Working from home freelancing has many benefits, including reclaiming autonomy over your workload and time, earning more money and greater job satisfaction.

There are many reasons to work from home as a freelancer to address the problems of working the typical 9 to 5. You love your job. But you don’t enjoy commuting, regimented working hours, projects you don’t care about, the lack of recognition and sacrificing time for hobbies and loved ones. Can you relate? If so, there are many reasons you might prefer to work from home as a freelancer.

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters 

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Once you’ve signed the dotted line of an employment contract, that’s it. You’ve sold away precious hours of your life to that company. You’re in that office for those hours, rain or shine.

This isn’t to say that freelancers don’t work hard for many hours too. As experts of their craft delivering value to clients, they do. The difference is that freelancers have more control over when those hours are. You don’t need permission for holidays or flexitime. You plan your life your way. Whether it’s more time for friends and family, hobbies, or only self-care, you control where it fits into your schedule.

Working from home as a freelancer means no more squashing into cramped public transport at the same time every day. Instead, you can work from the comfort of your home, saving money on travel and other work-related expenses.

When all you need is an internet connection, working from home could be anywhere! Perhaps you want the comfort of your favourite café or to network at a coworking space. Just pick up your laptop and go!

Or if you’re feeling adventurous, perhaps you could test out the digital nomad lifestyle. Book a flight to somewhere warm and sunny!

As a freelancer, you are your boss. You are effectively running your own company. That means you control how your work life is spent and what projects you take on. Perhaps you want projects specific to your passion for bird watching. You can seek out and take on projects relating to this! (Okay, maybe this example is a bit niche, but you get the idea.)

Or you can seek more variety. Freelancers can take on different projects for a range of clients. Not only does this provide variation, but also security as you have multiple sources of income.

You might hate your 9 to 5 role but be reluctant to leave due to the comfort of knowing that same, reliable paycheck is coming at the end of every month. Financial stability is a primary concern that you may have going freelance. But, in reality freelancers can earn more.

Salaried employees have charges (employee benefits, holidays, etc.) levied against their salary, whereas freelancers can earn more as their pay is based purely on the work being done.

Plus, freelancers control their rates. You can carefully weigh up a job before proceeding and give a quote you feel is fair for yourself and the client. If a client is not willing to pay the quoted price, you can either reduce your charges or look for clients who are willing to pay a fair price.

This isn’t to say you should just jump into freelancing with the expectation of instantly earning a fortune. It takes time to build your brand and reputation enough to secure a reliable income. If you’re just starting, you could start working from home and freelancing on the side to acquire some extra money, and overtime as your reputation grows this may develop from a side-project into your primary source of income.

No longer a cog in the corporate machine, you will see the direct benefit of the work you put in.

Unlike a salaried employee, freelancers don’t get a set salary each month. Instead, your earnings depend directly on the quality and amount of work you put in. And while this can be hard, especially when starting, it is also highly motivating and rewarding – in particular when you get repeat clients and good testimonials!

Working from home as a freelancer offers enormous benefits for those who tire of the typical 9 to 5. You gain control over your projects, time and finances. And while freelancing isn’t always easy, for many people the advantages of working from home as a freelancer outweigh the costs.

If you are looking to start or enhance your freelance career, sign up with Skillbox and gain access to our pool of clients by clicking here.