What Being Freelance Means

If you’re thinking about going freelance, you may have a very romanticized idea of what that means. It means freedom. You make your hours.

You can work in your PJs. But while there are a lot of perks both real and imagined to being self-employed, the hard reality is that it’s basically like starting a new business every day.

If you’re ready to take the plunge into freelancing (or if you’re currently doing it), here are some common myths about being self-employed debunked:

Takeaways
1. Freelancing offers flexibility and independence in choosing your work and clients.
2. Being a freelancer requires self-discipline and effective time management skills.
3. Freelancing involves taking responsibility for your own finances, including invoicing and taxes.
4. Networking and building relationships are essential for freelancers to find new opportunities.
5. Freelancing can provide a platform for personal and professional growth and development.
6. Balancing work-life boundaries is crucial to maintain a healthy work-life balance as a freelancer.
7. Freelancers often face challenges such as fluctuating income and the need for self-motivation.
8. Embracing continuous learning and staying updated with industry trends is important for freelancers.
9. Building a strong personal brand can help freelancers stand out in a competitive market.
10. The freelance lifestyle can be rewarding, but it requires resilience and adaptability to succeed.

You Have To Do Your Time Management

As a freelancer, you are the boss. You are in charge of your own time and how it is spent. This means that you need to be disciplined and organized enough to plan out your day or weeks ahead so that the work gets done on time.

It also means that you may be able to say no to clients who want work done outside of your schedule if they don’t fit into your production schedule, they can wait until another time when they do fit into it!

You have to be able to say no when needed (even if it’s hard), otherwise it will lead you down a path where there is too much work coming in at once and not enough time left over for anything else and this could potentially lead back into being overwhelmed with everything else going on around us!

Freelancing is not just a job, it’s a business. Treat it like one to unlock its full potential. Check out our article on why you should treat freelancing like a business to gain valuable insights and strategies.

You Have To Find Your Clients

As a freelancer, you’re on your own. You need to be able to market yourself and find your clients, without the help of an employer. After Dan got laid off from his previous job in media sales, he had no trouble getting work as a freelance writer. 

The problem was that it didn’t pay very well: “I started doing internships again and working at coffee shops just so that I wouldn’t starve.” You also need to be able to find gigs on your own if someone else is paying for everything (including taxes), then they get all the power over what happens with them.

So when Dan got an offer from a major newspaper company, it seemed like an easy way out of unemployment for him: “It was only one year contract though so I’m still looking for my next gig.”

The best way for people who want full-time employment with benefits will always be through employers but if you want freedom and flexibility in your career path then this may not always apply

You Need To Be Prepared For Rejection. A Lot Of It

As a freelancer, you’re on your own. That means you have to be ready for rejection and the possibility that you may not get paid for the work you do.

This can be difficult, but it’s important to remember that there are many reasons why someone might say no to your offer or not sign any contract with you: maybe they think their budget is too small; maybe their project has already been completed, or maybe they just don’t like your style of writing (and there’s nothing wrong with that).

If a client rejects one of my proposals, I always try to think about what it takes for me as a freelancer who relies on my clients for income: how much time did I spend working on this proposal? How many times did I revise it before submitting it? What kind of message does this rejection send?

And then I look at myself in the mirror and ask myself if what I’m asking is reasonable wouldn’t it be better just to take another look at the proposal and see if there’s anything else we could have done differently here?

As a freelancer, understanding contract clauses is crucial for protecting your rights and ensuring a smooth working relationship. Explore our comprehensive guide on design contract clauses that every freelancer should know to negotiate better contracts.

You’ll Likely Have To Take Gigs You Don’t Want

When you’re freelancing, you have to do what it takes to make ends meet. If a client wants a job done in a certain way and your judgment says that’s not the best approach, you’ll have to suck it up and do what they want anyway. This can be especially hard when your clients are asking for things that go against your values or beliefs (and yes, this does happen). 

For example, I once had a client who wanted me to ghostwrite an article about how she was going through IVF treatments for her infertility issues (she was single). I refused because of my personal beliefs around reproductive rights and ended up having very little work from her after that happened.

Anxiety Is A Common Side Effect

Anxiety is another common side effect of freelancing. It’s hard to feel like you have control over your life when you’re constantly juggling multiple projects and worrying about money, deadlines, or other clients.

(You might also be anxious because you’re working too much.) The good news is that there are plenty of ways to manage anxiety from deep breathing exercises to therapy but you must seek out help if your anxiety becomes overwhelming.

Anxiety isn’t something that should be ignored or swept under the rug because it can be a sign of something bigger like depression or stress (or both).

