Why are you NOT freelancing?

[budafist]

We know why freelancing is a good thing. I've always wanted to freelance fulltime - I have my reasons why not. What are other people's reasons why not?

Less security, lack of funds to set myself up intially - although that's just an excuse since I could get a loan, having to deal with nightmare clients on my own etc.

[Sphinx]

I worked for years for other people. Helped the wife go through college, etc. Now she says it is my turn to lean on her. She is great! Started freelancing a few months ago...doing ok, but really too soon to tell if I will make it or not....

[popejoydesign]

buda...I work for AT&T Yellow Pages. Guaranteed GOOD money, around here GREAT money for what I do. I am fortunate enough to freelance as well on the side. I even have my own ad in the phone book. I have several "aquaintences" that I subcontract work to as well and pick the things I want to work on. I actually plan on opening a firm and keeping my job at AT&T just for the security and great benefits. When I retire from there I will have my Masters and can teach...
I have it all figured out...I think lol.

[ecsyle]

The perks of my job keep me there. Amsterdam, New York, paid lunches every day, paid cell phone, lax dress code, etc. I could freelance, and have considered it for a while, but its hard to leave the position I am in at the moment.

[budafist]

Wow all great reasons why not to freelance - I think I need a better job now. I have no real benefits at my job - apart from free printing and a ham a christmas...

[ecsyle]

I got lucky. The negatives can get pretty bad. Its a rather extreme scale here.

I have considered freelancing for a while. At some point I might just do it. There comes a time when you just cant work for other people any more.

I wish I had free printing :)
I work in web development. I get free hosting sorta, but I already have my own servers, so it's not something I take advantage of.

[popejoydesign]

Some places it may be worth working for someone else, but those cases are few and far between. I am very lucky where I am, my job is protected by the union (some what) and what I get paid for being a spec artist for the ads here is about twice as much as an overworked designer of long hours and deadlines in the area. I have deadlines as well, and some OT, but for the most part it's all 8-5. Top that off with the fact that my direct boss is always 4 hours away and my reps are only in the offce 6-7 months out of the year and I get about 4 1/2 weeks paid vacation time every year, I got it made lol.

[Mynock]

I like a regular paycheck. I like someone else taking care of equipment. I like someone else doing the business taxes. I like someone else taking care of my health care. Maybe someday.

[rainbow2bryte]

good discussion.

much aggreed w/ many a peeps on wanting to keep their 'secure' job w/ a reg. paycheck, sweet 'bennies', va-ca, etc., etc.

damn. I plan to move in about a year and prob. won't be able to work from home, staying w/ the same co. i'm at now. THAT would be the best scenario ever! work from home, keep my swank job, freelance on the side, and get a piece of mind by living out in the country again....

so, w/ a worst case scenario in mind, chances are slim i'll find any job nearly as great as this in my tiny town of Defiance,OH.
so freelance is the only real option to keep me sane.
of course i may have to do a low-paying, possibly unfullfilling job at the same time to pay 'da bills.

so far, i'm crazy overwhelmed w/ what's involved biz wise, and still got that awesome artist complex that i suck most displeasurable ass and will never make it.

ugh.

[Jackimalyn]

self discipline and social interaction. I think I need someone riding my arse once in a while and I like being around other people. Plus with my 8-5, yea ive got beni-s and a definate pay but Ive also got those 9 hours set aside everyday that i know I will be working. I guess I find comfort in consistancy.

Not to mention I freelance on the side. I like being able to be picky about which projects I take on because I know Ive got a paycheck coming no matter what.

[LeftBrain Artist]

I don't freelance because I'd probably raise the bar for freelancers everywhere, and I just couldn't stand having other people jealous of how cool I am.

That and I'm too humble to be a freelancer.

[MD]

I don't freelance because I'd probably raise the bar for freelancers everywhere, and I just couldn't stand having other people jealous of how cool I am.

That and I'm too humble to be a freelancer.

LMAO! - Friday post or not - QOTW!

[ecsyle]

I don't freelance because I'd probably raise the bar for freelancers everywhere, and I just couldn't stand having other people jealous of how cool I am.

That and I'm too humble to be a freelancer.
hahaha :D

[Mynock]

I'm not a freelancer, because I would prolly charge for my services.

[Broacher]

Been there--done that. I hated the time it took to manage and promote a business--or collect from clients! Where I have chosen to live, most of the freelancing is dog-eat-dog as the market is so small. And the market that appreciates (and will pay for this appreciation) for top-end work is even smaller.

My in-house financial stability gave me the chance to buy a house, and raise a family without weekly panic attacks or juggling in frequent all-nighters. Sure, I gave up a lot of career options, but in the end, I'm happy with my decision. As I got older, and more 'comfortable' I rediscovered that there are many more things needed in life besides design to make it more complete and fulfilling.

In fact, I'd say that it's this rediscovery that has helped me AND my growth as a designer the most. I know a few freelancers who despite the odds, are juggling in life as a parent-- but to me, it always seems that it's a life full of horrendous struggles, and unsatisfying compromises for the family, as the business must come first if it's to work at all.

If any freelancers out there reading this decide to give in-house a serious look, I'd caution you to look very closely. I'm lucky. My work involves meeting people from dozens and dozens of different professional fields. My assignments are also varied--though sometimes they're just variations of boredom. All in all though, it's interesting and rewarding enough. I'd only go back to freelance now if I had no other option. Of course, at my age--that would likely be the case if I ever lost this position.

