As I work on-site it can be very difficult sometimes to not commit to work too early – every now and again a client will want to book you there and then for a sizeable amount of time – saying no and explaining why can be a little tricky.

Them: “Can you work everyday for the next 3 weeks?”
Me: “No*, as much as I’d like the guaranteed income, I have to keep my options open because if you monopolise my time too much, I won’t get any new clients and I may lose my other existing clients who want spur of the moment bookings.”

It’s all a balancing act and if you don’t have people skills you don’t succeed.

* Disclaimer: I’ve said yes before and felt it the right answer

10. Factor in non-profitable time into your charges (on an annual basis). Allow time for research and development (Google allows employees 1 day a week for research projects which may or may not become products to earn them money), allow time for around 30 days holiday a year (don’t forget you won’t get paid for national holidays), allow time for at-least few weeks sickness (I seldom get ill, but a motorbike accident and laryngitis last tax year clocked me 3 weeks absence).
Then do not forget to factor in time for doing admin work, phone calls, books, networking, conferences etc.
Bonus point, factor in travelling time, if
after all this I would not be surprised if you find you will spend as little as 30 weeks of your working year actually doing the bits of work that earn money.
You can also help mitigate not working by sub-contracting, you may not make much or any money whilst you are sick, but at-least the project should get completed and earn you some money. Also hiring someone to help you out with paperwork, phone calls can free yourself more time to spend time on developing (and earning ££), of course if you start hiring, you need to have the demand for work in the first place, which is another topic…

Cheers, Nick

Getting paid is often a bollocks and isolation is lonely. I try to get to coffee shops when I can.

Getting info/assets from clients can be awkward at times (although I suppose that’s not necessarily to do with freelancing) and potential clients looking (or expecting) you to do work for next to nothing (because you’re a freelancer).

You’ve simply got to have a solid work contract that you’re happy with – break those payments up into phases with a big job.

#Contract Clause: No tunes, no work. ;)

Again, I think many of the points are both pro & con.

** PS I totally agree about the music. I turned down several gigs because of no IM or music. It’s usually a good barometer of how boring a gig is too.

1. No vested interest in what your working on, besides maintaining your reputation. You don’t get stock options or additional pay or often have any interest\passion for what your working on. I really hated being a ‘mercenary’ on many freelance projects.

2. No defined career path. Some people are fine with being a “consultant” and view this as a benefit – I’m sure I’ll feel like that when I have to do my first performance review in 5 years. But it’s nice to know that if complete this project succesfully that I may get some additional or different responsibility or maybe a better title or $$.

3. Difficulty in getting team chemistry. Your always gonna be the “outsider” or “hired gun”. Sometimes as an employee you have more leverage in choosing your team and how well they work together.

** yes all of these can be present as an FTE, but are more of an issue as a consultant IMHO