Comments on: Why I dislike “freelance”

By: Kat Cummins

Kat Cummins — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 20:00:15 +0000

Great post! I too have been ‘freelancing’ for awhile… cringing every time I say the word but not knowing what else to call myself. ‘Independent’ sounds so much better!

By: Indoor golf simulator

Indoor golf simulator — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 09:05:00 +0000

There is nothing to hate freelance. I like it as all my money is mine and I can work at my convenience.

By: Adam

Adam — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 18:32:46 +0000

@Mike, you’ll soon find out that going back as in-house designer won’t help that much, in my opinion it’s better to be employed in NZ to avoid paying only on your own, the taxes.
Not to mention here that in-house you’ll probably work every day long, most fo the time.

By: adsl fpt

adsl fpt — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 02:13:32 +0000

I just thing a freelance would mean you work as free, not in any company.

By: steve moore

steve moore — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 17:56:45 +0000

why are you paying 40% in taxes? I think you need a better accountant… I pay around ten to fifteen, even after being audited as an S-corp.

By: Web Designer Mudgee

Web Designer Mudgee — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 12:33:45 +0000

Very true. I’ve been “freelancing” on and off since 1998, and continuously for the past 6 or so years, and must say it sometime suck how customers treat you or expect you to make great websites for $500 etc, but nothing compares to the freedom of being self emplyed. LOVE IT TO THE BITS! :)

By: Steven Soshea

Steven Soshea — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 22:27:10 +0000

Nice post.

I have worked freelance many times during my career. I have found that here will always be potential clients who look to exploit freelancers. But having a very solid contract, charging per project rather than hourly, as well as having minimum fees, can help to dissuade the riff-raff. Establishing limits with a client gives you credibility and promotes respect. Most ironically, within reason, the more you charge, the more clients tend to treat you well; and a side benefit, the quality of clients tends to get better.

As a few others have mentioned, I prefer the term “independent” when doing direct client work, although “freelance” or “contract” can be useful when picking up agency project work.

One other important point, along with all of the unpaid tasks of running business, being a successful freelancer means that you also have to have stellar design skills and stay current with trends and technology. This research and development takes time and commitment. As an independent designer, to have business value, you need to be as good or better than a boutique firm.

By: Shane

Shane — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:43:20 +0000

This was a really great and interesting read, you have addressed so many important points to running your own business!!

Thanks for sharing.

By: Toner

Toner — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:29:35 +0000

Thank you for the interesting post, I think freelancing is alswas only a first step to get into the business. Later the freelancer often work as an regular writer, after they wrote a lot as freelancer. I think this is a possible way to get a regular work.

By: Jordan Koschei

Jordan Koschei — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 23:09:03 +0000

I get a lot of resistance from people who don’t understand why I charge a flat rate, rather than hourly. I never understood that – wouldn’t most people prefer a more solid estimate for the amount they’ll be paying, as opposed to the more amorphous hourly number?