Many freelancers love the lifestyle once they get into it, despite the difficulties. Freedom to make our own schedule, do the type of work we want to do, work with whom we want to work with and more are all among the benefits. There’s nothing like waking up in the morning and not taking a shower if you don’t feel like it!

However, many still run back to their day job, and even for those who stick it out, freelancing has its downs. Running a freelance business can be a terrifying thing. Below are the top eight reasons to absolutely fear this lifestyle and career choice.

1. A Non-Steady Paycheck

Freelancers can make more than someone with a steady job, or they can make less. It is a known fact that we are in complete control of our own finances and our willingness to keep moving forward will keep the bills paid and the income streaming in. However, even for successful freelancers, the idea of a steady paycheck is long gone.

Emergencies happen, savings dwindle, and work can stop coming in at any given time, only to return months later. It happens to the best freelancers, and while most of us can make it by budgeting and spending wisely over time, there is still an uncomfortable feeling of not knowing when your next payment will come in. No steady paycheck means no steady finances.

2. Responsibility

Responsibility is cool. Calling the shots and being in charge are what we freelance creative people are all about. However, everyone wants to be lazy every now and then, and of course, nobody wants to do all the work, all the time. As freelancers, we must. Plus, if there is a mishap with a client or project (our fault or not) we get 100% of the blame.

We get to take responsibility of all the good things we do, but also all the bad things that go wrong. We also have the complete responsibility on our shoulders of keeping an entire business alive.

3. Confusing Work/Life Balance

I strive every day for a good work life balance, but it doesn’t always work out that way. Even the most experienced freelancers get swamped at times, and even with outsourcing and smart time management, it can still lead to 12 hour work days. With an ok amount of work on our plates though, we still may have strange work hours, and may have to pencil in a time in our schedule for a social life and when to eat dinner.

What I personally think is worse, though, is having too little work come in for too long. Even if financially ok, it’s nice to have something to work on from day to day. Freelancers sometimes may go for a whole month with nothing to work on besides personal side projects.

4. You Can’t be Good — You Have to be GREAT

If you meet all the requirements for a day job and land it, then great, you have a paycheck coming in doing what you love. Then, you can get clients coming to you no matter what, though your company. As a freelancer, though, we don’t have that luxury. We must market and be constantly winning over the competition in order to gain each and every client; in order to gain each and every paycheck.

Freelance designers need to be constantly staying up to date on the latest trends, technologies, and business tactics in order to succeed. There is no room for getting even the least bit behind.

5. Marketing, Research, Finances, Promotions, and more

At a day job, being a web designer is being a web designer. As a freelancer, being a web designer is being a business person. As if we’re not busy enough, we must also market ourselves, work on personal projects, blog, do our own taxes, keep financial records, write contracts, proposals, and quotes, brand ourselves and so much more.

It’s that much more work.

6. Bad Clients: the Blame is On You

Mess up on a project? Miss a deadline? Maybe you didn’t even do anything wrong at all. Regardless, if a client is unpleasant or unhappy with the final product, who’s to blame? You.

The worst thing about this is that many freelancers don’t even do 100% of the work — they outsource. If the client is upset about an area of a project you had no control over, you still get the blame! Furthermore, you have the responsibility now to take care of the client and try to make them happy again. Otherwise, you must suffer the losses.

7. No Benefits or Perks

A day job can ensure you health insurance, a dental plan, paid vacation, guaranteed holidays off and possibly a cushy office with a view. (All that, and guaranteed work coming in!) Freelancers can get some of these things (insurance, and maybe a cool computer chair), but it all costs extra and can barely be considered a ‘perk.’

As freelancers, we have to sacrifice a lot of the security these benefits can provide, and the ease of having these perks through a company.

8. Procrastination Temptations

You’re sitting in your office at a day job around 2pm and really want to just go home and sit in front of the TV. Can you? No. So, you grumble and get to work until you’re off at 5.

As a freelancer, it’s around 2pm and you want to go watch some TV. Can you? Yes, and it’s really too easy. How convenient, but you then didn’t get the work done you needed to. Now you’re behind and either need to stay up late and do the work or procrastinate further until tomorrow.

Procrastination is a huge stress factor, and while procrastination is still present at a day job, it’s not as easy to get away with. Freelancers need a lot more self-discipline to stay on track and move forward.

Bonus: 8 Reasons to LOVE Freelancing with All Your Heart

Now, here are eight reasons to love freelancing, each one below relevant to the eight reasons to fear it above. Are risking and facing the fears above worth it to you?

1. Complete control over your income — hard work, but no financial limits!
2. Credibility and recognition. You’re a responsible, hard-working business owner …and proud!
3. Wake up when you want, work when you want, and how you want.
4. You get to constantly be pushed to your limits, helping you achieve and accomplish more with your career.
5. It’s not just designing, writing or whatever — you get the experience of running a business as well. It can be a fun, challenging, and life altering reward.
6. You get to eventually pick your own clients and types of projects, even if they’re not all peaches ‘n cream the first few years.
7. More freedom and work style choices, and the feeling of self-accomplishment when you make your own work-related benefits.
8. A strong sense of self-discipline, and also the ability to work when and where you want. (Take that time off if you really need it! Who’s stopping you?!)

Credit: The Free Creatives