Today, most people are freelancing to supplement their income. They are not looking for a steady job but one that will help them make money and provide for their family. This is where the startup vs freelancing debate comes into play.
Both freelance and startups have their own pros and cons.
Before deciding which option is better for your needs, you need to understand the differences between them first.
A startup is an organization that is either in its infancy or has just been launched. It does not have employees, nor do its resources allow it to keep growing fast enough to accommodate more than one employee at any given time.
On the other hand, freelancing can be a single person taking on all the ‘hats’.
Freelancers may also be referred to as contractors or independent contractors. Therefore, starting a business as a freelancer or startup depends on how you define it.
What is a Startup?
A startup is an organization that is either in its infancy or has just been launched. It might have a small staff or is a small company with a small budget.
It might have just been founded or been operating for some time. It might have raised a large amount of money or been small-money funded.
What it has in common is that it has not been around very long and is looking to expand.
What is Freelancing?
Freelancing is a term used to describe employees who work as contractors for various employers.
Typically, freelance workers are hired to complete specific tasks within their fields of expertise, such as designing a website, writing a report, or working on a specific project.
Most employers recognize and support the freelance model, and many offer benefits and perks for freelance workers, including health insurance and 401(k) plans.
There are many different subcategories of freelancing, including full-time, part-time, remote, small-dollar, and others.
Pros of Startups
- Ready to Make Money – Startups generally have less experience than larger organizations and may have been in operation for as little as a week. As a result, startups may be more inclined to take risks and take on new projects without the same level of experience as larger organizations. Moreover, startups also have less overhead because they are operating as nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).
- Team culture – Startups often have a more collaborative, open environment. This can make it easier to communicate with team members and get things done. Because startups have fewer employees, there is often less bureaucracy, so decisions are made more quickly.
- Strong Financing Base – Startups can get access to capital through venture capitalists and investment funds. These funds often have lower investment costs than those charged by banks or other traditional sources.
Cons of Startups
- Uncertain job security – The nature of a startup means that there is little to no job security for employees. Startups are often forced to start hiring when they get off the ground, and often fire employees when business conditions change. The startup may also have to fire employees if it does not meet its financial goals and cannot make payroll. Startup founders are also not guaranteed employment after their company is acquired by another company or goes public.
- Risk – The nature of startups means that they take on a large amount of risk. This means that startups are often forced to take on more risk than other companies and may lose more money in the process. Startup founders also take on a larger amount of risk because they have less experience, and may not be able to handle the uncertainty of their business.
- Lack of resources – Startups lack the resources needed to operate effectively. For example, startups typically do not have enough money to build a marketing strategy or pay for research and development (R&D). Startups also do not have the financial resources required for large-scale projects that require large amounts of capital or years of research.
- Stressing – Startups tend to be stressful because they require the entrepreneur to manage a growing company and deal with many people. Startups also tend to be stressful because they are often unpredictable and may not succeed.
Pros of Freelancing
- Ready to Grow – Freelancing is a flexible way to get work. You may not need a certain level of experience, as you can freelance based on what you feel is needed. Moreover, there are no start-up costs for freelancing.
- Ready to Hire – One of the best things about freelancing is that you are ready to hire if the need arises. You do not have to go through the hiring process in a large organization. You may be able to hire Remote as a Freelancer, but still, have to go through the hiring process in a traditional company.
- Selectivity with clients – You can choose the clients you want to work with. As a freelancer, you have the freedom to choose your clients and decide how much time and effort to put into each client.
- No Boss – Freelancers are their own boss, and they do not have a boss to answer to. They also do not need to worry about being laid off or fired.
- Focus on Work – Freelancers can focus on their work when they are working for themselves, instead of worrying about what work they are going to do next at their job.
- Convenience – There is no commute, no office hours, no dress code, no organization closings when you freelance. You can freelance from anywhere you want and take care of business whenever it suits you best.
