’ll Spend More Time Doing Administrative Tasks Than You Expected
This is where we get into the realm of “lifestyle” rather than just finances and income, but it’s worth noting that once you’re self-employed, there are all kinds of things that come up that never even crossed your mind before.
You have to keep track of your expenses (which can be tricky if some are covered by clients or partners), your income, your taxes (and making sure those taxes are being paid on time), any outstanding client debts, or payments to yourself for work done for others…
The list goes on! It’s not complicated stuff but it does take time and effort that was probably not worth worrying about if you had a manager do all this work for you in exchange for getting paid every month as part of their salary package.
If You Take A Sick Day, You Don’t Get Paid For It
If you’re a freelancer, getting sick isn’t just inconvenient; it also costs you money. If you take a sick day from your job, you don’t get paid for that day.
If you’re a freelancer, however, not only do you have to show up at work when feeling under the weather but if taking that day off means losing business, then even if your employer offers paid vacation days or other benefits (which they probably do), those benefits don’t apply to freelance jobs.
As such, it’s crucial that as a freelance worker who has bills to pay and mouths to feed just like any other person even more so when one is self-employed you’re able to work through sickness without too much disruption. It may be tempting in these circumstances: “I feel awful! I’m going home.”
But this can be dangerous territory; while sometimes taking care of yourself should come first (and sometimes calling out from work might not be an option), there’s no replacing lost income or opportunities due to illness.
You Need To Set Aside Money For Taxes (And Pay Them)
There are a lot of taxes that freelancers need to pay. For one thing, you have to set aside money for them in your business budget so you can pay them on time.
Second, taxes are due on April 15th every year (or the following business day if it falls on a weekend or holiday).
So it’s important not only to plan ahead but also to prepare yourself psychologically for this looming deadline especially since even if you didn’t make any money last year as a freelancer and still owe money in taxes, you’ll be required by law to fork over what’s due immediately.
In addition to federal income tax (calculated based on your total earnings), state income tax (calculated based on where the majority of those earnings happened), and local income tax (calculated based on where those other earnings happened), there may also be other types of taxes that apply only within certain states or cities.
This means that if you live somewhere like New York City which has notoriously high property values and works remotely from home as opposed to having an office there, then not only will you probably have higher than average expenses but also end up paying more than average in rent each month too!
Getting banned from a platform like Upwork can be distressing, but it’s not the end of your freelancing career. Learn how to handle this situation and explore other opportunities by reading our insightful article on Why You Shouldn’t Be Afraid of Upwork’s Permanent Ban.
Your Self-Discipline Is On Point. Everything Is Up To You And No One Else
You’re in charge of your success. You’re the one who decides how much work to take on, and you’re responsible for meeting deadlines. It’s up to you to make sure clients are happy with your work and to commit yourself fully to projects that interest you.
If you have self-discipline issues or an aversion to responsibility, freelancing may not be for you but if that’s not the case, this is a great time! You get full control over everything from your schedule (and by extension, your happiness) down to what kind of teabag goes into your mug before each session starts.
Remember The more responsibility we take on ourselves as freelancers and entrepreneurs, the happier we’ll be with our work lives and as long as they don’t interfere with our personal lives too much (we all deserve weekends), there’s nothing wrong with having a little bit of fun while working hard!
There Are More Holidays When You’re In Charge Of Your Schedule
As a freelancer, you can decide whether to work on Christmas Day (or any other holiday) and when to take time off. You’re also likely to be able to take more vacation time than if you were working for someone else. This isn’t always the case some employers have policies against giving more than two weeks off in a row or they may not offer sick days at all.
But if these aren’t issues for your current position, consider that as an employee, your employer might have limited vacation allowances based on your role within the company. As a freelancer, however, there are no such limitations beyond what has been agreed upon with clients!
Getting Work Done At Home Feels A Lot Different Than Working In An Office Environment
There are several reasons why freelancing from home is better than working in an office. The most obvious one is that you have more freedom to work how, when, and where you want to. You don’t have to worry about keeping the noise down so as not to disturb your colleagues; it’s just you and your computer.
There aren’t any bosses (or co-workers) breathing down your neck about deadlines or what project should get priority over another you decide for yourself which tasks take precedence over others based on deadlines, importance, and urgency.
Another benefit of working from home is that it can be much more productive than working in an office environment because there are fewer distractions. When you’re sitting at your desk at work surrounded by other people who also need their share of attention whether they’re coworkers or customers.
It’s hard not to think about anything besides work when there are so many other things vying for attention in the background (e.g., “What should I eat for lunch?”, “Why did my ex break up with me?”, etc.).
