Why Freelance?

There are many pros and cons when it comes to freelancing, as we’ll see, and a whole range of factors about your current situation need to be seriously considered before you hand your boss the letter of resignation.

First of all, freelancing is not for everyone. Although many people find that the advantages outweigh the potential pitfalls, sooner or later some people will decide that they’re just not comfortable with the freelance life.

Advantages of the Freelance Life

Flexible working hours :

    The ability to work the hours you want is a huge advantage for most people. Family commitments and school runs, part-time study, or simply your internal body clock’s unique cycle may mean that you prefer to work early in the morning, or late into the evening.

Watching Weird Work Hours :

      Having flexible hours does not mean that most of your clients are likely to feel as strongly as you that 2.00 a.m. is the best time to be working. You’ll likely find that after enough 9.00 a.m. phone calls and meetings, it’s best to fall in line with business hours for at least part of your day.

Flexible work location :

   When you first consider freelancing, you’ll probably glance around your own home, determining where you’ll create your office space and deciding that you can finally justify that shiny red espresso machine. Certainly, it is highly desirable to have some space at home that’s quiet, comfortable, interruption-free, and conducive to work.

However, don’t discount the concept of being truly mobile—many cafes and libraries now have free wireless Internet, or you can arrange your own mobile wireless broadband. You can also treat these locations as a complement to your home office; this can help to counter the monotony of working in isolation. You’ll likely meet other local freelancers doing the same as you!

Choice of projects :

      We've all had the experience of working on a project or for a client that promised to turn into a nightmare from the outset, which we’d prefer to have avoided if we’d had a say in the matter. As a freelancer, once you’re established, you’re in control—you have the opportunity to refuse projects or clients.

Being in charge :

     The feeling of strength and autonomy that comes from being in charge of your life’s direction is a major draw card. For many people, this is the main reason to head down the freelancing path.

Constant education :

    It’s no coincidence that many people attracted to the freelance lifestyle also have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. Freelancing can allow you the flexibility to spend more time on research and planned education than would a normal nine-to-five job. Want to read that new typography book, or catch up on that agile development blog? Sure, jump right on in; no one’s looking over your shoulder, and the time is yours to spend as you please—deadlines permitting.

Wide variety of projects :

   Unlike an in-house salaried position—where you may find yourself slaving away on the same mind-numbing web application or site for twelve months because you’re assigned to do so—you have the opportunity to work across multiple industries and switch your focus between large and small projects.

Freedom in clothing choice :

  Last but not least, a number of people have reported to me that the prospect of being able to wear what they wanted was a definite factor in their decision to go freelance. Being able to shed the suit, tie, make-up, and high heels—whichever apply!—in favor of shorts and a T-shirt has a certain appeal for many.

Don’t throw that suit out, though; you may still need it upon occasion for client meetings!

Disadvantages of the Freelance Life

Financial insecurity :

     Easily the biggest disadvantage for many people is that ocean effect upon the bank balance. Money tends to come in and go out with an ebb-and-flow cycle, especially when you've just started out. One week you’ll feel rich, rebelling in your self-made status; the next you’ll be wondering how you’ll put gas in the car.

This problem can largely be avoided by understanding, controlling, and being acutely aware of your cash flow. However, for many people the unpredictability of finances becomes the reason they return to full-time employment after a period of freelancing. We’ll cover strategies to avoid these issues in Chapter 3.

Loneliness :

     It’s not uncommon for freelancers to feel absolutely cut off from the rest of the world, especially if they’re single and working from home. This can be alleviated by joining local freelance or micro business networks, and making the effort to socialize after work hours with friends and family. If you’re busy, it can be all too easy to feel that you can’t justify spending time on such frivolity.

Blurring of home and work times :

        Flexible work hours can be a double-edged sword. Without a high level of self-control and a strict understanding of when you’re working and when you’re at leisure, you risk burning yourself out by working around the clock.

This can, of course, also become an issue when your clients start thinking they can call you anytime. It mightn't seem like a problem at first, but those early Sunday morning calls will soon make you feel otherwise.

wearing all those different hats Not only do you find that you don’t have as much free time as you’d hoped, but those tasks that absorb a lot of your time you probably don’t even want to know about: selling, marketing, bookkeeping, dealing with legal matters, debt collecting, and the like.

Loss of salaried benefits :

     These benefits are often overlooked. Freelancers are susceptible to letting themselves down when it comes to health benefits, holiday planning, superannuation, and insurance. Other “soft benefits” you may have taken for granted, such as the gym membership, a vehicle allowance, or even use of the company car, can be sorely missed when they’re not there anymore.

With the tightened purse-strings of the starting phase of your freelance life, it’s tempting to put these essentials aside—and risk being caught short when you unexpectedly need them.