Freelancing? Yeah!

In years past, someone saying that they were a “freelancer” was a dead giveaway that they were between jobs. Not anymore, as more and more people start looking out for their own future, they start to see freelancing as a great way to start their own business. If a person happens to be laid off or they feel like they have hit a dead-end with their job, free-lancing can be a great way to keep their fingers in their chosen profession. Being a freelancer allows an individual benefits that they usually do not have when working for someone else. Just some of these benefits may include:

· Choosing whom they work for and with.
· Select projects that they find financially worthwhile.
· Choose the hours they wish to work.
· Selecting where they want to work.
· Use the skills that they want to use the most.

I am sure that many people that are living the freelancer life could add to the list.

There is one major issue that does prevent people from taking the leap to freelancing, and that is the need for health insurance. Unless a person’s spouse has good health care coverage and can provide adequate coverage, the desire and need to start freelancing could be hampered. To address this concern there is an organization that is made up of freelancers, and they have an insurance program for its members. The organization is known as Freelancers Union. They have a great web-site that can help an individual in making their decision to move forward with their own free-lancing business. They can be checked out at www.freelancersunion.org. Another option to check out for insurance is to see what would be available through the Small Business Administration (www.sbsb.com).

With the present economy, many businesses are laying off many employees. However, there is work that they still need to have done. This is a great way for a freelancer to pick up some excellent work. Some folks have even gone back to their old employer as a freelancer and work on some of the same projects.

If a person does decide to take the plunge of self employment as a freelancer, they should be aware that there may be times when they are not working. Freelancing does not always provide a consistent income. Make sure that the finances are available to provide a safety net. If a person is still employed, they may not want to give up their day job just yet.