9 Reasons Not to Freelance Full-Time

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Freelancing is seen as the route to freedom; a simple transition out of a normal 9-to-5 job into a field that you enjoy and have complete control over. However, I know far too many people that went freelance only to return to jobs within months, because of the many unexpected downsides that come with it. Freelancing works for some, but not in all cases.

I’m sure if you’re on the cusp of going at things alone, you’re just looking for confirmation of why you should get out of your situation and just do it, but here are a few things you should consider first.

1. Uncertainty

Let’s start with a very fundamental one. Going from a full-time job to freelancing means that you’re trading solid infrastructure for infrastructure that you have to create for yourself. That means making sure that there’s constantly enough work to sustain you every month.

2. Lack of Support

You’re out there in the big wide world now and you have to rely on yourself for everything. As well as day-to-day work being completed, you have to keep the business in-check and ensure that everything is running smoothly, legally and to a standard that your clients are happy with. There’s no reason why you can’t ask for assistance, but for the most part you’re going to have to find it for yourself.

3. Actively Acquiring New Clients

In most cases, people enter into full-time freelancing because they’ve already got one or a handful of clients that they work with. They may have fallen into it through friends or word-of-mouth, so it came quite naturally. Finding and securing contracts additional ones requires good networking, time management and persistence, which may be a struggle when you’re already juggling other clients.  

4. Realities of Working for Yourself

There are so many positives about working for yourself, but I have to mention the things that others don’t like talking about. First let’s talk about when you’re ill. Then let’s talk about when exactly you’re going to holiday. After that we’ll talk about how you’re going to resist every offer to go out in the day, since you’re “free”. 

5. High Client Expectations

You know what I was saying about you working for yourself? Well it’s not really all that true. You ultimately work for your clients, and while they may be happy for you to fulfil tasks remotely and meet them occasionally, there’s an expectation that you have to deliver work of a standard that’s probably higher than an actual employee. It’s always going to be this way, as every time you deliver work, it’s another pitch to keep a retainer going for future work.

6. Finding Motivation to Work

It’s funny that people love the idea of not having a boss or manager to tell them what to do, because there have definitely been times when I’ve had to ask my Mrs to tell me what to do so I can focus. That freedom can lead to complacency, and a lack of desire to work on your main priorities. Think about how you would motivate yourself if you find yourself in the same situation.

7. Late Invoices

Freelancers are the last on the list of suppliers to get what’s owed to them. I don’t know why that is, but almost every freelancer you’ll come across will have a story about having to repeatedly ask for what they’re owed, being thrown to one department to the next to have their invoices finally paid. When you really rely on timely payments, times like this will have you begging for stability.

Changed Your Mind?

There are plenty of good reasons to freelance, especially when you have some other strong income streams to support you. I wouldn’t be where I am without a particular freelancing gig that prompted me to form my own company (and subsequently discover Amazon FBA). Just make sure you really know what you’re signing up for before you jump into it.

If you still think freelancing is for you and want a little more assurance that you can overcome the negative aspects, this is for you.