Life as a freelancer has its ups and downs. For one thing, you no longer have to be in the same place every day.
Plus, if you’re in it for the long haul, you can turn your freelance work into multiple streams of income over time. You might even find that you enjoy the freedom of being able to choose your clients and set your hours.
It’s not for everyone, though and there are some drawbacks to this lifestyle too. That’s why I’ve compiled this list: so that if leaping is something you’ve been thinking about doing, you’ll have at least some idea of where to start!
Takeaways |
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1. Full-time freelancing requires careful consideration and planning. |
2. Assess the pros and cons of freelancing versus traditional employment. |
3. Freelancing offers flexibility and autonomy in choosing projects and clients. |
4. Understand the financial aspects and potential risks associated with full-time freelancing. |
5. Building a strong client base and managing time effectively are crucial for success. |
6. Prioritize professional development and continuous learning as a full-time freelancer. |
7. Consider the impact on work-life balance and personal well-being before making the transition. |
8. Freelancing may not be suitable for everyone, so evaluate your skills, motivations, and goals. |
9. Seek advice from experienced freelancers and professionals in the field. |
10. Take the time to reflect on your career aspirations and make an informed decision. |
You Are Not Actually ‘unemployed’
You are an entrepreneur. The difference between an entrepreneur and a freelancer is that the former have their own company, while the latter works for other companies. Entrepreneurs can create multiple streams of income by starting their businesses. A freelancer usually only gets paid by one company or client at any given time.
Entrepreneurship means having control over your life and career path: you get to choose what projects you want to do, which clients you want to work with (or not), how much money your business needs to thrive, etc. Freelancing does not give you much of this freedom you have no choice about what projects come your way or who pays them out!
Building a support system after considering quitting your day job can be crucial for a successful transition. Check out our guide on 13 Things to Consider Before You Quit Your Day Job to make informed decisions and navigate the freelance journey.
You Get To Choose Your Clients
As a freelancer, you have the power to choose which clients and projects you want to work with. You don’t have to take what’s offered and can turn down any project that doesn’t sound appealing. If a client is being difficult, it’s easy enough to walk away and find another one who will treat you better.
You also get to decide how much money you want to make from your freelance work, whether that’s by charging hourly or setting up a flat rate for each project. This way, if someone wants something done for less than what your usual rates are, then go ahead!
They’ll get their job done faster (and likely better) than if they were trying to hire someone else who would charge more money but still be slower at completing tasks because they were busy with other projects as well as their workloads…
You Can Charge More Money
If you are going to become a full-time freelance writer, you will be able to charge more than if you were working for someone else. This is because as a freelancer, you get paid for your time and effort rather than a salary or hourly rate.
As your boss, it’s up to you how much work and effort you put in each day. If there is nothing good on TV that night, then don’t watch any TV! Instead put in the extra hours required to take on some new clients or finish off one of those projects that have been hanging around for weeks (or months).
It’s also worth noting that many writers can earn much more from writing books than from articles or blogging because books have higher price tags attached to them due to the amount of research needed before an author can start writing their book idea down into words using their computer keyboard (this is called typing).
Embracing freelancing becomes easier when you reach that moment when it isn’t as challenging as it seems. Discover how to overcome obstacles and thrive in the freelance world with The Moment When Freelancing Isn’t Hard at All guide.
You Can Do More Of ‘your Thing’
If you’re anything like me, certain things make you want to be alive.
- You can do more of what you love.
- You can work on the things you are good at.
- You can work on the things you are passionate about.
These three factors determine whether or not I am happy while working and they are the reason why I have been full-time freelance for almost ten years now (and counting).
You Have A Lot More Control Over Your Time
Working for yourself means that you are in charge of what and when you work. You can set your schedule, take breaks when you want, work on your terms and even work more hours in a day if you want to. If it’s not the right time to focus on this project or customer, then don’t! Take the day off and go do something else with your life!
You Have A Lot Of Freedom
Going full-time freelance allows you to have a lot of freedom. You can decide when to work, where to work and how much time you want to spend working on any given day. This is something that many people who are just starting with freelancing do not realize until they start taking on clients.
