25 overly optimistic reasons to go freelance (and 25 grumpy old man takes to balance things out)

As part of my ever ongoing research to build support for freelancers, I’m endlessly coming across overly optimistic takes on why you should go freelance.

Most of them are written with some bias, i.e. a platform that will benefit from persuading you to buy their services as a freelancer, so can often be rather one sided.

This week, I found an article entitled "Top 25 Reasons to Become a Freelancer”, with a long long list of positive reasons to jump into self-employment. Whilst they can all be absolutely true, they don’t come “built-in” to freelancing. You have to work hard to get to most of the points suggested.

So in true grumpy old man fashion (channelling my inner Victor Meldrew and Ron Swanson), here’s my alternative (or perhaps realistic) take on each point.

1. Possibility to Earn More

“One of the top reasons to become a freelancer is you get the chance to make more money. You won’t be bound to a fixed, monthly salary”

In the UK, self-employed workers tend to earn less than those in employment on average. Employed women will earn around 76% more than self-employed women and employed men on adveage make 47% more than self-employed men.

Yes, there is the possibility to earn more, if you’re willing to do more work - but don’t forget, you’ll also have higher outgoings, i.e. running your business, buying your own equipment, no paid vacation, no-one matching your pension contributions.

And not having a fixed, monthly salary - for many is a problem, rather than a benefit.

2. Flexible Work Schedule

“Maybe you don’t feel like working for the day? That’s okay because that’s the beauty of freelancing.”

Well, yes and no. If you’ve got a deadline, you gotta work. If your client is only available on Thursday, you’ve probably gotta work around that. Whilst we technically have unlimited holiday, we’re not getting paid for taking that time off.

Flexibility is one of the main reasons why people choose freelancing - but you’re only really as flexible as you enforce, and that can mean choosing flex over income at times. That said, if you are strict with your boundaries, and communicate well with your client - a flexible work schedule is entirely possible. Just bear in mind that also means sometimes you have to flex to your clients needs too.

3. Work-Life Balance

“No one will force you to sacrifice weekends or prioritize making reports over resting during the afternoon.”

No-one externally will force you to, but you might find yourself pushing yourself further and harder than when you were in employment. Many freelancers actually find it harder to maintain work-life balance - and the boundaries between work and personal life blur further. It can be very hard to truly ‘switch off’ from work, and many people report feeling like they’re never really not at work. Again, it’s entirely possible to create strong boundaries, and ensuring you have things in place to protect your time off, you can find balance.

Sometimes, things can also swing too far the other way - where there’s not enough work, or its far too easy to open the fridge door and snack all day. Freelancers need to put structure in place so they’re balancing productivity and rest.

4. Work Wherever

“It might not seem much but you don’t have to work at a desk and it’s freeing to do meetings from the comfort of your bed.”

Almost every freelancer will tell you that working from bed is dreadful for your back, and getting up, dressed and ready for work is an essential part of running a successful business. Yes, working in your PJs is absolutely a benefit, but not having the separation between home and work can be just as challenging as you never “leave the office”. There are of course options like coworking, home offices, coffee shops - but they all have cost attached. Increasingly too, employment allows to work wherever, with more and more remote and flexible roles allowing hybrid and WFH. Research shows the “work wherever” benefit is less and less of a driver for freelancers.

5. Make and Meet Your Own Goals

“You don’t have a boss that will pressure you into meeting deadlines or reaching targets by the end of the quarter.”

Well, you do - they’re a) your client, who will be setting deadlines and goals for your work; and b) you - having your own financial goals and business objectives in place. In fact, having clearly defined goals and targets is an essential part of running a successful business, and freelancers often struggle with setting them, having perhaps never done it themselves.

6. Choose Your Own Clients

“You get to pick out who you will work with or work for.”

Not at all, you can choose who you won’t work with, and you can actively try to work for specific clients - but believing that you just get to ‘pick’ who you work with is unrealistic. You might have a target list of amazing brands or customers, but the chances to work with them are only likely if you’ve worked hard to build reputation and relationships that open doors for you. Every freelancer has had clients they don’t really want to work for, but are doing it to cover the bills.

7. Work On Your Own

“Just imagine never having to deal with small talk or trying to collaborate with a colleague”.

Unfortunately, this is true - freelancing can be hugely isolating, and not having colleagues to lean upon, or people to collaborate can be a challenge, rather than a benefit. Collaboration isn’t a bad thing, and we recommend in every instance to build up your own team, so you’re not feeling like you’re freelancing alone.

8. Explore Different Work Options

“Although it is advisable to have a niche when you are a freelancer, you still have the freedom to explore different roles. If you are a writer, you can dabble in copywriting, scriptwriting, or creating social media content.”

I’m not sure what point they’re making here, but most freelancers don’t aim to dabble, it’s their business, and extending into new areas can actually be challenging, if you don’t have the experience in your portfolio. That said, the ability to design your own career path is absolutely a benefit, and creating a portfolio of diverse revenue streams is often a good way to make your income more resiliant.

9. Juggle Exciting Projects

“With freelancing, you don’t have to settle for dull jobs. You can work on various projects that actually inspire you, so you don’t ever get bored.”

You’ll have to settle for some dull jobs. Not every project will inspire you. Sorry.

10. You Can Say No

“It’s a different kind of freedom to be able to turn down projects or clients that you simply don’t have time for.”

