Being a freelancer who works remotely can be an absolute dream. You have total freedom of when you work, who you work for, the specific projects you work on, and where exactly you work from. With this setup, you have absolute control over every portion of your workday. So how exactly can something that sounds so wonderful be associated with anything negative?
Here’s a quick list of the pros and cons of being a freelance and working remotely.
The PROS of being a freelancer and working from home:
- You make the rules and have absolute control over every aspect of your workday.
- You can make as much money as you want and you get to keep it (well, about 75% of it after taxes).
- Skip the long commute! When you’re working remotely you just pick up your laptop and get to work!
- You can work from the comfort of your own bed, snuggled up on the sofa, in your assigned seat on an airplane, or oceanside with a cool drink in your hand.
- As a freelancer, you can write-off your home office, marketing expenses, mileage, equipment costs, and other business expenses when you do your taxes. Be sure to check the IRS’ website for details.
- Take as many vacation days as you’d like!
The CONS of being a freelancer and working from home:
- You have the power to make yourself incredibly successful, or not.
- Your time and effort equals money and you’re responsible for making it all happen.
- You need to purchase whatever equipment and software that it will take in order to make your freelance business successful. This can quickly add up and cost you a pretty penny.
- Because you can literally work from anywhere, people will expect you to be working wherever you are. Be sure to set boundaries for yourself so that you get some downtime. Otherwise, you’ll quickly get burned out and even consider heading back to that exciting 9 to 5 lifestyle.
- When you’re working remotely, taxes get a lot harder! It’s so nice that you can write things off, but rules are sometimes in the grey area and this can cause a lot of undue stress. Lessen your burden by keeping very detailed records and hire a professional to do your taxes.
- Time = Money, I mentioned this above. So take as many vacation days as you’d like, but don’t forget that you aren’t getting paid. If you’re relying solely on freelance work, the paycheck stops when you stop delivering. So be cautious with how you schedule and diligent with your budgeting to make sure you’re covered at the end of the month.
- Freelancers do not get fringe benefits, including health care. If your spouse does not have health insurance that covers you as well, be sure to plan accordingly.
Ready to get your freelance business started? It all begins by setting up a simple website that serves as your marketing hub to showcase the products and services you have available for clients to purchase. If you’re all ready to do it all yourself, head over to BlueHost to get your hosting set up and install WordPress. It’s super simple!
If you need help getting your website established, let me know. I’d love to help.
Here’s how you can reach me:
Amy Sallie
ATTERBIE LLC
Hudson, OH 44236
amy@atterbie.com
Today we covered:
The Pros & Cons of Being a Freelancer and Working Remotely
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How to Start a Blog In 9 Minutes
In the spirit of honesty and full disclosure, this post contains affiliate links, which means that I may get a commission if you decide to purchase anything from one of my favorite companies listed above. I only recommend products and systems that I use and love myself, so I know you’ll be in good hands.
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