Why We Freelance
A lot of freelancers I talk to tell me they’re just freelancing temporarily until they can find a full-time job. Hogwash me says (dang I missed pirate day). Freelancing is the best thing ever and way better than any job in the world – even lead programmer of Apple.
Some are scared to freelance and they never do – which might be a good thing because you have to be a strong warrior to survive the online war. But if you do, a lot of rewards are waiting for you! Need some convincing? Here’s why I enjoy freelancing:
- A lot more money - What full-time job is going to pay you $100+ an hours??
- Freedom to work when, where, with who and how you want.
- Time off – Not feeling like doing work today? Take off!
- Ability to have and do things you normally couldn’t – I just bought my dream car today (when this article was written). No way I would’ve been able to afford it with a regular job.
- No wasted time – Forget stupid meetings, office drama or intimidating bosses
- Tax write-offs for anything with the Apple logo on it
- No traffic!
I’d thought I’d ask some of the readers as well why they like freelancing…read on!
Why Twitter Readers Freelance
- @herzinger for an excuse to do something different of what I do in my regular job and for extra cash o/”
- @whochrisporter I hate coming home from the 9-5 and do nothing and I love to make the web a more beautiful and functional place.
- @lz430 It helps me stretch creatively and also let’s me brush up on my people skills.
- @danoprey Number 1: Flexibility. Fiancee lives across the Atlantic, so we couldn’t be together if we were both geographically tied.
- @shikeb Freelance gives me freedom to do everything according to me. Like opting projects, amount, work schd & the client it self.
- @AndrewChamp Money, boredum, enjoy doing it.
- @travisro Freedom and flexibility. Also, income is only capped by my willingness to be creative.
- @myFootPath The ability to address/write about additional topics in addition to those I write about in the workplace. And of course the extra $ doesn’t hurt either!
- @seanheilweil I can work from anywhere in the world, provided I have an internet connection.
- @scottdot I work full-time in another field and freelance on the side to earn a bit of extra dough
- @astarkdan I freelance because 1) I like being my own boss, 2) It’s fun as hell and 3) I’m constantly learning
- @joshhemsley easily the #1 answer for me is being home w/ my family. The other is control over project selection. Can filter out BS easier
- @ldpDesign So that I don’t have someone breathing down my neck scrutinizing my every move! To go after projects that I find interesting.
- @RajDole It’s fun and I can take time out to learn something new everyday + I can continue my studies/college while working
- @John_A_Clarke flexibility, work on the things that I want to
- @nicholaswyoung The ability to choose my own lifestyle. I decide when to work, and when to spend time with friends and family…not to mention, I have the option of workshifting.
- @remixcreative I get to speak directly to the clients and find out about them and get a good idea of what they want and how best to achieve it. Working through account managers always gets in the way of this dynamic
- @george_elias I want to freelance for the possibility of making my own decisions, receiving the rewards of my hard work, freedom time mgmt
- @pixiegirltweets I enjoy choosing the clients I get to work with. It makes a huge difference working on projects you’re excited about!
- @indycoding Why do I freelance? Get to choose who I work w/ and how, not embarrassed by incompetent co-workers, feels great!
- @nathanielks it allows me to have a life away from work. I love being able to be involved in different ministries, as well as my own =D
Why Facebook Readers Freelance
- Dan Denno Get away from the corporate red tape and being able to say no and not getting fired.
- Nicole Amber Foster I wanted the freedom to jump right into web design and learn everything I could about it. Freelancing was naturally the best choice because it allows you to do that on your own terms.
- Edward Labuschagne Have more freedom to explore my own creativity,and then there is of course the satisfaction of dealing hands on with the final product.
- Eric Zentner I freelance because I don’t think I could work any other way any more. Freelancing is the ultimate leap of faith in your own abilities, and everyone should try it at least once in their lives. It lets you choose the type of work you think will make you most happy (eventually) and simply go after that work. There’s very little politics to deal with, like in an office, but all of the possible success and prestige that can come with doing great work. It’s really the way of the future for designers!
- Melissa Rogers Ek Freedom to choose the projects I want to work on. Freedom to set my own hours (even tho I normally work 8am-6pm). Freedom to take the dog to the park in the middle of the day or take a 1/2 day off spontaneously.
So, I guess I’d say “FREEDOM”! - Dennis Campos Lozada I’m from venezuela, design industry its totally down here, and people don’t want to pay enought for an iilustration, logo or maybe a web siten so I live better selling my work for the rest of the work. Dennis Campos Lozada from Madrockstars.com
Your Turn
Why do you freelance?
About the author
Amber Weinberg specializes in clean and semantic XHTML, CSS and WordPress development. She has over 10 years of coding experience and is pretty cool to work with. Amber is available for freelance work, so why not hire her for your next project?
