With every great opportunity comes great responsibility. No phrase has ever meant so much than to a 22 year-old design graduate deciding that going freelance is his best option in a country in the midst of its deepest recession since the war. Factor in the 100 miles between you and the guy you’re collaborating with and you have yourself a serious mountain to climb.

With every great opportunity comes great responsibility. No phrase has ever meant so much than to a 22 year-old design graduate deciding that going freelance is his best option in a country in the midst of its deepest recession since the war. Factor in the 100 miles between you and the guy you’re collaborating with and you have yourself a serious mountain to climb.

But that’s exactly what I did, and though it may not have ultimately worked out, what I learnt has been invaluable, and I ‘d not rule it out in the future.

Whilst every freelancer will have their own reasons for taking the plunge and sticking with it, here are just some of things that appealed to me.

1. Being your own boss. And the control and satisfaction that goes with that. Just remember that self-motivation is everything and even if you didn’t get in to bed till 3am the next day’s deadline won’t go away.
2. More money. Freelancers are usually paid more than employees working alongside them on a project. Even pitch work will sometimes be paid for which eliminates some of the gamble. An agency is great way of bring in work, but with a 30% commission this might not be for everyone.
3. Freedom. When you work, often where you work, when to take holidays – these things are up to you. But equally you have to take the work when it’s there, and the pressure of finishing a project before disappearing on holiday can take the edge of the whole vacation experience.
4. Variety. Moving from contract to contract and company to company, freelancers can benefit from varied projects and experiences, and develop an impressive CV.
5. Less tax. Freelancers who take professional advice can also greatly reduce the amount of tax they pay.

Of course, the ups have their downs.

1. Uncertainty. There are few guarantees of another contract when your current contract ends. If you do have downtime, use it to good effect. It’s an opportunity for personal projects and self-promotion, so be careful not to squander it.
2. Hassle. Because you will be running your own business, there will be forms to fill in and accounts to keep. Invoices can take a day a month to prepare and send out (if business is good!) and you have to keep on top of these. Likewise with chasing invoices.
3. You will be on your own. It can be a lonely experience at times. There aren’t the social aspects of working within a design team. No matter how much fun your cat is, it’s unlikely to compare.
4. Security. This is a big one. Working for yourself there’s no limit to what you can earn, but there will be ups and downs and if you’re not working you’re not earning. You need to weigh this up against the regular monthly pay of an employee

So where does that leave us? Appealing as being a freelancer might sound, just remember in reality you may find the time you have to be creative seriously compromised by all the less than exciting necessities that come with running a business – finding work, managing clients, keeping accounts and just paperwork in general.

For me, and certainly for the time being, I’m happy to let others take care of that stuff, leaving me to focus on what I love doing, and that’s being a designer.