Want to know more about different categories of freelancers? If yes, then continue reading.
A freelancer is a person who doesn’t have a fixed boss and he/she works on various projects for different companies. A freelancer has full freedom to work for anyone in the entire world on the permanent or temporary basis. You are basically a self-employed person. According to freelancers union report, 53 million people are performing freelancing activities and approximately $ 715 billion dollars are contributed by freelancing sector to the U.S. economy.
According to Elance (freelancing job site), in 2013 companies hired around 46% of online freelancers in U.K. Also the average income rate per hour of U.K. freelancers increased to 6.7% in the same year.
What are main forms of freelancers?
The world of freelancing is expanding day by day. There are 5 kinds of freelancers who each have their own unique characteristics. Each category has its own flexibility and freedom.
Not sure which category to include yourself in? Let’s find out.
Conventional freelancers
It is the most familiar category of freelancing. These self-employed people don’t cater to a particular employer or a company. They generally have many clients and sources of income. They work on various projects on a permanent or temporary basis. Around 40% of people are employed in this category. You can also come under this category.
Moonlighting
The name itself is self-explanatory. Under this category people having a regular job also work at night to gain extra income. This is done to fulfill their living expenses. People who are working at low paying jobs generally adopt this category. For example, my aunt works as a teacher for 6 hours a day 5 days a week. Her income is a way to less to fulfill her living expenses. So, she provides online coaching at night.
Part time workers
They are one of the busiest people in the world. These people work for 9 hours a day, do an online job at night and also write poems and articles whenever they have a free time. These people have an unpredictable and a compact schedule. This category of work is often confused with moonlighting. For example, my friend Rahul works for 9 hours a day, does an online job at night and makes painting whenever he has free time.
Online company owners
You being a self-employed person can open up your own company and sell your services to other clients. For example Millo.co owner Preston Lee.
Project based workers
Such type of workers is hired by companies to complete certain projects. Their employment is on the basis of contract or a specific timeline. Once the project is complete such workers are again back to the world of freelancing. They are also called temporary workers. These workers can be hired as permanent employees by the company but it all depends upon their performance.
Above mentioned are the 5 main categories of freelancers. If you are a self-employed person make sure to include yourself in one of the 5 mentioned categories of freelancing.