Why Should I Go Into Freelancing?

Have you ever wanted to flex your creative skills or put your passion to the test when it comes to ways of working? Are you feeling distracted or disengaged in your current role or feel your talents could be better focused elsewhere? You might be ready to go freelance!

With a record 4.6 million people choosing to go freelance, there are many great reasons why you should consider going freelance. We share some of the benefits of going freelance and what you can expect from taking the plunge and working for yourself, in our latest blog.

4 Benefits of being a freelancer

Whilst there are many more benefits to going freelance such as being your own boss, learning new skills, networking with fellow freelancers etc. we’ve focused on some of the main benefits of going solo based on feedback from our freelance pool.

1. Flexibility with your work hours, clients and even your rates!

The main benefit you’ll probably hear from freelancers is the flexibility that working for yourself brings. Whether you’re a night-owl, a working parent or want to balance your personal life with work, having the freedom to choose when you work and for how long is one of the main benefits freelancers share when asked about going freelance.

As well as choosing when you work, being a freelancer means you can start focusing on industries that personally interest you, instead of working within a sector that doesn’t. Being able to choose who you work with is another huge benefit to being freelance and means you’ll find your work interesting and engaging – no more dreading Mondays!

There is also flexibility on how much you charge clients too as you’re in control of your rates. We’d always recommend doing some research around day rates in your industry and try speaking to a few other freelancers about how they calculate their own rates to give you the confidence to start. We also release an annual day rate report based on freelancers on our platform so why not check out what the average rates for your sector are.

2. Choosing your projects and industries

As we’ve mentioned, going freelance opens the opportunity to work within an industry you enjoy and once you’ve got more confidence, be able to choose the projects you work on. Whilst you might start your freelance life off thinking you should say yes to everything, you’ll quickly gain the confidence to say no to those projects that don’t quite fit.

Being able to choose which projects and industries you work in is another big benefit to being freelance and like anything else you’re personally passionate about, once you’ve found your niche, work won’t feel like a chore!

3. Recognising your own potential

Working as a freelancer also means you’ll be fully in charge of recognising your progress and celebrating your successes! Instead of working within the confines of a specific role within a wider team, being a freelancer means you are the team and that means upskilling opportunities!

You’ll also be able to learn on the job as you take on far more responsibilities from admin, invoicing and people management, running a freelance business quickly highlights your potential outside of a designated role.‍

4. Working from anywhere

Another main benefit of being freelance is that you can work from absolutely anywhere! Whether you work best from the sofa, the comfort of your bed, in a cafe, co-working space or even in another country — you have the potential to work from literally anywhere.

Many freelancers choose to work abroad, creating a digital nomad lifestyle and embracing the flexibility that working freelance can bring.

Easing Into Freelance Life

Whilst we know it sounds easier said than done, handing in your notice on a permanent, full-time and importantly secure role can feel really overwhelming and takes a lot of courage.

There are a few ways you can explore freelancing as an option on top of working full time. If you're creative and want to gain experience in your field, we recommend starting with an online portfolio in the form of a website, it could be as simple as a one-pager. Having an online source you can quickly share with prospective clients that displays your talent goes much further than a word doc over email.

Speak to your own network of work colleagues and previous companies, you never know who might need your help on a part-time basis! And have a look on sites like our very own for any shorter-term briefs or part-time roles you could try whilst you work full-time.

One of the best parts of freelancing is the autonomy that it offers and the potential to enhance the skills you already have. If you’re yet to start your journey into freelancing, why not sign up with YunoJuno today and get the ball rolling.