It’s also something that many people who decide not to become full-time freelancers miss out on because they don’t want this type of freedom in their lives or feel that it would be too difficult or stressful.
Your Schedule Is Flexible
You can work when you want. You can work from home or anywhere you have internet access. You don’t have a boss breathing down your neck, so it’s up to you to decide how much time you want to spend working and when it can be as much or as little as you need!
The freedom of setting your schedule makes freelancing appealing to many people who are tired of the 9-to-5 routine, but another perk that goes hand in hand with this is being able to take days off whenever they please.
Since these types of jobs aren’t usually demanding full-time commitments, they allow their employees more flexibility than most traditional employment positions might offer.
Freelancing can be more than just a side gig if you approach it with the right mindset and knowledge. Learn why Freelancing Isn’t a Side Gig and What You Need to Know If It Is Your primary source of income by exploring our insightful guide.
You Can Work From Anywhere
You can work from anywhere! You can choose to work from home, in a coffee shop, at a coworking space, or even at the library. The possibilities are endless.
You’ll also find that you don’t need to worry about setting up an office space for yourself. This is one of my favorite benefits of freelancing no more worrying about finding a suitable office location and no more paying rent for one either!
So when it comes time to pick where you want to work today, there are plenty of options available because you already have everything needed right within reach: your laptop (or whatever device you choose), phone/tablet/laptop hybrid computer thingy, etc., headphones…and perhaps most importantly: caffeine!
You Can Work As Much Or As Little As You Want (Time Flexibility)
There are many reasons why you should consider going full-time freelance, but the most important one is that it gives you complete flexibility over your schedule. With the ability to work from anywhere and on any device, there are far fewer boundaries when it comes to setting your hours.
In addition, freelancers have more control over their time than employees do: if they have a meeting or appointment that runs long, they can simply notify their client about the delay or even reschedule it for another time without having to ask for permission.
It’s Not Just About The Money
As you can see, there are many benefits to going full-time freelance. But one of the main reasons people don’t go full-time is because they think it’s all about the money. They think, “I can make more money if I work a regular job and save up my earnings.”
But while they’re saving their money, they spend a lot on rent or other expenses that take away from their savings rate. And after paying for food and other living expenses, what’s leftover isn’t enough to retire on even if you live very frugally!
That’s why most people who start freelancing do it part-time at first so that they can invest in themselves and learn new skills before going all-in with their freelancing career.
Sometimes You Will Be In A Position To Turn Down Jobs With Higher Pay Rates
As a freelancer, you do not have to work for anyone. You can choose the jobs that you want to do and how much money they pay. This means you don’t have to take a job just because it pays more than your other options.
If you have been writing for many years, then perhaps some high-paying companies would like to hire you as a full-time employee or consultant.
However, working for them full time might result in experiencing burnout or loss of creativity after working on projects that are not interesting or fun for too long (or ever). If this happens, then it’s best for both parties if one does not pursue this relationship any further; otherwise, things will only get worse over time!
It Gets Easier To Manage
The more you do something, the more you get used to it and the better you get at it. The same goes for freelancing: the more you work for yourself, the more comfortable and efficient you’ll become in managing your business.
One of my favorite things about being a full-time freelancer is that I have a lot of control over what I do every day. If there’s something I want to learn or improve upon, then it’s up to me to make that happen!
Balancing a full-time job and freelance writing requires effective strategies and a well-maintained schedule. Discover valuable tips and insights on how to manage both worlds with How I Maintain a Full-Time Job and Freelance Writing Without Losing My Mind On guide.
More Opportunity To Embrace Your Creativity And Become Better At What You Do
As a freelancer, you can work on building up multiple streams of income and develop your business in new ways. You have the freedom to work on branding and marketing yourself as well as your business development skills.
This could include networking with other freelancers who can help you grow your portfolio of clients or finding new clients by attending events related to what you do. You also have more time for self-education, which is important because it will allow you to stay on top of industry trends and constantly improve your skillset.
As a bonus:
- Improved communication skills (it’s all about those emails!)
- Better negotiation abilities
It Teaches You A Lot About Yourself (And Others)
While you are freelancing, you’ll find out what your strengths and weaknesses are. You will discover what you’re good at, as well as learn about things that make it easier for you to work.
