Are you considering a career as a freelance Web Developer? If so, there’s some good news: the field of web development is currently booming and should continue growing at an unprecedented rate over the next decade, which makes this an excellent time to start working as a freelance Web Developer. But is freelancing the best choice? While working as a freelancer does offer a wide array of benefits, there are some disadvantages to consider before deciding if it’s the right option for you. To help you determine if freelancing is a good fit, here are a few of the most commonly cited pros and cons of being a freelance Web Developer.
Pros of Being a Freelance Web Developer
The popularity of freelancing has increased steadily in the past few years, and for good reason: freelancers enjoy a lot of benefits that employees don’t have access to. Let’s take a look at some of the key advantages of working as a freelance Web Developer.
Be Your Own Boss
One of the biggest perks of working as a freelance Web Developer is that you no longer have to answer to a boss because you are the boss. As a freelancer, you can say good-bye to micromanagers with their unreasonable demands. There’s no manager breathing down your neck telling you to speed up, do better, or work overtime — you’re in full control of your own business. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you can work slowly, sloppily, or very little; you still have clients to take care of. But you do have the freedom to make choices with no one's opinion mattering more than your own.
Freedom to Choose
Along with the autonomy of being your own boss comes the freedom to choose your daily tasks, clients, and projects. When you work for an employer, they get to decide exactly what you’ll be working on every day; all you have to do is log in and look at your dashboard — it’s all laid out for you in advance. While some people might like that kind of predictability, others find it stifling and monotonous.
Employers also have control over which clients and projects you work on. It doesn’t matter if you’re interested in the content of the project or if the client is a pain to work with, you have to do what your boss tells you to do. As a freelancer, you get to choose clients and projects for yourself. Does a potential client seem like a pain in the behind? Tell them it’s not a good fit and move on to the next prospect. Does the proposed project sound dull and uninspiring? Then turn it down. You have the freedom to choose.
Flexible Working Conditions
When you work as a freelance Web Developer, you also have complete control over your working conditions instead of them being determined by the company you work for. As a freelancer, you can work wherever you’d like including from home, a café, or a co-working space. You could even take your laptop with you to another country and work while visiting or living abroad if you wanted to.
Having total control over your working conditions also includes your schedule. When you work for a company, they determine what hours you need to be available to work but as a freelancer, you set your own schedule. Are you a night owl who prefers to work in the evening? Or do you work better in two to three-hour increments with a long break in between? As a freelancer, you’re free to work whatever schedule suits you best.
Another perk of freelancing is that you no longer have to adhere to any sort of dress code. If you hate spending time getting ready for work in the morning and trying to figure out what to wear, then you’ll love freelancing; you can wear whatever you like, including your comfiest pajamas.
Endless Opportunities
As a freelance Web Developer, you’ll have access to a wider array of opportunities. This perk is especially beneficial for those who tend to get bored by working on the same type of project day in and day out, as you would at a company. When you’re freelancing, you can change focus easily and take on projects in various industries including education, manufacturing, retail, marketing, government, hospitality, finance, construction, and entertainment.
Having access to so many opportunities also makes it possible for you to earn more money. Instead of your wages being determined by one employer, as a freelancer, you get to decide how much you want to make. All you have to do is screen potential clients based on what kind of rate they offer and turn down those that don’t match your standards. By being selective about the projects you take on, you can increase your income and earn significantly more than you would working as an employee.
Better Work-Life Balance
With the freedom and flexibility of freelancing also comes an improved work-life balance. Because you don’t have to endure a long commute to work and can set your own hours, you have more time to do what you enjoy. For example, you could take your kids to school every morning, go out to lunch with your spouse during the day, and pursue hobbies in the evening.
This improved work-life balance also includes more flexible vacation time. Instead of putting in a request with your boss asking for time off only to have it denied, freelancers can schedule their own vacations. All you have to do is clear your schedule and alert clients that you’ll be unavailable during that time.
Cons of Being a Freelance Web Developer
While there are a lot of benefits associated with working as a freelance Web Developer, it’s not all sunshine and roses; there are also several disadvantages to contend with.
Self-Discipline Required
To work successfully as a freelance Web Developer, you have to have self-discipline. Being an employee comes with built-in structure provided by the company’s management team; they set the time, location, project requirements, and job expectations, among other things. As a freelancer, you are your own boss, which means there’s no one else around to keep you motivated and productive — you have to be able to do that yourself. You must be able to resist distractions and focus on work even though you have no external supervision — and that requires a lot of self-discipline.
Working In Isolation
Another disadvantage to working as a freelance Web Developer is that you don’t have any on-site co-workers. Of course, many introverts may see this as an advantage but after working by yourself for a while, chances are even the most introverted person will start to feel a bit isolated and lonely. The lack of co-workers is also a detriment whenever you need help or support. If you get stuck on a task and aren’t sure how to proceed, there’s no one in the office with you to turn to for assistance; you’re completely on your own.
Of course, there are ways to remedy this problem. You could join a co-working space or work at a café so you don’t feel so isolated. You could also get involved in popular web development communities like Stack Overflow and DEV. Then whenever you need help on a project, all you have to do is ask your online community for help.
Unpredictable Income
As an employee, you receive a regular salary but with freelancing, your income is far less predictable. Many freelancers experience a feast-or-famine cycle; one month they have more work than they know what to do with, the next month they’re struggling to find clients. This kind of unpredictability can be frustrating, especially since you’ve got bills coming in every single month, regardless of how much you work.
One way to avoid this problem is to constantly be on the lookout for new clients, even when you’re already busy; that way you’ll never experience a dry spell. Another recommended tactic is to save up money during months you’re busy so you can still pay your bills during the lean months.
Missing Benefits
Working for a company typically comes with additional benefits like health insurance, matching 401k contributions, and paid time off. As a freelancer, you miss out on those benefits. You’ll be responsible for purchasing your own health insurance, which often costs a lot more than the coverage you receive as an employee.
You also have to completely fund your own retirement; there won’t be any company ready to pitch in and match whatever you contribute — it’s all up to you. The same goes for paid time off. While freelancers do have control of their own schedules and can take off work whenever they want, they don’t get paid unless they work.
Multiple Responsibilities
When you work as a freelancer, you’re not just a Web Developer — you’re also a business owner. That means you have to learn to juggle multiple responsibilities in addition to your web development work. For example, you’ll have to take care of marketing, bookkeeping, communicating with clients, paying taxes on your income, etc. While you don’t have to be an expert in each of these areas, you do need to do them well enough to keep your business running. Many of these tasks can be outsourced, but you may not be able to afford to hire additional help especially when you first start out as a freelancer.
Learn the Skills You Need to Become a Freelance Web Developer
Would you like to become a freelance Web Developer or start a new career in web development? The best way to begin is by enrolling in a web development bootcamp. Bootcamps are accelerated skills-focused programs that prepare students for a new career in just a few months. With their emphasis on skills acquisition and career readiness, bootcamps are often considered a viable alternative to a university education.
Depending upon where you’re located, you might be able to find a web development bootcamp that meets in your area. If there are none available, another option would be enrolling in an online web development bootcamp. By taking your bootcamp online, you get the same expert instruction, live feedback, and hands-on experience as you would from an in-person class except you can learn from the comfort of your own home.
If you’re not quite ready for an in-depth bootcamp, another possibility would be enrolling in individual web development classes. That way you can get started on your learning journey while testing your interest in pursuing web development as a career. If you’re trying to fit your education in with a full-time job or busy home life, then online web development classes might be the best choice for you. They offer you maximum convenience with the same high-quality curriculum as in-person classes.