Becoming a freelancer in 2025: pros and cons

The market for freelance work is growing—employers are ready to delegate more and more tasks to freelancers.

As of 2025, there are approximately 1.57 billion freelancers worldwide, representing 46.7% of the global workforce. In the United States alone, more than 64 million people engage in freelancing, contributing a whopping $1.27 trillion to the economy.

As freelancing grows in popularity, the market is expected to reach $8.39 billion in 2025, growing at an annual rate of 14.5%. It could reach $16.89 billion by 2029, growing at an even higher rate of 19.1%.

Pros and cons of independent work

Freelancing, like any medal, has two sides, light and dark. I’ll write about both, and you decide which one outweighs it for you.

The bright side

• Freedom

Undoubtedly, freelancing gives more freedom than any office job. If you want to have a day off, everything is in your hands. Work hard until 3 a.m. and then sleep until 12 noon—you’re welcome! If you don’t like the employer, you give up the project and look for another one. No one will forbid you to do that.

• No superiors, no hierarchy, no chain of command

A true freelancer does not have to please his superiors, because there are no superiors. He owes no one anything at all but himself and his family.

• The opportunity to work from home

Freelancers work in comfortable conditions, save time traveling to the office, and this is worth a lot. Thanks to remote working, freelancers can also be people with health limitations and pensioners, which is important.

• Minimal costs for organizing your own business

Self-employment is an individual micro-business, and to start it, you do not need to draw up a mountain of documents, get a bunch of permits, buy office equipment, rent a room … There is a computer—that’s enough.

Even bookkeeping today can be done without extra costs with such services as Norman, which issue invoices, automatically calculate your income tax, EÜR, and VAT, and many others.

• Only your own work

People who work for hire know that staff members are often assigned tasks that are not directly related to their competencies. Freelancing eliminates this issue by allowing individuals to choose their tasks and orders.

• There are almost no overheads

This means there is no need to buy office clothes and shoes in accordance with the dress code or spend money on public transportation or gasoline. There is a lower risk of falling ill with acute respiratory infections due to limited social contacts—a direct saving on medicines.

• There is no limit on earnings

An employee for hire has a salary above which you can’t jump, even working 24 hours a day. A freelancer’s earnings are regulated by him/her, and they directly depend on the amount of work done.

• You can work while traveling
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Many freelancers travel around cities and countries and actively work on the road. I personally can’t do that; I am only productive at home—but that’s more of a personality trait.

The dark side

• Freelancing is hard; it is hard to decide to go freelance

It’s one thing to work remotely on a full-time basis, and a completely different degree of responsibility—independent sailing. There is a lack of stability, a constant search for new orders and new projects, and no salary as such—one that is paid according to the scheme “on the 5th—advance payment, on the 20th—salary.”.

• Self-discipline is necessary

In its absence, it’s easy to slack off, work less than necessary for a comfortable level of income, procrastinate, and put things off until tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. And undermine your reputation as a reliable and responsible performer.

• Lack of a social package in the form of sick leave, vacation pay, and maternity benefits

In such a situation, a freelancer needs a high level of financial literacy, the ability to form a financial safety cushion, and, in general, to manage money rationally.

• Social isolation

When a freelancer works from home for a long time, the lack of offline communication gradually grows. All of life is moving online—planning meetings, work, socializing, and even corporate events can now be held online. However, socialization suffers—a fact that those aspiring to become freelancers should be aware of. There is less desire for lively socializing; a person seems to falter, closing in on himself and his family.

• There is a boss after all

It will not be possible to work independently without bosses at all. You will have to become your own marketer, project manager, time manager, and even a mediator if there are conflicts in communication with clients. Otherwise—no way, because freelancing is not a hobby, where you can act on instinct and inspiration, but a way of working and earning money. And this is about systematization.

• Income volatility

Let’s say you worked hard in June and earned $2000. That’s a great result. However, in July, you indulged in sunbathing and worked intermittently, failing to reach your full potential. Alternatively, the project you were working on unexpectedly closed, resulting in you earning only $500. That’s the kind of swing you get when working independently.

• Difficulties with relatives

It is not always easy to explain to relatives—especially children—that if Mom or Dad is on the computer, they are at work; they are not there; they are a phantom. As for the older generation, you may also hear from them: “When are you going to give up your Internet and find a normal job?”.

Conclusion

Nevertheless, the army of freelancers is growing every year, and it’s hard to argue with that. The growing popularity of freelancing is due to both the opportunity to work on your own terms and the variety of tasks that can be performed. However, before plunging into this sphere, it is important to weigh up the pros and cons to see whether you are ready for this independent and sometimes difficult life.