Advantages of Freelancing and How to Optimize Your Career

Flexibility and freedom are two things which are highly associated with freelancing. How you get to be your own boss and how you get to pick and choose are consistently mentioned in this discussion. While there is so much truth to that, one should not overlook the complication that may come with the territory. Just because you are your own boss does not necessarily make things easier.

Quite the contrary, you may risk overcompensating for the lack of roles in the job. You may be the boss but you are also the one who does all the work. There may not be pre-set working hours, but you risk of pulling overnights to get everything done. Worse, being a freelancer, you must do overnights for free. After all no one is going to give you extra pay for that.

The beauty of freelancing is the ability to make choices. You may take the business to the direction in which you see fit. You may also make choices that suit your individual needs and strengths. You may decide who you would like to collaborate with and also the volume of work you can deal with. Thus, sound judgment takes precedence. But is the hassle overweigh the advantages? Read on to find out.

The flexibility to control workload

As a freelancer, it’s safe to say that you are now no longer required to fit into the company’s work schedule. You’re also no longer to fit into the workplace culture which may put you under pressure or emotional and mental strain. Being able to control your own workload is found to be beneficial to your health. You simply get to decide when enough is simply enough.

Studies reported that those working for over 50-hours a week are prone to decreased physical and mental health. By being a freelancer, you may reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease by as much as 60-percent. Speaking of health, working from home also reduces your chances of getting sick as result of being exposed to airborne viruses such as flu.

The ability to control your own work relationship

When you work in a company, you are required to communicate with colleagues and clients at all times. But not with freelancers. While it’s easy for freelancers to fall into a pit where they constantly work and communicate with their clients, there’s no hard rule about it. Majority of freelancers have strict rules strict policy of checking emails 2 or 3 times a day. Just enough to keep things on track.

Do you have a particular client who is fussy about all things and generally difficult to work with? This is also another benefit from freelancing. Yes, you can opt to avoid all the stress that comes from trying to accommodate a difficult client. Unlike working in a company, freelancers can negotiate or drop the project altogether when the push comes to shove.

Tips to be a better freelancer

No one can deny the lure of benefits you may get from being a freelancer. However, not a lot of freelancers can optimize their work and end up biting more than they can chew. So what do we have to do to make sure we avoid the risks and reap the benefits? We have compiled a few tips on how to achieve success as a freelancer.

Majority of freelancers are too caught up in the details regarding whether or not a contract is needed. Should I require my client to sign a contract for every job, even the smallest one? Do I have to make contracts for each of the service I offer? In the end they end up wasting time, and worse, letting the clients off the hook.

Being hired without contracts is one of the biggest mistakes a freelancer can do. The most common issue with freelancing is how freelancers end up getting staffed by their clients. To minimize this risk, a combination of down payment and contract may give the protection freelancers need. In order to guarantee payment from your clients, you must require 50-percent down payment upfront.

This down payment must be given before you start any project. With this strict policy, it’s not difficult to see whether the clients are serious about hiring you or just taking advantage of you. As for the contract, at this very stage all you need is a general agreement that adequately covers the following:

· Everything stays confidential, from your original work to proprietary information of your client,

· Payment terms, how much and when.

· Client and you have the right to terminate service and what this action entails for both of you in this freelancing scope.