Picture this: It’s 8:45 A.M., and you have just parked, and exited your maroon-colored, E-class coupe. The doorman greets you as your Christian Louboutins click loudly on the imported marble floors of your executive building. You step in into the elevator to get to your floor, and say to yourself: “This is what being your own boss is all about, this is my glamorous life as a freelancer.” Ha! Cut the MTV: ‘
The Hills’ theme song, and come back to reality!
Being a freelancer has its many perks, but it also comes with quite a few cons as well. There are also a few misconceptions about Freelancers, like the exaggerated scenario above. Sure, it’s not impossible to get to that point, but one should not expect those results without working his or her tail off! A freelancer is considered a self- employed person who pursues a profession without a long-term commitment to any particular employer. Sounds great so far huh?
Well we all know the greatest perk is being you own boss, but that can also be a con as well. Instead of clocking out, and heading to free drink Friday’s at Crusty Joe’s bar & grill, you have to work around the clock to get things done. Being able to set your own hours is a definite plus, but you also have to wear many hats. You’re not just a freelancer designer, you are an Accountant, Marketing Manager, Sales, IT, and the list goes on.
Another pro is no restrictions. Remember the frustration you would get out of not accessing your Gmail or Facebook account at work because of limited web access!? As a freelancer, your free to surf the web as much as you desire, but beware this can become a major distraction leading to a pile of unfinished work.
Freelance Designers tend to make more than In-house designers, but the freedom of pricing yourself can also be a setback. If you charge to low you’re selling yourself short, and if you charge to high, you lose your clients to more realistically-priced freelancers. It’s best to research your competition, and the current market to see how much people are typically charging for similar services.
The most commonly known con is the responsibility/liability. You are responsible for everything! You have to reach out and find your clients, and must be ready to provide the best customer service to keep them happy. If your client is not happy with your work, you have to deal with them accordingly.
Lastly, the financial rollercoaster is definitely a deterring factor of freelancing. One month you may be slammed with projects, and the next month left with zip, nada, nothing. Though this con can be discouraging, you can use it as an opportunity to promote your services, and possibly acquire new prospective clients.
Now that you know the Pros and Cons…do you still think you can do it? If your answer is yes, good luck to you my friend, and stay tuned for more to help you on your freelancing journey.
Fashionably Yours,
SchauminChanel
There it is, the moment you have been waiting for. All of your tireless self-marketing efforts have finally paid off. You are now sitting across one of the few prospective clients whom have asked to meet with you to learn more about the services you provide. 
This pricing model can also be tempting, as some freelancers like to try to slip in a few unearned hours in the invoice. Remember to always remain ethical, and keep the best interest of your clients in mind. If you are caught being dishonest, it can be detrimental to you as well as your business’ reputation. Some clients even like to go as far as thoroughly covering what is considered an actual ‘work hour’ meaning subtracting lunch coffee breaks etc.
Be sure to be mindful of longer-running projects that may develop over time. For example, a small design company may hire you as a freelance fashion designer to sketch technical fashion flats for an upcoming collection. You and the owner have decided on a set price, but after several revisions a two week project has developed into a two month project. In addition to this, you have acquired more client work, and this assignment is starting to crowd your already busy schedule. In these cases, I suggest using milestones, which are a specific set of features you get paid for as you go.
Another pro is no restrictions. Remember the frustration you would get out of not accessing your Gmail or Facebook account at work because of limited web access!? As a freelancer, your free to surf the web as much as you desire, but beware this can become a major distraction leading to a pile of unfinished work.
Lastly, the financial rollercoaster is definitely a deterring factor of freelancing. One month you may be slammed with projects, and the next month left with zip, nada, nothing. Though this con can be discouraging, you can use it as an opportunity to promote your services, and possibly acquire new prospective clients.
