Many graduates and talented artists have an ultimate goal, which is to become a freelance artist (self-employed). So what is it all about then?, what is really involved and ultimately is it really for me?. Being a freelancer is very different from being employed, so consider all of the pros and cons before taking the plunge.

There are definitely more risks and responsibilities involved in this type of day to day work. If you decide to work for someone for a fixed project or period of time to help them achieve their goal then that makes you a freelancer. What you are actually doing is selling your skills and time to that particular company.

Most freelancers start out by charging by the hour, but it is up to you if you feel more comfortable charging by the project. If your a creative, then check out aoi.com for ideas and advice on what you could charge clients. You could contact other freelancers for advice on rates if your still not sure.

There are plenty of benefits for companies to hire freelancers. One thing that they love is a commited worker, so if your prepared to work all hours and be on call at anytime, you will be very valuable. Regular employees are not normally as commited because they only get paid for a set time.

There is less commitment involved when a company hires a freelancer, because they only require you for that particular project. An employee is paid to turn up for work regardless of his workload. However, if you keep solid relationships with your clients, they should come back to you again and again.

If you check out the work and themes of most freelancers in design/illustration or copy-writing, you will find that they tend to specialise in a certain area or style of delivery, which makes them far more valuable and unique. This helps you to stand out from the crowd and get more attention if you building a brand.

Freelancers are often used to produce small, one off or regular jobs that do not require the commitment of a full time employee. Another major reason why companies will hire is because it actually saves them money. They do not have to fork out for sick pay or holidays, which all adds up over time.

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