I cannot agree with you more on this subject, Amber. It was an ambition of mine to work for myself before I even left high school. After 5 or 6 years of working for other people and finding myself making too many personal compromises.
I decided to go freelance over 3 years ago now, and it has it’s challenges, but I wouldn’t change it for anything. My life. My responsibility. My choices. My freedom.
As I mentioned in my tweet as featured above (thanks for the mention, by the way!), one of the things I love most about freelancing is that I always need to keep learning, keep analysing the ways in which I work, the methods I use, and their impact in this ever-changing age we live in!
Exactly! I often had to work on projects I hated or were even morally against! I’ve never been happier since I started freelancing.
Always interesting to see why other ppl freelance. I love @indycoding ‘s answer
So true, so true.
I’ve started freelancing as temporary solution when I lost my job. 15 months past and I’m still alive and not homeless
I chose projects, clients, time, place. i.e: Last month I was working on Daytona beach’s sands with swimsuit
Freelancing is completely peace of mind.
I’m so jealous! I haven’t gotten to work on the beach yet
AWESOME! Post Amber
I work full time AND freelance, and I always inevitably enjoy my freelance jobs more because I can pick and choose which jobs I take and which I pass on. Doing both is exhausting, though, and the idea of freelancing full time is really tempting sometimes!
What’s stopping you from going full-time?
Nothing, really. My plan is to go full-time at some point in the next few years, but I think I’m gaining some important skills and experience by working for someone. I’ll probably be a better full-time freelancer with that behind me.
I think it’s great when people jump right in, though! Obviously there are a lot of benefits
Fun post – all excellent reasons!
With freelancing I have much more control over my projects, my choices, my creativity.
Besides, how else could I legitimately write off part of my house, my utilities, and half the tech crap I buy in a year?
Very inspiring! I like all the different responses. Many different reasons…
I do it because it gives me a chance to utilize my creative flair. Ever since I could remember I was drawing, color, dancing, designing, it’s something I love to do. Being a freelance graphic designer give me that creative outlet that I love so much!
Thanks for sharing!
Why I freelance is kind of a funny story actually. Well back when I was twelve or thirteen, I began looking for a part time job at different stores in the area I live in. I never got a job,
. At the time Myspace was really in and everyone wanted a custom design for their page. I figured it wouldn’t be that hard to figure out how to design them and decided it was a great move. After a while of learning and going through countless tutorials, I became a pretty good designer and developer.
To sum all that up, I freelance because I couldn’t get a job. I’m now 17, have have become a freelance designer, developer and writer, and been freelancing under my own brand officially for almost two years now. I’m probably going to laugh at this all day now, lol
I’m surprised no one has asked. What dream car did you buy?
Also, how long have you been freelancing? I saw your post a couple days ago on charging more where you mentioned at you charged $30/hour early in your career and now imply you’re able to charge $100+/hour.
Mind giving us a timeline of that progression (i.e. first two years at $30, then 50, then 75, etc.)?
I got a black 2008 S2000 with red interior
My timeline has honestly been really short. I’ve been freelancing since college, but I’ve only been seriously full-time freelancing for a little over a year. I don’t remember exactly, but I believe I charged like $35 the first 1-3 months, $50 the fourth month, $75 5-6 months and then $100+ 6+ months. I was really bouncing around trying to figure out what my niche market could support with my level of skill, and I’ve seemed to settle into a great number so far. My rate actually varies a little since I charge by the project and it depends on how quick I get it done, but I very rarely go below $100 an hour.
Nice! Congrats on the S2000. I actually saw one with a red interior driving into my work’s parking lot yesterday.
And dang! I’ve only recently been following your blog, but I’ll have to dig through the archives and glean some wisdom on how you managed your epic climb to $100+/hour.
In six months? That’s ridiculous.
Any useful posts you can think of off the top of your head?
Where are you located?
None I can think of besides the charging more article, though you’re welcome to skim the articles I wrote from the very beginning. I believe I wrote about some of the challenges I had.
Lovely Jacksonville, FL!
I really enjoy being fully responsible for completing a project from start to finish, and the sense of accomplishment that comes from handing over a finished project to a satisfied client. I also love working at home on my own schedule and not having to commute or sit in an office all day.
Good money, freedom and a lot of personal time. And it’s not “till I get a job”, this is what I’d like to do for the rest of my life.
I always inevitably enjoy my freelance jobs more because I can pick and choose which jobs I take and which I pass on.
I freelance for several reasons, I still run a small agency which is specialist but there I don’t get to work on custom, bespoke projects which I really miss.
The extra cash is always good but getting to work on new projects with new problems keeps boredom away and keeps you sharp