[chris_bcn]

I really want to start up freelance. I set everything up, and have a couple of biggish clients, and then I got an job offer somewhere I couldn't turn down.

I'm hoping that in a couple of years my credentials will give me that added clout to set up a wee shop.

I'm doing the freelance on the side, but it's tiring

[PandaBear]

For those (like me and you) who are a bit leary about giving up our full-time jobs and diving into debt to start up our own business, I was told to always have a stable part-time job you don't mind going to 2-3 times a week. That way there's somewhat of a stable income that will keep you afloat if you don't have projects for your "off months".

Then once you start building your clientelle, you can slowly phase the part-time job out.

[PandaBear]

On the other hand, you can always keep it to have social interaction, variety, and possible benefits (if you are with a good enough company).

[frankster]

For those (like me and you) who are a bit leary about giving up our full-time jobs and diving into debt to start up our own business, I was told to always have a stable part-time job you don't mind going to 2-3 times a week. That way there's somewhat of a stable income that will keep you afloat if you don't have projects for your "off months".

Then once you start building your clientelle, you can slowly phase the part-time job out.

That would be my ideal situation. A bit of both, so neither get you down. Maybe when the kids are a bit older.

[budafist]

For those (like me and you) who are a bit leary about giving up our full-time jobs and diving into debt to start up our own business, I was told to always have a stable part-time job you don't mind going to 2-3 times a week. That way there's somewhat of a stable income that will keep you afloat if you don't have projects for your "off months".

Then once you start building your clientelle, you can slowly phase the part-time job out.

That could definately be a plan. Maybe I'll have babies, reduce my work hours and then when I increase my work hours again to normal I'll go freelancing...or something...

[h20]

I feel freelancing is good, at least you can do selective works, things that make you happy :) But pls make sure you got a PT job like what PandaBear says, its true....you are not always busy, so that PT allows you to earn stable money monthly.

My PT is teaching design softwares in an institution, pays not bad for my education level, and i have kids, so PT allows me to take care of kids, do freelance and earn money at the same time!!

h20.

[PandaBear]

My dream right there H2O!

[mattbing]

Good question. Mainly I don't have a client base, and it'd be hard for me as I need a steady income with family and all.

I'd love to know why you do, and how you do it? What are some of the struggles etc? How'd you start out? How do you get new clients etc? Do you work for a freelance agency? Any and all details.

I've always wanted to but to be honest find it sort of scary, but exciting all the same.

[budafist]

That should be a new thread matt: What are the great things about freelancing?

[h20]

why you do...
mainly to create good designs, you know when you work in a normal firm (out for only earning money but not really focus on design aspects), it is 80% you come out with lousy designs for lousy clients, projects that you cannot use for your own portfolio.


how you do it..../ How'd you start out? / How do you get new clients etc?
starts with a website with personal online portfolio, your own namecards, listing your site on design service sites, and tell your friends! Through word of mouth is usually where my contacts come in. Make sure you have your own invoice that lists down the services you provide and how much for each. How much they already paid and outstanding amt. to protect yourself.


What are some of the struggles.....
collecting money/deposit before the project starts or at the end of the project. Sometimes after 1 month then they pay...so thats why you must have your own money to row in these difficult periods.


Do you work for a freelance agency?
Nop, introduce me if you know any of this!!

h20

[Brisvegas]

I try not to freelance too much...in fact I rarely fo. Sometimes i wish i did have a thriving freelance business, but I have a full time job and by the end of the day I am really really drained creatively. I try to keep a balance in my life between work and play and piling more work onto myself isn't what I want right now. I like to walk away at the end of the day and leave work at work, without cmoing home and having more work to do.

I can see the advantages though - you get to pick and choose your clients, you have a bit more freedom in your designs and the extra moolah probably isn't too bad either :)

[budafist]

I try not to freelance too much...in fact I rarely fo. Sometimes i wish i did have a thriving freelance business, but I have a full time job and by the end of the day I am really really drained creatively. I try to keep a balance in my life between work and play and piling more work onto myself isn't what I want right now. I like to walk away at the end of the day and leave work at work, without cmoing home and having more work to do.

I can see the advantages though - you get to pick and choose your clients, you have a bit more freedom in your designs and the extra moolah probably isn't too bad either :)

*Nods* I can relate to that. In fact, the last thing I want to do is get on my computer when I come home, but lately it's that or the TV and the internet seems to win over each time. I blame my GDF addiction.

[MarilynSwan]

My thinking runs along the lines of Broacher's, I've been able to do a lot of other things with my life that might have been harder to do if I continued to freelance. My job has very good pay, security, benefits, and a large variety of media for me to work in.

One big factor for me is I discovered I'm a lousy business person!

[budafist]

I just got a pay rise and a great Xmas bonus. Another reason not to freelance.

[Logo-Mechanix]

I freelance as a part time job and it does fairly well, sometimes I get the feeling I could make a living off of it and other times I feel like if I gave it a try full time I would crash and burn. It would take a lot of freelance to make what I make in house, and with a family and a mortgage the slow times would be way to difficult, and there will be slow times.

[Lampshade]

Well seeing as I don't really have any experience here to compare with, I have always just thought that I would do a little freelance on the side. But from what my friends Dad says is that the freedom is nice, but not having constant source of income or benefits is a major down side.