What are the pros and cons of freelancing?

Working as a freelancer has, like any status, advantages but also disadvantages on a daily basis. Depending on the personality of the freelancer, his sector of activity, his environment, the daily life of a freelancer can be seen differently according to the profiles. Overview.

The freedom of freelancers

One of the most notable advantages for a freelancer is obvious freedom. In effect, the worker becomes his own boss. Then he can decide what he wants to put in place, at what speed, prioritize according to his vision, organize himself as he sees fit for his work but also for his clients.

However, this independence can also represent a brake because generally, in the beginning, freelancers work alone and accumulate a lot of work for their clients. Being able to delegate is becoming a luxury, with a price. They also waste a lot of time on tasks that are time-consuming or beyond their expertise, especially when it comes to accounting and administration.

Some freelancers therefore trust wage portage companies to offload the management of their business while maintaining their independence and autonomy. The wage portage company accompanies the freelancer, called “ported employee”, in all his missions (invoicing, reminders, payroll, contributions, etc.). In return, the wage portage company charges management fees to the freelancer. On the Cegelem site, all the formalities handled by a wage portage company are explained. Moreover, until December 31, 2022, Cegelem will launch an exclusive offer: 0% management fees. The opportunity for freelancers to try this hybrid working mode at a lower cost.

The trade-off between work and private life

According to a survey conducted by Sales Hacking in 2022, 84% of freelancers say their work allows them to lead the lifestyle they want. In fact, it seems easier to deal with your private life and your professional life. Arrangement of schedules, working days, possibility to work from any place (and more when the activity is on the web).

Also, 86% of the self-employed have the advantage of working from home! Saving time, money, this solution is interesting at the beginning when the turnover does not allow the freelancer to rent professional premises or when he does not manage any stock for his company.
However, working from home has its drawbacks. It becomes difficult to take a break from your professional daily life. In addition, you need to have a space dedicated to the activity, quiet and isolated from other family members. Finally, working from home can lead to a significant sense of loneliness.

Pride and self-esteem

Working as a freelancer helps to develop a certain self-confidence. The independent can only rely on him to move forward and develop his business. Therefore, he must be aware of his strengths, have confidence in himself, in his ideas, in his ability to carry out projects for the good of his company.
The motivation and determination is therefore more intense. The key is a sense of pride in leading this professional life, against all odds, between successes and failures.
On the other hand, being a freelancer is too much moral weight to weigh for a single person. It is important to have loved ones to be close to to recharge one’s batteries, to exchange ideas, to confess one’s fears and anxieties.

When he develops his activity within a wage portage company, supported employees benefit from group workshops, can exchange with other supported freelancers, who know and experience things like him every day. Hence, wage portage has the advantage of empowering workers, of lifting them out of their social isolation.

Risk appetite

Starting a freelance business means taking risks. They are measured when it is an intellectual profession that does not require stock or purchase to develop. But still. Starting an independent activity requires time, personal and financial investment, support from family and friends sometimes. In the event of bankruptcy, the self-employed person makes his assets and can lose everything. The self-employed person cannot qualify for unemployment, he does not benefit from sick leave, must expect his “holidays” where he is not paid and find assignments throughout the year to these inactive periods will be compensated.
However, when the business created begins to grow, the taste for this risk will take on a completely new flavor for the freelancer. The benefits are both professional and personal. It is a question of realizing a dream, a life project. The investments made finally bear fruit and allow the company to develop, recruit and create new projects.

For freelancers who want to start their business properly, wage portage companies make themselves available to companies and meet their needs. In fact, they can test the feasibility of their project while benefiting from the advantages of traditional employees: health insurance, unemployment, retirement, vacation, sick leave, training, etc. To always better support self-employed workers thanks to the wage portage, a dedicated union was created: the FEPS.

Like any activity, the freelance status presents many advantages but there are also some disadvantages that you should be aware of before starting. There are alternatives, such as wage portage, when the self-employed want to start their activity with ongoing support.

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