What Is Freelance Work? A Guide for the Curious

What if finding the best job was just a click away?

More and more workers are discovering the joys of freelance work. In fact, a recent study discovered that 56% of non-freelancers were considering freelance work.

Wondering what the big deal is? And what is freelance work, exactly? Keep reading to discover the answers you need!

What Is Freelance Work?

A freelance worker is someone who works for themselves rather than working full-time at a company. Freelancers advertise their talents and services, and businesses hire freelance workers on a temporary basis to help handle certain needs or complete important projects.

Freelancing sometimes goes by different names, including contract work. This name helps highlight that freelancers are temporary contract workers rather than permanent employees.

Why Do People Enjoy Freelancing?

There are many benefits of freelancing. This includes giving workers greater flexibility, better payment opportunities, and an opportunity to work from home.

You might consider becoming a freelancer if you value working on your own time. Rather than tying yourself to the standard hours of a single job, you can work a variety of different jobs on your own schedule and on your own terms.

With each new freelance gig, you get a chance to negotiate new payment terms. Compare this to full-time jobs where opportunities for raises and promotions may be few and far between.

Finally, more freelancers than ever before work from home. This is great for those who have young children, limited mobility, or concerns about COVID-19 or other health issues.

Freelancers: Payment and Tax Info

As a freelancer, you will often get paid on a per-project basis. This is different from a standard job where you might get paid at regular intervals (such as once or twice a month).

You will negotiate payment terms with a company before you begin working for them. This includes how much you get paid, when you get paid, and how you get paid. For example, some freelancers prefer things like PayPal payments while others prefer direct deposits.

Taxes can be a bit complicated for freelancers because none of the money you receive is automatically withheld for tax purposes. You’ll need to keep track of how much you owe and stick the right amount back (you must pay taxes on any amounts over $400 from an employer) so that tax season doesn’t catch you by surprise.

Types of Freelance Work

Not sure if you could become a freelancer? The good news is that just about every field has a need for freelance workers.

Any company creating online content, for example, will need freelance writers and perhaps freelance editors. To overhaul its website, that same company may need a freelance web designer.

Designers, photographers, data entry, teaching… you can do all of these jobs as a freelancer. The important thing is to find the right jobs that will benefit from your talents.

Hire the Best Freelancers Today!

Now you have an answer to “what is freelance work?” But do you know how you can become a freelancer right here, right now?

At FreeUp, we specialize in linking talented freelancers with the companies that need them. To get started, all you have to do is apply to be a freelancer today!