Is it Best to Work Through an Agency or Alone?
One of the great joys of working as a freelancer is that you don’t have a boss. It could be argued that you actually have dozens of bosses, but not really, as you can walk away at any time and people who employ freelancers tend to be a lot more understanding, forgiving, and respectful than a traditional “bossâ€.
But what happens when you choose to work for an agency? You’re losing that freedom, you lose the ability to choose, and it’s not as easy to walk away after a disagreement. On the surface, it seems like working for an agency is the antithesis of freelancing — it goes against the entire point of being a freelancer in the first place.
There are some benefits though, and one of the hardest choices you will make as a freelancer is to determine whether to go it alone or go through an agency.
The choice that’s best for you will depend on how you answer the following questions.
Do You Crave Stability?
If you ask a new freelancer what they hate most about their job, they will probably complain about the lack of security. There is no guarantee that they will have work from one day to the next, and because they work for every cent that they earn, there are no paychecks if they fall ill or just need to take a break.
To some, it makes for an exciting career. Sure, it can be difficult, but while there are no guarantees, you also know that if you work harder, you will make more money, and the same can’t be said for standard employment.
If you’re the sort of person who craves stability and wants to see a fixed paycheck every month, you’re better off with an agency. If you don’t mind missing out on stability and want to be rewarded for your effort, freelancing is the way to go.
Think about a semi-professional golfer, pool player, or tennis player. They earn their money from winning and placing in tournaments. If they play well, they earn more; if they play poorly, they earn less, and there is never a guarantee that they will earn anything at all.
If that profession sounds interesting to you, then you’re made for freelancing. If it sounds terrifying, it’s just not for you.
Do You Work Odd Hours?
Many agency employees work from 9 to 5. They wake up early, finish early, and have the evenings and weekends to do what they want. They are part of the rat race, so to speak, but compared to freelancers who are basically on-call morning and night, they seem to be in the best position.
Photo by?Jonas Leupe?on?Unsplash
The problem is that working 9–5, M-F is pretty limiting.
What happens when you have been out all night, are nursing a headache, and just can’t bear to wake up early? What happens if you have kids out of school and household chores to do?
As a freelancer, you can set your own hours. You’ll still need to work full-time if you want to earn a respectable wage, but you can do those hours in the evenings, on the weekends, and whenever else you want.
I know freelancers who work while on vacation, tapping away on keyboards while they enjoy cocktails on a beach. I also know freelancers who do their best work in the early hours of the morning and don’t wake up until the afternoon.
If you’re not a morning person and do your best work at night, it might be difficult to transition into the world of early mornings and rigid schedules.
Do You Want More Incentives to Work Hard?
Freelancing contracts are either hourly or fixed and as noted in my?Top Tips for Freelancers?guide, it’s best to work on a fixed contract if you’re a fast worker.
Photo by?Elisa Ventur?on?Unsplash
Prolific workers can also make more through freelancing than they can with an agency.
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In an agency, you’re getting paid per day, week, month, and year. Whether you complete that client’s project in a week or a month doesn’t really matter as far as your pay is concerned.
If you complete it in half the time, you’ll just be given something else, and the only benefit you’ll get is that the company will grow and the boss will be impressed.
As a freelancer, finishing a project sooner means you can make much more money (by moving onto another paid job) or buy yourself some vacation time.
Speed is very important and can make a massive difference.
As an example, I recently spoke with a married couple who both work as freelance writers. She is more studious and considered; he is rapid. Both are experienced and deliver the same high standard of work. Both of them also get paid the same fixed price. But when they break those prices down to hourly rates (based on how many words they write per hour) he earns 2.5x more than she does.
If you are that efficient, your talents are wasted in an agency.
Do You Work Best With Order?
Some people are not made to work from home. During the early stages of the pandemic, when countless office workers became remote workers, social media feeds were filled with excited and relieved posts. People were enjoying the comfort of working from home, and not just because it was a safer place to be.
After a couple of months, everyone was fatter, lazier, and desperate to return to the office. Maybe that’s harsh — but it’s true.
You need a certain mindset to effectively work from home. Good remote workers are often — but not always — introverts who spend a lot of time in their own heads. They work best when they are alone and comfortable, and they don’t feel right in busy office environments.
Others need the structure and the order that a physical office space can provide. It’s why many entrepreneurs turn to shared office spaces as opposed to simply working out of their home offices and dining rooms.
Freelancing or Agencies: The Right Choice
You don’t need to choose between freelancing or agencies. You can have them both, and I know many skilled writers, designers, and other contractors who do that.
Photo by?Jens Lindner?on?Unsplash
In the early years, freelancing is a constant struggle to find work. You’ll find that you go from weeks where you have 40+ hours of work to weeks where you seem to be working for less than an hour. Clients come and go, projects are sporadic, and there is no stability.
At this point in your career, it can help if you go through an agency, but the agency needs to be a remote one. It’s basically an agency that outsources work to you, as opposed to one that requires you to visit an office every day and work as a salaried employee.
You will still be paid on a per-project basis, but the agency has more experience, along with an advertising budget and some long-term clients. If you’re a skilled and hard-working freelancer, they will provide you with a steady stream of work that you can accept/reject at your leisure.
The only downside to this process is that you’re not building relationships with those clients and making a name for yourself, as everything you do will be branded with the name of the agency. But it can make sure that the bills are being paid and your skills are improving.
Just make sure that you don’t devote yourself wholly to the agency. You need to spend some time searching for independent clients, completing freelancing contracts, and making connections.
Starting & Growing Your Digital Agency with Shay Berman #ThisWeekWithSabir
Eventually, when you’ve earned money through the agency and established lots of long-term partnerships and relationships, you can think about?starting your own digital agency. Take a look at?this interview with Shay Berman?for more information.