Notes

The missing guide to becoming -and making a living as- a freelance web design service.
Introduction
The revolution has begun, and if you haven’t noticed, you’re missing out on an enormous opportunity.
Freelancing has always been a typical “hobby” for creative professionals like designers and writers, however in the last decade or so, creative pros have started leaving the 9-5 life in droves.
Now, this post isn’t meant to lure you to the “dark side” of freelancing, but to explain why it’s become the fastest growing professional band of our time.
But if you’ve even thought about taking the leap, now may be the best amount of time in history to do so.
Why has freelancing become so popular
Surprise! The answer is: tech.
Every aspect of workplace logistics now comes with an app that lets you join and chime in from anywhere.
And if you can work from a laptop anywhere in the world, why bother spending time at a desk?
And again, thanks to technology, a lot of the work traditionally done by creative professionals (like web site design), can be carried out more quickly.
I know that personally, before Webflow < https://antiguawebsolutions.com/web-design-agency-in-new-york/ > , it would take me weeks (or months) to complete a website project. After Webflow, that same project sometimes get hours.
This gives freelancers an all-new ability to take on more than one project at a time. Leading many creative professionals wondering: Why work with one person/company/project, when I could now work on many simultaneously?
These shifts in tech have resulted in a similar shift in attitude. Years back, the thought of leaving a stable job to pursue your “craft” was *cough* stupid. Freelancing was something you did during the night before bed, like a hobby or after-school project - not really a career.
Yet more and a lot more people are taking the leap in to the unknown. Leaving their nine-to-five cubical cells for the freedom to become a digital nomad.
And freelancers aren’t the only ones who find the freelancing life seductive. Companies are following suit.
Companies are driving the shift to freelancing
In an interview by PBS < https://antiguawebsolutions.com/web-design-agency-in-new-york/ > , author Richard Greenwald stated that companies as large and prestigious as NASA and IBM have been turning to freelancers at an accelerated rate. And they aren’t alone, with the likes of Pinterest, OpenTable, Panasonic, Unilever, NBC, and several (many) more right beside them.
But why?
I’ve found that there are 3 core reasons why freelancers make sense for business:
1. Cost / affordability
Although many freelancers charge reduced rate, the vast majority undercharge for their work (stop it! < https://antiguawebsolutions.com/web-design-agency-in-new-york/ > ). These low rates ensure it is extremely attractive for companies to employ freelance workers.
2. Flexibility
Many freelancers enjoy their flexible lifestyle, and companies are no different. Web Design Agency in New York of hiring a full-time employee stretches beyond salary and insurance, including time and commitment in training, culture, etc. With contract workers, companies can cut these costs and gain the flexibleness to hire/fire at any period.
3. Speed
Having both freelanced and hired contractors for a company, I could say that freelancers work faster. Maybe it’s the freelancer’s sense of urgency about completing the project and shifting. Probably it’s the fact that the business can skip traditional onboarding/training. Maybe it’s that freelancers can skip meetings and internal politicking. But regardless of the cause, freelance projects often move considerably faster than in-house jobs.
All of which means that freelancers is now able to blend their flexible lifestyle with the possibility to work with a few of the largest and most respected companies on the planet.
It’s not all roses
I’ve spent plenty of time on both sides of the fence, being a full-time freelancer and a full-period desk jockey. Both have their benefits and drawbacks, but here are a few things you have to know before jumping into the freelance world.
Taxes suck
They suck no matter what, but they suck harder for contract workers. As a self-employed contractor, you’re not only responsible for paying your personal income taxes, but also self-employment taxes.
To make it more complicated, you must also be prepared to track all money moving in and from your business to prove it. You can’t depend on HR to handle your monies. You're HR.
Cashflow
This problem is typically a symptom of early-day freelancing, but you will overcome it. Not necessarily because you’ll always have work prearranged (although you might), but because you’ll begin to charge enough to keep you floating (happily) between projects.
Still, it’s a bit harder to manage ongoing expenses like rent, utilities, food, etc. without a consistent paycheck. For this reason I recommend starting your freelance career as a side project. Once you aren’t worried about basic bills, you’ll be more likely to take on end up beingtter projects (instead of whoever’s ready to offer you money).
It’s lonely…
Most freelancers who’ve been doing it awhile will agree: Freelancing could be lonely.
At first it’s nice not having to leave your house or see another human being for days at a time, but eventually, you begin to skip the team environment of your office.
I learned that the best way to combat this was to simply put yourself in additional social situations. Wenstead of meeting clients over the phone, offer to meet in person or at least over video chat. Rather than working from home each day, head down to your favorite restaurant, or better yet, a local cooperating space.
Is it worth it?
Yes. There’s nothing more empowering than knowing that every dollar you make can be an exact reflection of the work you put in. If you work a few extra hours over the weekend, that’s additional money going into your bank account - you can’t say that for the typical salaried job.
Plus, many of the pitfalls of freelancing could be resolved by simple preparation and planning. Yes, you will see hurdles, but when aren’t there?
Ready to take the leap? Sweet. Let's do that.
Here's my website: https://antiguawebsolutions.com/web-design-agency-in-new-york/