Cons of Freelancing
- Lack of Job Security- You are your own boss, so when you decide to stop working as a freelancer, you will not have any job security.
- Uncertainty- You may have to deal with clients who are difficult to work with or do not pay you on time. This can be frustrating and stressful, but if you are prepared for the worst, it can be a great way of earning an income.
- Lack of Benefits- As a freelancer, you will not be able to enjoy the benefits that come with full-time employment such as health insurance and retirement benefits.
- Expense – As a freelance contractor, you will have expenses such as office space and equipment for your business.
Difference Between Startup vs. Freelancing
Startup vs. Freelancing: Growth Potential
Startups can grow their business to a much larger size than a freelancer. This is because startups are free to work on multiple projects at the same time, whereas startups have to focus on one project at a time.
If you decide to start your own business as a startup, you may be able to work on multiple projects at once. However, with freelancers, they have limited resources and can only work on one project at any given time which means that they cannot take care of several projects simultaneously.
Startup vs Freelancing: Risk vs. Reward
Startups can face risks in the form of financial and other losses. However, freelancers are also faced with risks.
For instance, they may not be able to deliver on time or not be able to complete the project at all. The risk that a freelancer faces is the same as that of a startup. It could be financial or other losses, but the difference is that a freelancer can still continue working even if their project fails and does not have to pay for it.
Startup vs Freelancing: Employees
Startups have employees because they either have to or they want to. Freelancers, on the other hand, may be employed by a company but can also choose to work for another company if need be.
Startup vs Freelancing: Areas of expertise
Startups are created by people with a certain skill or set of skills. They are then able to sell those services based on their knowledge and experience.
This is possible because startups do not have the same needs as larger companies so they can decide what kind of services will best fit their needs.
Freelancers, on the other hand, typically take on all kinds of jobs that may not be in line with their specific skill set. While this may seem like a good thing, it makes freelancers less marketable and therefore more susceptible to being laid off if business slows down.
But there are some in-demand freelancing skills.
Startup vs Freelancing: Starting up costs
Startups usually start out small and grow from there as demand increases.
The capital needed is usually put into inventory and equipment that will last for quite some time before replacement is necessary. The initial cost of starting up a business can range from $1,000 – $50,000 depending on what you decide to do with your startup idea.
Freelancers usually start out with more capital as they often rely heavily on previous clients who are willing to give them work until the job is complete or for a specific period of time such as 6 months. This means that freelancers have more cash flow which can be used to fund startup costs.
Startup vs Freelancing: Profitability
Startup costs are usually covered by the revenue generated from the business. This means that if you are running a business, you need to be able to generate revenue in order to cover your costs.
If you are a freelancer, you can make money by charging clients for your time and skills. In the beginning, there may be a lot of overhead costs associated with starting up a business such as rent, utilities and equipment. However, once the business is established, it should be able to cover these costs easily.
Startup vs. Freelancing: Which is Right for You?
So, if you are interested in starting a business, the decision may be relatively easy. Freelancers can work from home, on-site or from coffee shops and other locations.
They are able to work with clients of their choice, set their own hours and days of the week and generally have more control over their day-to-day schedules.
In short, freelancers are in control of how much money they make based on these factors. However, there are some drawbacks to freelancing such as not being able to take time off or having enough time to do the job properly.
If you want to start a business but don’t want anything to do with traditional business owners or managers then becoming a freelancer might be the perfect option for you.
Freelancers can set their own hours and days of the week which means that they can work whenever they want (or not work at all!). If you want to start your own business but don’t have any prior business experience or want to work for yourself, then becoming a freelancer might be the best option for you.
However, if you actually want to start a business with other people, then you should consider starting a startup instead.
Bottom Line
If you are on the fence between starting a startup vs freelancing, I recommend going with the freelancing option. You will have more flexibility with your schedule and can find work when you need it. Moreover, unlike with a startup, if you are not able to hire employees, you do not lose your investment when you need to close down your business.