If you find yourself feeling anxious for extended periods, take a look at how much sleep and exercise are getting into your routine; these are crucial components in fighting stress and depression symptoms like anxiety.

Sometimes You’ll Put A Lot Of Work Into A Project, Only To Have The Client Either Disappear Or Reject Your Work

It’s important to understand that as a freelancer, you will receive a lot of rejection. Sometimes your work will be rejected by clients even though you have put a lot of time and effort into it. This can be frustrating, but it’s important to remember that when this happens, it’s not personal; it’s just business.

You should also expect clients who disappear after taking advantage of your skills and expertise, leaving you unpaid for all the work you put into them. Keep in mind that this is part of being freelance: some people are never going to pay what they owe or pay on time it just happens sometimes.

And finally…if someone does take advantage of your skills and expertise without paying for them (or just doesn’t pay at all), don’t stress about it too much they’re not worth worrying about anyway!

Are you looking to kick-start your freelancing career? We’ve got you covered! Discover our expert tips and advice on how to kick-start your freelancing career in less than a month and accelerate your journey to success.

You May Not Be Able To Turn Down Work, Even When You’re Sick Or Your Family Needs You 

As a freelancer, you’ll be doing a lot of work for people who don’t know or care about what’s best for you. You’ll need to be able to say no when:

• Your family needs you
• You’re sick
• Your mental health is just too unstable

This means that some days, you may feel like you can’t turn down work because your bank account is low and clients will get upset if they don’t get the results they want. And that’s fine! But it also means that sometimes saying no (politely) can help protect your mental health.

It Can Feel Isolating To Be Self-Employed, Especially If You’re Working From Home

You may feel isolated. It can be hard to find a place where you feel comfortable working from home, and it’s easy to start feeling like you have no one to talk to about your work problems. 

You might not have a boss or coworkers for daily collaboration and socialization, but this doesn’t mean that there aren’t other freelancers around you who are also struggling with the same things but in different capacities (such as an editor or designer).

If there’s no coworking space near you or if those spaces don’t seem like a good fit for what your needs are, then look into joining an online community where freelancers congregate there should be plenty!

You may not have access to company culture. This is another possible downside of being self-employed: there’s no one else in charge of determining whether your workplace is fun or boring; it’s all up to how well-structured the work environment is on its own merits (and yours). 

But if there were someone else running things, they could make sure that everyone gets their fair share at whatever company events they choose and maybe even ensure that those events happen at all.

The great thing about companies though is their ability “culture” often has nothing whatsoever to do with actual culture itself; companies want employees doing their jobs well so those companies can make money off each sale/transaction/clause signed onto paper…

It’s Hard To Find A Balance Between Work And Life

It’s hard to find a balance between your work and personal life. As a freelancer, you have to prioritize your work because you often have more projects than hours in the day. But it’s also important to remember that there is more to life than just work you must be willing to say no when something outside of your business comes up that needs your attention.

As a freelance writer, I often feel as though my personal life doesn’t matter enough because all my time goes towards writing articles for clients and keeping up with social media channels like Twitter and LinkedIn so potential clients can find me easily.

However, I learned quickly that trying too hard while neglecting friends or family will lead nowhere productive; instead, it’s better if I take breaks from clients every once in a while so I can spend quality time with loved ones instead of making them feel like a second priority.

Balancing freelancing with maternity leave can be challenging, but it’s definitely possible. Read the inspiring story of how freelancing affected one individual’s life during maternity leave in our article on how freelancing affected life during maternity leave and gain insights on managing both roles effectively.

It’s Easy To Feel Like A Failure When Your Income Fluctuates Or You Lose A Client

It’s easy to feel like a failure when your income fluctuates or you lose a client, but remember that this is normal for freelancers. It’s not always easy to find new clients, and some of the work may be less than exciting. 

You might have to take gigs that aren’t exactly what you want (or can’t turn them down because of financial necessity). You might even pull extra shifts to get by at times when your mental health issues flare up and you can’t manage as well as usual.

Getting Health Insurance Is Difficult Because Most Freelancers Don’t Make Enough Money On Their Own To Afford It

If you’re a freelancer, you probably know that getting health insurance is difficult. Most freelancers don’t make enough money on their own to afford it, and they don’t qualify for employer-provided plans.

That means that if you or a family member gets sick, there’s no safety net covering your care. To get affordable coverage as a self-employed person in the United States (and many other countries).

You need to show proof of income and be actively working at least part-time for seven out of 12 months during the initial enrollment period before qualifying for any benefits or else pay substantially more than someone with full-time employment would have paid under an employer-sponsored plan.

