Freelancing is a form of self-employment where a specialist provides their services to various clients on a project or contract basis. Instead of working as part of a single company, a freelancer is an independent contractor.
Companies of any size can hire freelancers to complete specific projects. Importantly, freelancers are responsible for paying their own taxes, health insurance, pension contributions, and covering their own expenses for vacations or sick leave. They have the flexibility to set their own working hours and place of work.
Freelancers are typically knowledge workers with a high level of qualification: designers, programmers, copywriters, translators, project managers. Unlike "gig workers," freelancers primarily use the internet to perform their tasks.
Gig worker is a person who performs short-term tasks, projects, or provides services on demand, usually through online platforms or mobile apps. They typically handle one-off, small-scale tasks (online tutor, courier, taxi driver), while freelancers mainly work on complex and long-term projects, have direct relationships with clients, and are more responsible for finding orders and marketing their services.
How to organize freelance activity?
Freelancing is similar to running your own small business. Here are some things to consider before starting freelance activity:
To start working as a freelancer (i.e., officially), you will need to register your business with local authorities. Keep in mind that the legal entity you choose (e.g., sole proprietorship, LLC) will affect the amount of taxes you have to pay, your personal liability, and the amount of documentation required.
After registering your business, you will be legally obligated to file tax returns and pay taxes. To avoid getting bogged down in paperwork at the end of the year, it's better to establish a clear system for your accounts and expenses right away.
Even if you work as a freelancer, you should have the same security and peace of mind as when working in a company. It's worth considering paying for specialized medical, business insurance, or income insurance for freelancers to protect yourself from unforeseen circumstances.
In many cases, freelancers are not legally required to open a bank account, but most do so anyway. The ability to separate personal and business finances significantly simplifies expense reimbursement and calculating business profit at the end of the financial year.
Creating a list of clients before becoming a freelancer is a good way to ensure you have enough work, even during quiet periods of the year. Additionally, as many freelancers testify, there is no better way to promote your services than to receive a recommendation from a client.
A freelance contract is a legal document that you and your client must sign before starting any work on a new project. What may initially seem like a boring formality is actually the best way to protect yourself from non-payment, liability, and potential legal issues.
Advantages and disadvantages of freelancing
As the number of freelancers grows year by year, many describe the decision to become a freelancer as life-changing. Here are some common advantages of leaving a standard 9-to-5 job for freelance work.
One of the biggest advantages is that you set your own working hours. This allows you to work when you are most productive or adjust work to fit personal needs. You can work on weekends and rest on weekdays, or split your workday into parts.
An advantage is independence from a physical office. You can work from home, a coworking space, a café, while traveling, or from anywhere in the world where there is internet.
You are not limited to tasks from a single employer. You can take only those projects that interest you.
Unlike a fixed salary, your income in freelancing depends solely on your productivity, the number of projects, and the prices you set. You can see how each completed project directly affects your bank account.
Disadvantages
Irregular income is probably the biggest disadvantage. There can be periods of "quiet" when there are few or no orders at all. Payments from clients can also be irregular.
You are responsible for everything—from finding clients, negotiating and signing contracts to actually doing the work, invoicing, and collecting payments.
If you constantly work from home and have little interaction with the outside world, you can quickly feel lonely.
People often find it hardest when they face business challenges and have to bear all the responsibility themselves. To avoid this, many freelancers choose coworking spaces—shared workspaces where they can find like-minded individuals, allowing them to avoid isolation and separate their home life from work.
Networking groups are another way for freelancers to meet like-minded individuals with varying levels of experience.
Networking(from English "networking") is the process of building and maintaining a network of professional or social contacts that can be useful for sharing information, support, finding opportunities, and mutual assistance. Essentially, it is purposeful connection with people.
Freelancing is like a ticket to independence, where you are your own boss. It's not just a job; it's a lifestyle that allows you to live as you like. People choose freelancing because it offers incredible freedom, the ability to tailor work to their needs rather than the other way around.
