Are you a freelancer or thinking about getting into it? Here are a few statistics about the options available to you, as well as the pros and cons of freelancing, provided by Survey Bee.
Freelancing: the facts
- More than half (57%) of freelancers find a new project online within 3 days.
- Self-employed workers tend to work either longer (>45hours) or shorter hours (<8hours) than regular employees.
- $930 million are spent by businesses each year to hire remote workers.
The 5 types of freelancers
- Independent contractors: Their work is project-based, however, they do not have an employer.
- Moonlighters: They do freelance work in addition to their day job.
- Diversified workers: They have various sources of employment, mixing traditional jobs with freelance.
- Temporary workers: Their work is project-based, but they have a single temporary employer.
- Freelance business owners: They may have hired a small team, but still consider themselves freelancers.
What are the advantages of freelancing?
- You are your own boss.
- You have the flexibility or working when you want, from where you want.
- You save time and money but not commuting.
What are the disadvantages of freelancing?
- No steady or reliable workload.
- You can easily become distracted or isolated when working from home.
- You don’t get employee benefits or perks.
What are the biggest challenges of a freelancer?
- Finding new clients.
- Project management.
- Managing legal and accounting matters.
Top tips for succeeding as a freelancer:
- You are your own company, so you must understand the basics of sales, marketing, accounting, and business.
- Networking is essential for getting your name out there and finding work. You can start with social media and a website.
- Communication is key. It’s important to get personal with customers and build good relationships.
Find out more in the infographic below.
[Image Credit: Shutterstock]