If this sounds like too much work or stress just so your body can stay healthy and cancer doesn’t come back again then maybe it’s time to start thinking about moving somewhere where life is easier.

Your Taxes Will Likely Be More Complicated Than What Most People Fill Out. Prepare For Some Sticker Shock At Tax Time

Being your boss means you have to do all the work. You’ll be responsible for doing your taxes, which is more complicated than what most people fill out. Prepare for some sticker shock at tax time.

The IRS has different rules for freelancers than they do for employees, small businesses, large businesses, or corporations. For example: if you have a regular W2 job and make $100,000 a year in income then you only owe $8500 in taxes (25%) on your paycheck every two weeks ($4200/month). 

However if as a freelancer working solely on contracts and getting paid by check every two weeks you make $100k working full-time then your total tax bill would be over twice as much at $16k (30%).

Looking to expand your freelance business? The freelance agency model can be a game-changer. Learn all about it and discover how to apply it in your own business with our detailed guide on the freelance agency model to scale your freelancing endeavors.

Final Thoughts

Freelancing has its downsides, but the upsides are worth it. The freedom is amazing, the lack of work drama is fabulous, and the ability to set your schedule is wonderful. If you want to make a living as a freelancer, be prepared for some bumps along the way while you figure out how to balance everything that goes into self-employment.

Further Reading

The Economic Times: Stay updated with the latest news, analysis, and insights on various topics including business, finance, and global affairs.

FlexJobs Blog: What Is a Freelancer?: Gain a clear understanding of what freelancing entails and explore the benefits, challenges, and opportunities associated with being a freelancer.

Dictionary.com: Freelance: Get the definition of the term “freelance” and explore its origins, usage, and related terms in this comprehensive dictionary entry.

And here’s the FAQs section in markdown format:

FAQs

What are the benefits of treating freelancing as a business?

Treating freelancing as a business can lead to increased professionalism, better financial management, and more opportunities for growth and success.

What are some common contract clauses freelancers should be aware of?

Freelancers should familiarize themselves with clauses related to payment terms, project scope, intellectual property rights, termination, and dispute resolution.

How can I kick-start my freelancing career quickly?

To kick-start your freelancing career, focus on building a strong portfolio, networking with potential clients, leveraging online platforms, and continuously improving your skills.

How can freelancing impact maternity leave and vice versa?

Freelancing during maternity leave can offer flexibility and income opportunities, but it also requires careful planning and balancing of responsibilities. It can empower individuals to maintain professional growth while caring for their newborns.

What is the freelance agency model and how can it benefit freelancers?

The freelance agency model involves freelancers collaborating under a unified brand or agency. It can provide shared resources, a broader client base, and opportunities for specialization, ultimately leading to increased visibility and higher earning potential.

What Is Being Freelance?

Being freelance is being your boss, you can work from anywhere with an internet connection. You decide when you work, what you work on, and how much money you make. 

Many people start their own business as freelancers because they want to do something that they love or because they need the extra income. If you want to be your boss and make money doing it then being freelance could be for you!

What Are The Challenges Of Being A Freelancer?

As a freelancer, you have to be your boss, which can be difficult if you’re used to working in teams. You also have to be able to manage your time effectively, since there’s no one else around to remind you when it’s time for lunch or if it’s time to leave for the day. 

But the biggest challenge is probably finding work there aren’t many jobs out there for freelancers, and it can be hard to get started on your own.

What Are Some Of The Benefits Of Being A Freelancer?

The biggest benefit is that you don’t have any bosses telling you what to do every single day (unless you’re an assistant or something like that).

Also, there are no coworkers around all day long who just want to talk about their cat videos or how they got “lurked” by someone on Instagram yesterday afternoon you only see those people when they need something done at work (and then it’s only once every few days).

What Does It Mean To Be A Freelancer?

A freelancer is someone who works on an independent basis, rather than as part of an organization or company. They may work for one client at a time or many clients at once it all depends on the type of work they do and how much work they want.

Freelancers have more flexibility than employees because they can choose when and where they work, but some downsides come with being your boss.

What Is The Difference Between Freelancing And Being An Employee?

A lot of people are looking to be their boss these days, but that doesn’t always mean they want to work for themselves.

Many people dream of working as freelancers, but they don’t know what it means to be a freelancer. There are a lot of misconceptions about what it is to be a freelancer, so we’ve put together this list of some of the most common questions about freelancing.

Do I Need A Degree To Be A Freelance Writer?

No, not at all! Many writers don’t have degrees or formal training in writing but that doesn’t mean that they can’t write. The only thing that matters is if you can write well enough to get paid for it. If you want to become a freelance writer then just start writing articles online and see if anyone wants to pay for them.