Become independant? A thoughtful choice, especially in 2021

Opting for independence is a choice that must be considered and calculated. You don't become a freelancer on a whim.

Advantages...

Self-employed status, whether part-time or full-time, brings its share of advantages. The first, if not the most important thing when you decide to take the plunge, is freedom. When you go into business for yourself, you free yourself from the authority of an employer. No more relationship of subordination, no more need to report to a boss.

Opting for independence also means gaining flexibility. You can organize your time. You choose your working hours and days. You have as much flexibility as there are hours in a day and days in a week. You can adapt your hours to reconcile your family life and your professional life, work when the children are at school and when they are sleeping, for example, and spend time with your family. You can still choose to take a month of vacation and then work six days a week the following month.

As a freelancer, you also determine your income. If your work is successful, if your financial income allows it, you have no limit to the income you choose to pay yourself. You are the one who directly reaps the fruit of your work, which generates even more motivation.

but also disadvantages.

Once you have independent status, you will no longer be covered in the event of illness, unless you have previously taken out additional insurance, for example. You lose the benefits of employee status in the event of illness or maternity. Also gone are paid vacations and end-of-year bonuses.

In the event of interruption of your activity, even independently of your will, no suspension of certain fixed or variable costs. As we have unfortunately seen with the health crisis which has put many self-employed workers out of work since 2020, the path to bridging rights and other state aid is strewn with pitfalls. It is often a real obstacle course.

The characteristic of the independent is to bounce back from the problems that appear every day in their professional life. Moreover, the difficult period we are going through has shown us many examples of adaptations and retraining of independent workers. Many traders have turned, often out of necessity, to distance selling and home delivery. Beauticians, for example, have used video to present their beauty products and their uses.

Independent, a calculated risk

Becoming independent means taking risks. These risks must be calculated. Among the financial risks that the self-employed person must think about is late payment. It is therefore appropriate for the self-employed, from the start of their activity, to provide a solution to deal with possible unpaid debts. Even in e-commerce, you can end up with invoices not paid when due. Numerous analyzes show that e-commerce sites that allow payment upon receipt of the order increase their turnover very quickly. Among the many additional sales obtained, unfortunately, some will not be paid on time. It is therefore important for the digital merchant to take this risk into account and first seek advice from a debt recovery partner. The latter will check with him that the conditions are put in place correctly to obtain payment, late perhaps but surely.

Stay employed or take the step towards professional independence? This choice is yours. If you choose entrepreneurial freedom, this decision will be the first in a long series. Some will pay, others less. You will have to constantly question yourself, reposition yourself, ride the wave or step back to jump better. Although no one can swear to the future, well surrounded by trusted partners, you will make your own decisions, always asking the pros and cons regarding your own future as an entrepreneur.