If you don’t know what your strengths are, now is the perfect time to figure them out! If there’s something that doesn’t sit well with you but has been required of previous jobs, now is when you can decide whether or not this work-related activity fits into how YOU want YOUR life to be lived.
One example: I used my skills in marketing and advertising while working full-time at a company in Toronto. After doing this for a few years, I discovered I was better suited for creating content than for selling other people’s products through ads or event promotions.
When I started freelancing full-time, I was able to expand on my strengths by creating more content (blog posts) rather than doing sales or marketing work which turns out to be much more rewarding both financially and emotionally!
You Can Work On Building Up Multiple Streams Of Income
You can work on building up multiple streams of income. That’s right, you can work on your business and not on it. Yes, there will be days when things get tough and you feel like throwing in the towel. But this is where having multiple streams of income comes into play!
You can devote 10 hours a week or even less towards one stream while keeping yourself afloat with another stream until things get back on track again (and then some). You will always have something coming in which means you don’t need to panic if one client doesn’t pay right away or if someone decides to stop working with you temporarily or not at all!
Understanding the unique characteristics of Generation Z can provide valuable insights for freelancers targeting this demographic. Explore our guide on What Generation Z Is Like in School to gain a deeper understanding of this generation’s preferences and behaviors.
Final Thoughts
There are some great benefits to full-time freelancing, and it’s something you might want to consider. But as we said in the beginning, it’s not for everyone! If you don’t have a lot of work experience or aren’t sure where to start with freelancing, a traditional job may be better for now.
However, if you do go full-time freelance be prepared for some ups and downs; this is normal and part of the process. The key is making sure your clients are happy with what you provide them by providing good quality work consistently over time
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources to further explore the topic of full-time freelancing and its benefits:
Freelance vs. Full-Time: How to Decide Which Is Best for You: This article on Entrepreneur.com provides insights into the factors to consider when choosing between freelancing and full-time employment.
Benefits of Freelancing: Discover the advantages of freelancing and how it can positively impact your career and lifestyle in this blog post by Rock Content.
10 Reasons Why Freelancing Is Better Than Any 9-5 Job: Explore the various reasons why freelancing can be a superior alternative to traditional 9-5 jobs in this informative blog post from WeAreIndy.
People Also Ask
Do I Need To Be An Expert In My Field?
No! You just need to be able to do the work that you’re promising. If you can write a great blog post or create a successful ad campaign, that’s all we need no experience necessary.
Do I Need Experience?
Not necessarily. While it can be helpful, there are many ways to get started without any experience in your field. For instance, if you’re looking to write blogs or article content for websites, you can start by writing articles for blogs on topics that interest you.
You can also provide services like data entry or proofreading. Additionally, many companies and individuals post job listings on websites like Upwork that are perfect for beginners who want to get started with their businesses.
How Do I Get Started?
There are lots of ways! The easiest is to find someone who can refer you to potential clients and let them know you’re looking for work. This will get your name out there and help you build up some credibility as well as some real client projects while you’re starting.
How Much Money Will I Make?
That depends on what kind of work you do and how much time you spend on it. But if you’re serious about going full-time freelance, then this isn’t about money it’s about making sure your clients are happy with the work they pay for and then getting more clients who want more from you.
What Is A Full-Time Freelancer?
A full-time freelancer is someone who works as an independent contractor and takes on projects that are not directly related to their office job. The majority of these workers make their living through the freelance work they do.
Is It Easy To Become A Full-Time Freelancer?
Yes! Most people assume that becoming a full-time freelancer is difficult, but it’s quite simple. You just need to learn how to market yourself and find clients who want your services. Once you get started, it should get easier over time as you build up your client base and your reputation as an expert in your field of expertise.
Do I Need Special Training Or Certifications For This Kind Of Career?
No! Anyone can become a full-time freelancer as long as they have skills that would benefit other companies or individuals in some way (such as graphic design or web development).
There are no special certifications needed for this type of career path because most clients will judge you based on previous work experience rather than any particular certification process they may have undergone themselves before hiring someone.
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.