18 challenges freelancers face

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Freelancing has its benefits and advantages. You are your own boss and boss. But freelancers also have enough problems. And they are slightly different from those faced by office workers. If you are looking to become a freelancer, you should definitely be aware of these issues in advance.

1. Requirements and requests of customers are constantly changing

Your clients are very different people, and their requirements are also different. What you used to work with your past client may be totally unacceptable to the client you are working with today. And, most likely, these requirements will grow from order to order. This means that as a freelancer, you cannot stand still, you need to constantly develop.

2. Different time zones

A freelancer can work with customers from all over the world. The main thing is that you and the customer understand each other and speak the same language. But this advantage is fraught with a problem. After all, you have to take into account the difference in time zones. You have to adjust somehow, wake up at 3 am to talk with the client. Or even stay awake all night.

3. You face bad customers

A freelancer, unlike an office worker, has to communicate with clients himself. And not all of these clients are pleasant people. Some delay payments, others require jewelry work for a penny price. Plus, a freelancer often has to take risks because clients don't like to pay up front.

4. Financial management

As a freelancer, you need to make sure you earn more than you spend. Over time, a freelancer is forced to become a good financial manager.

5. You need to maintain a work-life balance

When you are managing your own time, it becomes very difficult to devote enough time to both work and personal life. On the one hand, your wife has a birthday and you need to devote a whole day to her. On the other hand, your deadline is on fire.

6. You need to hunt for clients

The most important task of a freelancer is finding a job. Or rather, customers. And despite the sheer number of freelance exchanges, you can face fierce competition. Finding clients is not as easy as it sounds.

7. You need to be a jack of all trades

If you choose freelance, then you have become the owner of your own business. This means you need to manage your own time, finances, marketing and customer interactions. You can only become a successful freelancer if you can handle all of these many tasks at the same time.

8. Your deadlines are constantly burning

Many clients require the job to be completed on time. And often the time to complete a task is very limited. And this is very annoying and unnerving. Especially when you need to complete several tasks in a short time.

9. Laziness and procrastination

Freelancers are constantly missing deadlines. This is because they do not take into account the eighth point of this article and believe that they have enough time for the task. This means that it can be done a little later. Procrastination and laziness are two of the biggest enemies of a freelancer and must be actively fought against.

10. Currency fluctuations

The currency that a client living, say, in South Africa is willing to pay with, is slightly different from the Belarusian or Russian ruble or hryvnia. And in the modern world, when the exchange rate is constantly changing, your income can rapidly decrease. On the other hand, they can rise just as rapidly.

11. Time management

As we said above, freelancers are very poor at estimating time. They underestimate the amount of time it takes to complete a task. You don't want to be that freelancer who always misses deadlines, do you? Then you should learn how to manage your time.

12. Payment methods

In addition to the exchange rate, the methods of obtaining this very currency are also a big headache for a freelancer. Yandex. Money and PayPal may not always be your saviors. The way the client pays for your work will not always be the way you would like it to be. You will have to get a lot of e-wallets and various bank cards.

13. You need to be a great negotiator

More often than not, clients feel when a freelancer misjudges their services. And this can lead to the fact that you get paid less than you should. It is important to assess the market correctly and be confident when presenting your services.

14. You need to learn to be flexible

Freelancing means customer satisfaction. Sometimes, even a job that you think is fantastic may not suit the client. You have to adapt to customers, otherwise your career will not work out.

15. Taxes

We, as citizens of our country, must pay taxes. For an office employee, this problem is solved by the company's accountant. But a freelancer has to think about it himself. You need to understand all the tax jungle, choose how it will be more profitable to pay taxes and how not to go to jail for hiding income. Even if it is unintentional.

16. Empty portfolio

When you're just starting out as a freelancer, you probably don't have much to show your clients. And you will have to work the first time for a penny or even completely free. Everything in order to fill your portfolio.

17. Dumping competitors

What you can do for $ 50, a Chinese or Indian freelancer can do for $ 10. You will have to put up with this and either work for a penny or raise your level. True masters of their craft do not need to look for work. It’s work that finds them.

18. Loneliness

When you work as a freelancer, you don't have much contact with people. You have no team, no bosses. All your communication is communication with customers. This can seriously affect your perception of people and your behavior in large companies.

Good luck with your freelance career.