Moving away from 9 to 5 to being self-employed is a thought that has crossed many minds, but is it something that can work for you?
What does it mean to be a freelancer? Freelancing is a form of self-employment where a freelancer offers some services for a fee. Freelancers have been in existence for many decades but their number has been rapidly growing in the past few years. The internet has made this possible. Statistics say that in 10 years from now 40% of the workforce will be freelancers. The perks that come with being a freelancer just cannot be ignored -
Being a freelancer means working for yourself, starting your own business, and enjoying freedom as compared to a full-time job. You choose to wake up whenever you want, work for as little as 2-3 hours a day, and spend the rest of the day doing whatever you want without being accountable to anyone.
Most people dread their stable 9-5 jobs, their micromanaging bosses, and their routinely monotonous work. They dream of being independent and working for themselves. Freelancing is one way to do so.
Freelancing and being self-employed sounds like a dream to many. However, it isn't as easy as it may look or sound.
Here are some things no one tells you about being a freelancer -
It involves working twice as hard and as long as you are right now. If you work 40 hours a week, as a freelancer you can expect to work from 60 to even 80 hours a week.
You manage all the extra responsibility that comes along with running a business that includes marketing your services, accounting, and ensuring client satisfaction.
You need a solid strategy for securing clients. Even with clients, there is no guarantee that you'll always have them as your client.
Leaving a stable job with a regular income for something unstable is risky when you are tight on your finances.
The lines between workdays and holidays or weekends become blurred. You will mostly be constantly working particularly in the initial days of setting up your freelance career.
You need to start at lower rates than usual and it may take a while before you start making the same amount of money as your full-time job.
Freelancing requires a lot of self-discipline. Some people need external schedules and pressures to keep them focused. Traditional employment provides that safe environment, where you know your routine and expectations, and rarely have to give a second thought to what you should be doing at any given time.
When you work for yourself, you’ve got nobody to blame but yourself. You have to create your own schedule and manage your own work process.
These are some of the reasons why some just don't succeed in being self-employed. It just isn't meant for everyone. It is tough and requires you to come outside of your comfort zone. However, if you feel you could take on the challenges of being a freelancer, here are some reasons why you should consider it -
You can work from any part of the world for anyone. All you would need is your laptop and a fast, stable internet connection.
You can get out of the comfort zone of your full-time job and take risks.
With enough experience in the market, you can double your rates, half the working hours, and even get someone to work with you.
You can also begin freelancing without quitting your job as a side hustle and increase your income.
It also allows you to constantly learn and upgrade your skills.
There is no boring monotonous work when it comes to freelancing.
You also learn how to be disciplined and how to successfully get clients and manage a business.
Freelancing is a lot easier to start if you already have the necessary skills. If you do not have the skills yet, you can always learn the ones that interest you and open up new career opportunities.
It allows you to work from home at your convenience. You set your own timings.
The ultimate decision always depends on you as you need to decide for yourself what are you better suited for - a 9 to 5 or a freelance career.
The Ultimate Guide To Freelancing And Remote Work is a guide to help the user in being an independent and effective freelancer or remote worker.
This book will help you in -
Understanding the approach to being a freelancer.
Learning the type of freelance that works best for you.
Knowing how to set up your freelance business.
Creating contracts.
Setting prices and ensuring you get paid.
Learning the different types of clients and how to effectively deal with them.
Managing all your expenses and running a successful freelance business.
*BONUS INCLUDED*
Contract Template that you can use to create contracts with your clients.
List of over 30 websites to help you find remote work.
List of over 40 Facebook Groups to help you find freelance and remote work.
Printables and other additional resources to help you get up and running.
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