Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Is Freelancing The Answer ? Part 1

By Gavin Campbell

Many graduates and talented artists have an ultimate goal, which is to become a freelance artist (self-employed). So what is it all about then?, what is really involved and ultimately is it really for me?. Being a freelancer is very different from being employed, so consider all of the pros and cons before taking the plunge.

There are definitely more risks and responsibilities involved in this type of day to day work. If you decide to work for someone for a fixed project or period of time to help them achieve their goal then that makes you a freelancer. What you are actually doing is selling your skills and time to that particular company.

Most freelancers start out by charging by the hour, but it is up to you if you feel more comfortable charging by the project. If your a creative, then check out aoi.com for ideas and advice on what you could charge clients. You could contact other freelancers for advice on rates if your still not sure.

Have you ever wandered why some companies would require the services of a freelancer?. Well, the reality is, freelancers are generally more flexible with there hours, often working well into the night if needed on tight projects. Permanent staff are paid until a set time and often would not be prepared to make that sacrifice.

There is less commitment involved when a company hires a freelancer, because they only require you for that particular project. An employee is paid to turn up for work regardless of his workload. However, if you keep solid relationships with your clients, they should come back to you again and again.

Freelancers usually specialise in a particular area that the in house design team are not familiar with. If you are thinking of becoming going into this area, it helps to find a particular niche or style that is not easily available. This will make you a great asset to many companies who are looking for something a little different.

In the long run a freelancer can save companies a lot of money, because they do not have to pay you if you are sick, or when you jet off for the summer holidays. They is also no redundancy money to pay out or employer's national insurance.

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