What does it actually mean to be a freelancer?

The trouble with freelancing is that at its surface, everyone knows what it is, but as soon as you start talking logistics, it all becomes rather hazy. Freelancing is a term that is so vast that it covers the same sort of range that something like “salaried” or “part-time job” might, and just like these terms, one person’s freelancing will likely look vastly different from another’s.

Honestly, the easiest way I’ve found to explain the whole freelance thing is to keep in mind the following characteristics that freelancers tend to have in common:

• Self-Employment: Though most freelancers work with companies, we are not that company’s employees. This means that they typically aren’t responsible for us when it comes to things like taxes and healthcare typically, but also means they don’t get to dictate details like hours.

• Project-Based or Time-Based Work: A good full-time employee can generally expect to keep their job indefinitely. While they can certainly be laid off (and many are), most employers offer benefits like transition help or extended final paychecks to soften such instances. On the flip side, freelancers are generally hired for a period of time or a specific project and may or may not be hired again. There is never severance or a guarantee of future work with freelancing.

• Multiple Clients: You certainly can be a freelancer with a single, well-paying client, but the vast majority work with at least a few different clients.