10 Reasons Why Freelancing is Better Than Any 9-5 Job

Beside the lack of job security, many freelancers also report the ongoing hassle of dealing with employers who don’t pay on time and the possibility of long periods without work. The total number of freelancers in USA is inexact, as of 2013, the most recent governmental report on independent contractors was published in 2005 by the U.S. At that time, there were approximately 10.3 million United States workers (7.4% of the workforce) employed as independent contractors of all sorts. In 2011, Jeffrey Eisenach, an economist at George Mason University, estimated that number of freelancers had grown by one million. While in 2012, the Aberdeen Group, a private research company, estimated that 26% (approx. 81 million) of the United States population was a part of the contingent workforce, a category of casual labor that includes freelancing.

While you’ll be starting on a much smaller scale, don’t underestimate the immediate benefit of getting your content featured on blogs and publications that can drive hundreds or even thousands of new visitors to your website. While deciding how much to charge for your freelance services is a major step toward determining your perceived value, you need to make sure you’re charging enough to make a sustainable, comfortable living. And remember that while highly trained freelancers can get paid much more for their work, you don’t have to head back to school for a BS in computer science to get on the train. Taking online classes like a Skillcrush Front End Development course can get you on the right track and put you in charge of your education. The more specific you can be about what services you offer, the better. Not only will it help you brand yourself, it’ll allow you to control how prospective clients perceive you and give you the opportunity to continue building your portfolio in the direction you want to move in.

Learning Discipline.

Most often, freelancers work as independent contractors—and this earned income is therefore considered self-employment income and will receive IRS form 1099. While people often freelance as a side job or “gig,” some people are able to turn freelancing into a full-time career.

For creative niche in the UK, I use the dots and Freelancer Club – both are community platforms, not marketplaces so they value their members more. Unlike most freelancing sites that list professional jobs, TaskRabbit provides a list of simple errands, such as household chores, lighting installation, and delivery.

How to find freelance graphic design work: best practices

Thanks to the internet, it is easier than ever to find people and businesses that need your services. You could work for clients who live across the country or across the world. You might even work with other freelancers who are many miles away from you. A freelancer is an individual who earns money on a per-job or per-task basis, usually for short-term work as an independent contractor. According to that same 2019 study, the median freelance income is $20-28 per hour. Of course with so many different freelance jobs available, that number can vary quite a bit.

Freelance work can benefit workers who have been laid off, reducing the incidence of overall unemployment in an economy. It’s on you to find a way to fill your time with paid work, whether it’s client https://www.wave-accounting.net/ direct, subcontracting, or through a jobs marketplace. These marketplaces serve as the middleman by aggregating freelance jobs on one side of the marketplace and freelance talent on the other.

Discount for 1-year full-time contract?

A beginner freelancer with no work experience may ponder how to get testimonials and samples of past projects. Offer them your services at a nominal price in exchange for testimonials. As a freelancer, you have to actively search for potential clients. Your client avatar can be a small business owner, start-up founder, coach, influencer, and many more. Now that you have decided what freelance services you will provide, start researching about your competitors.

Once your profile is verified, you are ready to search and apply for the job you want. Developers build mobile apps that take advantage of a device’s unique capabilities.

My rapid success in the world of freelancing is the result of a LOT of strategic positioning, hours of hard work, and good timing. Be consistent in your work and stay up-to-date with the changing market trends. Explore what a successful, fulfilling web design career can look like with this free, comprehensive course. Vikki Velasquez is a researcher and writer who has managed, coordinated, and directed various community and nonprofit organizations.

Apply different filters such as salary range, work experience, and post date to help find your preferred job match. Freelancers have a variety of reasons for freelancing, the perceived benefits differ by gender, industry, and lifestyle. For instance, the 2012 Freelance Industry Report reported that men and women freelance for different reasons. Female survey respondents indicated that they prefer the scheduling freedom and flexibility that freelancing offers, while male survey respondents indicated they freelance to follow or pursue personal passions. Freelancing also enables people to obtain higher levels of employment in isolated communities. The ability to pick and choose who the freelancer works with is another benefit.

As it’s a networking site, the more profiles you follow, the more posts will appear on your feed. Every freelancer that signs up on this freelance website gets a free basic membership. However, paid membership plans include more Freelancing tools to make your profile stand out. Job seekers can also access the company pages to learn more information such as a salary overview of a company, a list of benefits offered, and reviews submitted by its real employees.