Since these distractions don’t exist at home when freelancing full-time there’s no barrier between you and getting things done! And since getting things done is what being productive means anyway then getting started early on those tasks becomes easier too!
If you have a passion for writing and want to venture into the advertising industry, freelancing as a writer can be a lucrative choice. Learn the essential steps to get started with our guide on How to Become a Freelance Writer in the Advertising Industry.
You Can Do Anything You Want, As Long As You Make It Work With Your Schedule And Budget
To be a successful freelancer, you need to be willing to work hard and adjust your schedule and budget accordingly. Being self-employed means that even if you want to take a vacation, it’s up to you to figure out how to continue earning money while away from home.
Be flexible in your scheduling there may be days when no one seems like they need any work done, but there will always be something on the horizon that needs some attention.
Be flexible with the type of work being offered if it’s not what you want or needs at this moment in time, and keep looking for something else until something better comes along (and maybe send thank-you notes along the way).
Freelancers have clients from all walks of life and all kinds of industries; if one project falls through, another will surely come along soon!
Freelancing Isn’t Easy, But It’s Worth It!
The first thing you need to know is that freelancing is not easy. It can be downright difficult at times and requires you to do a lot of self-motivated work.
But, if you’re like me and have always wanted to have more control over your career path and could care less about having a boss, then freelancing is definitely worth the time and effort it takes to get there.
You don’t just start as a full-time freelance writer you’re going to need some experience under your belt before anyone will take you seriously.
This means interning with an established publication or writing part-time while working another job (or two) until someone recognizes your talent enough for them to hire you full-time. It may seem like an uphill battle at first, but once someone sees how awesomely talented they think you are (which they will), everything else will fall into place!
Freelance writing offers numerous advantages, making it an ideal side job for many individuals. Discover the perks of pursuing freelance writing as a side gig in our comprehensive article on 18 Reasons Why Freelance Writing May Be the Perfect Side Job.
Conclusion
So, I hope this post has helped you decide to freelance. There are many benefits to it, but also some drawbacks.
Luckily, the good outweighs the bad in most situations! If you’re thinking of becoming a freelancer yourself then check out my guide on how to get started with freelancing. It’ll give you everything needs to know about starting your own business from scratch.
Further Reading
Freelancing Isn’t for Everyone: Discover why freelancing may not be the best fit for everyone and explore alternative career paths.
Inspiring Freelancing Quotes: Read insightful and motivating quotes from successful freelancers that will encourage you on your freelancing journey.
Pros and Cons of Freelancing: Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of freelancing to make informed decisions about your career path.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard To Find Work As A Freelancer? Do I Need Experience?
It’s not hard to get started, but as with any new job or career path, it takes time for your reputation to build up and for clients to trust you with their projects and money.
However, once you have more experience under your belt, finding steady work should be much easier you’ll already have connections in the industry and a portfolio of projects completed successfully!
How Do I Get A Freelance Job?
You can post your job listing on the Internet, or you can respond to those posted by others. The former option is more passive you wait for people to come to you but it also means that your clients will be less likely to be interested in what you’re offering.
(For example, if someone’s already advertising “customized t-shirts,” they won’t want yours.)
What Are The Best Places To Find Freelance Jobs?
Craigslist has been around forever, and it still works great for finding smaller gigs like housecleaning or dog walking.
For bigger projects that require extensive experience with WordPress or other web technologies, try UpWork or Freelancer; both have their drawbacks but have enough traffic that there’s usually something for everyone willing to put in some elbow grease (and pay). And if all else fails…
How Do I Get Paid?
This can be tricky because most companies don’t want anyone knowing who they’re doing business with (for security reasons).
But through our 14 years in business, we’ve developed an easy way of working around this issue while maintaining high levels of professionalism throughout every transaction! We’ll teach it all during our training sessions at HQ next Tuesday afternoon can’t wait 🙂
How Do I Know If I’m Ready To Freelance?
If you’re thinking about becoming a freelancer, there are a few questions that can help guide your decision. The most important question is “Do I have enough clients?” If the answer is yes, then great!
You’re likely ready to start working for yourself. But if it’s not yet time for self-employment, then it might be worth taking some time off from work so that you can build up some savings and get back on your feet before opening up shop.
How Do I Find Clients?
Once you’ve decided that this is where you want to go with your career path (and have built up enough savings), it’s time to move forward with finding new work opportunities as a freelancer or contractor.
Luckily there are many sites out there that connect businesses with talented individuals like yourself so no need to worry too much about finding work in this regard!
Simply pick an industry where you think your skillset would be helpful (e-commerce being one example) and start looking through job listings until something catches your eye you’ll know when it does because everything else will seem boring by comparison 🙂
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.