Your Favorite and Least Favorite Part of Freelancing

Pariah Burke wrote: We all have parts of self-employment we love and parts we abhor. What is your favorite and least favorite part of freelancing?

Favourite part is the joy of making most of the rules. Least favourite part: the day job gets in the way of being a proper freelancer

Has anyone ever used Freelancer.com to get work?

Seems like there are mixed messages on its legitamacy online...

Worst Part Of Freelance Work:  Not knowing how to do exactly what the client wants and still keep it manageable.  Hate asking questions in some forums when the members all think and say bad things to you because you don't know what they know  (drawbacks of being self taught include HUGE gaps in knowledge, including some basic stuff).

Best Part of Freelance Work:  Getting paid!  I just got the CS6 Master Collection for making a website.  Not bad considering I did everything in Notepad and Arcsoft PhotoStudio 5 up to this point 

One day I'll have a stable enough income for the CC stuff, but I would hate to need money and have a subscription run out in the middle of a job, so until I get a bit more savings, CS6 still beats the heck out of my previous "Suite" of programs!

For me there is an issue of momentum. When I'm being creative, I don't have time to be looking for the next job and vice versa.

I also use my YouTube channel to support my community and promote my brand for future business. I don't mind answering small questions for free but I have difficulty when a question becomes four or five questions and it looks like that might continue. It's a hard conversation to have but I do try to transition the freebies over to paying clients.

Once you hit a time in your life... and want kids...  Then you have to reconsider if freelancing is secure. 

Seen industries go up an down... see work coming in nonstop... also seen it dry up due to things such as 911.  You can not control the industry and if something happens then your work may slow down.

I like security!  Now I want to work full time..... benefits... all that fun stuff!

The least part:

• Some people think your work is a combination of multi roles with a cheaper rate in comparison with an agency.

The best part:

• You can use the job in your profile.
• Every new job is a new open door to new experiences, meet people and learn some thing new.

My profession:  Freelance Web Developer/Designer (HTML, CSS, PHP, MySQL, jQuery, etc...)

Least favorite part: 

Project scope creep.  I usually have a fairly good idea of what the project will entail & cost when I put together the plan.   But some web projects take on a life of their own when client suddenly wants to add much more to the mix.  This eats into available time and sets back other scheduled projects.  I have no problem doing extra work & billing for it accordingly.  However, I'd prefer that they stick to the original plan so I can keep my commitments with other clients.

Best part:

Seeing the completed project and receiving positive feedback.   It makes it all worthwhile.

Nancy O.

The worst part - As a portrait photographer all these 35 plus years, Brad's comment is rather too accurate. How often have we had people making combined incomes in excess of $100g USD sit at our conference table and suggest that maybe the job they want us to do would be good "exposure" or something. Right. We've gotten to be rather polite as we move towards the front door at that point.

The best part - ... when clients sob as we show them their work. We know then we have created something that will be a treasure for their lifetime.

Another near best part - teaching, when students & colleagues suddenly have a light go on from something we've taught them. Always satisfying.

In my experience most clients take the 'free' part of 'freelance' literally.