In October 2018, I setup my freelance marketing business. Prior to that, I had just been made redundant from my full-time marketing role for a relatively large automative retailer. I had already been toying with the idea of freelancing for a little while but didn’t quite have the bottle, until the redundancy came and the decision was made for me! Much to my surprise, I’m glad it happened as I couldn’t be happier! In my FIRST BLOG (exciting times!) I share the top 5 pros and cons I found when entering the freelance / self-employed game.

PRO 1: No managers!

Being your own boss is amazing; it’s a novelty I don’t think will ever wear off. My previous jobs were all burdened with management that was incredibly difficult to work with, and so taking things into your own hands – without having to prove yourself to anyone – is very uplifting!

CON 1: You have no manager

Curveball… Having all the accountability can be both a good and bad thing. Having a manager adds a sense of security, especially when they make the decisions; it creates a notion that you can’t be entirely ‘blamed’ if things go wrong. However, getting too comfortable in that safety blanket can make full control seem a little daunting…

PRO 2: Flexibility

Managing my own workload is something I once feared, but the flexibility it offers is very refreshing. We all strive for a so-called ‘work/life’ balance and it couldn’t be easier when you are freelancing. Whether it’s a trip away or even just another hour in bed on those dreaded Monday mornings, you can make ‘work’ fit around you without permission from anyone else!

CON 2: Holidays aren’t paid.

Most full-time jobs provide paid holidays known as ‘annual leave’. One major downside to self-employment is that this doesn’t exist when you make your own money, which means you have to be extra careful when planning time off, taking financial factors into account more than normal.

PRO 3: Following your passion

Freelancing / Self-employment allows you to focus on something you enjoy – the modern age and powers of social media gives us everything we need to start a business on literally ANYTHING we want! Further to my previous point on flexibility, freelancing may also allow you to spend more time on other hobbies and passions you may have aisde from your business, whereas you may struggle with a rigid 9am-5pm job.

CON 3: It’s hard to switch off

One thing I soon realised about freelancing is that it’s incredibly hard to switch off, even when you’re not working. The flexibility is amazing but even days off or time away can still be filled with me checking my phone for latest updates, monitoring ad campaigns and responding to emails. When you love what you do, it’s not a major problem, but for people who like to switch off completely, it could be a bit of a challenge.

PRO 4: You appreciate money more

The biggest lesson I have taken from freelancing is my appreciation for money, and I’m not talking about ‘amounts’ of money here, but instead the feeling of actually EARNING it off your own back. I’m definitely a lot ‘smarter’ with money now because of that. There’s no denying you have to work a little harder to earn your keep when freelancing – I promise this is still a pro! When you have the security of a full-time job, it’s human instinct to maybe cut some corners or take an extra 5 minutes on your lunch break, but when you have your own business, no work means no money. Although I’m not all about money, it’s healthy (more often than not) to make that direct connection as it generally warrants a certain level of ‘success’.

CON 4: Money is not always guaranteed.

This probably supports my previous point if anything, but it’s a major downside to running your own business. A full time-job normally guarantees a pay cheque at the end of each month, but when freelancing, it’s so easy for a client to decide they no longer want the work, need to reschedule or have to cancel altogether. It can put you in some sticky situations if you become entirely dependant on one particular job or booking. My advice is to try and source and market for more work than you may think is manageable – looking at your diary for the month instead of the week – and NEVER plan how you are spending money before you even have it!

PRO 5: The clients!

Variety is the spice of life! From martial arts to home development, I’ve already had the pleasure of working with a great range of clients. It’s always amazing to discover people’s passion, and for myself, interesting to see the mechanics of logistics behind the scenes of different industries. You’ll certainly broaden your horizons and the more varied your clientele, the easier it is to market for further work.

CON 5: Clients who don’t pay!

With good clients, come bad ones! Even while writing this blog, I am filing my second money claim for a client that refused to pay. I hope to see him on Channel 5’s next series of “Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away!”. It’s not the ideal route and can definitely jeopardise future work, but there’s no worse feeling than having wasted your time… The biggest advice I can give to anyone is ALWAYS draw up a contract before starting work – as should things go a south, you have legal proof that you are entitled to your money!
So there we have it – we got through my first blog! Hopefully that wasn’t too painful and was a help to anyone looking to start their freelancing career. It can definitely be a struggle at times but is incredibly rewarding. To stay updated on future blogs like this, be sure to subscribe below!