This is absolutely true - you can (and should) turn down work which you can’t deliver to a good quality.

But turning down work because you don’t want to do something can be much harder, especially if you’re not able to afford to say no.

It’s important to have a “abundance mindset”, i.e. assume that there will be something else that comes along, and saying no frees you up to do something better - when when the rent needs paying, and you’ve had a couple of weeks without work, saying no isn’t an option for everyone.

11. Personal Growth

“If you want to grow on your own, freelancing is the way to go.”

There are many ways to invest in your own personal growth. Freelancing is not the only route. Maybe try therapy or an evening class first?

12. Learn New Skills

“This means learning how to market yourself online, negotiating with potential clients, making contracts, proposals, invoices,?Google forms, and more.”

These are skills which are required and essential, but not necessarily at the top of everyone’s list of skills they want to learn. Freelancing has a really steep learning curve as you shift from being part of an organisation where there are possibly departments responsible for those tasks, to having to do everything yourself, whether you want to or not.

If you’ve desire to learn new skills within your job, such as a new technology or related discipline - you’ll have to find the time and budget to put aside for investing in yourself.

13. Opportunity to Create a Business

“If you want to be a business owner, freelancing is an excellent stepping stone.”

Freelancing is being a business owner, and it's essential to have that mindset.

Freelancing is running your own business, with all of the responsibility, risk and reward which comes with it. Freelancing isn’t a hobby.

14. Limitless Time Off

“Worried about taking sick leave, personal time off, or just much-deserved vacation? You never have to think about a boss who might not approve of your leave of absence.”

Hahahahaha. Yes of course, you can take as much time off as you want, but you’re not getting paid. If you want unlimited holiday, look for employment that offers unlimited holiday.

In fact, most freelancers struggle to take time-off, or when they do, don’t always feel they can step away from their business.

And let’s not talk about sick leave…

15. No Office Rules

“In corporate jobs, you have to follow protocols so as not to receive demerits or worse, get fired.”

Most office rules are there with good reason - i.e. don’t harass Susan, don’t bully Steve, don’t steal mugs, don’t microwave fish. When you’re freelancing - there are just as many rules you’ll need to follow - you’ll often be working in your clients’ offices, you’ll need to navigate IR35 and tax rules.

16. Build or Join Freelancing Communities

“You’ll have the chance to collaborate with like-minded people.”

I think they’re running out of reasons to become a freelancer now. You don’t need to be a freelancer to join communities and find like-minded people.

17. Make a Name for Yourself

“All of your hard work and skills are attributed to you, not to a team or a company.”

Many clients will demand that you work behind an NDA, which prevents you from promoting the work you do. Many clients will take the credit for the work you do, including the awards, and you’re unlikely to get invited to the xmas party.

18. No Coworkers

“If you find yourself troubled with coworkers, being a freelancer will free you from that.”

Wait, didn’t they already write this one?

19. Focus on Meaningful Work

“There’s no need to attend meetings that don’t really matter or corporate events that don’t really do anything for your career.”

They’re definitely recycling their points now.

20. No Corporate Attire

“Think of the money you will save from not buying corporate clothes”

Okay - I’ll let them have this one. Until you need to ever see a client of course.

21. Your Work is Always Acknowledged

“All of the work you have done will definitely be acknowledged by your clients”

Apart from when they’re ignoring your emails chasing for your invoice to be paid, or ghosting you when you’re asking for feedback or on a proposal.

22. Never Worry About Getting Fired

“Making mistakes isn’t as bad when you are a freelancer.”

What? Making mistakes can become a huge financial liability, especially if you’re a sole-trader. If you don’t have a contract in place protecting you from risk, your personal wealth can be at risk. I don’t know who wrote this article, but they have a strange attitude towards responsibility.

23. Spend More Time with Family

“It’s easy to pause the work you are doing to attend to your children. You can also take as many breaks as you want so you can play with your pets or take care of family members.”

OK - I think the author of this article a) doesn’t have children b) isn’t a freelancer and c) isn’t entirely clear on how work gets done. I give up.

24. Get to Know Yourself More

“When challenges arise, you’ll see the kind of person you are when facing rejections or getting over obstacles.”

Finally a point I absolutely agree with and love.

You’ll learn so much more about how you work, what drives you and what you need from others. Self-reflection is an important point, which many freelancers need to invest more time in.

25. Freelancing is More Acceptable Today

“The freelancing community is thriving and projections show that the workforce is embracing this career path.”

Okay, maybe I’m going soft on them now after bullet point after bullet point of nonsense.

Whilst I don’t think freelancing was ever seen as “unacceptable”, Freelancing is thriving, and more and more people are exploring it - but explore with your eyes open, and understand the reality and risks, not just buying into the myths.

I’m not going to link to the original article, because it’s not about one article getting it wrong, but rather too many articles painting an unrealistic picture of self-employment.

Whilst I might have over-meldrewed here, the reality is of course somewhere in the middle - it can be brilliant and hard work, it can be exhausting and rewarding, it can suck at times, but still be the best way of working for some people.

Freelancing isn’t right for everyone, because there is no “one way to freelance” and everyone has their own context, but if you’re considering freelancing, please - talk to some real freelancers, rather than only taking the view from people who are invested in you believing the dream.

There’s a list of freelancer-first communities over here where you can chat with real-life.