Technical writing offers great opportunities for freelance work. Freelancing (also known as contracting) can provide lucrative hourly or daily rates well beyond what a salaried role can offer, plus the flexibility to work your own hours in the time and place of your choice.
For technical writers with good experience under their belt and a great professional network, it can be extremely rewarding. However, it’s not for everyone. Beginners without much experience may struggle to negotiate good freelance terms or get enough work. Many folks simply prefer the job security and career advancement opportunities that come with a salaried role.
Before going down the freelance path, you should be fully aware of the pros and cons. Here are some of them from our experience.
| Pros | Cons |
| Enjoy premium rates well in excess of salaried roles—within limits. Many companies have freelance rates (or a range) defined for certain professions, and they won’t go very far beyond this even if you’re the Leonardo da Vinci of tech writers. Savvy freelancers should develop good relationships with recruiters and use that relationship to find out what the industry norm is for rates, as well as specific ranges at organizations that may be willing to pay a premium. | Job security can be lacking for freelancers. There may be plenty of work in economic boom times and excellent freelance rates available. This can dry up very quickly in challenging economic times as organizations prepare to endure recessions. In such times, shedding freelance workers can be an expedient way for organizations to save money. |
| Set your own schedule. Freelancers who do piecework (short contracts that are often costed and quoted in advance) can complete work in their own time and juggle multiple clients simultaneously. This gives them the flexibility to focus on other things in life, like taking care of children and dependents, or focusing on passion projects. | Lack of career advancement and training opportunities. Usually, freelancers will be expected to invest in their own education and won’t have access to training courses that full-time staff do. Organizations are often reluctant to invest in career development opportunities for freelance staff, particularly at a management level. They may even be prohibited by law from providing these opportunities in some countries. |
| Set your own conditions, such as choosing the clients you’d like to work with, turning down projects that don’t suit you, and potentially working from anywhere in the world (this is known as a “digital nomad”). Note: Although the digital nomad life may sound very appealing (and cost-effective), make sure you fully research the pros and cons before doing so. You may struggle to get paid if you don’t have a bank account in your employer’s country. Some countries impose stringent visa and tax restrictions on digital nomads, and your employer may frown on you working from overseas. | Freelancing adds additional (often hidden) costs and complexity to your finances. You should take these into account when you’re comparing them to a salaried role. For example, you may need to consider: • Paying your own tax to the government, which may need to be done regularly, maybe quarterly. • Obtaining your own health, life, and income protection insurance. • Contributing toward your own retirement fund. • Inconsistent cash flow throughout the year, including if you take a significant chunk of time off for a vacation. • Challenges when you try to rent or buy a home or car. Landlords and banks often require evidence of consistent income and may prefer not to lend to freelancers. If all of this sounds daunting, talk to a freelancer in your industry to see how they manage it. Complexity can be minimized by investing a small percentage (maybe 3 percent) of your income with an intermediary such as a payroll service or accountant who will manage compulsory taxes, insurance, and retirement fund contributions on your behalf. |
| Focus on producing work rather than administrative tasks such as attending team or departmental meetings, going through lengthy onboarding processes or mandatory training, participating in performance development cycles, and so on. However, you will need to invest time in your own administrative tasks, such as invoicing your clients, pitching for work, and bookkeeping. | You might feel like an outsider in the team due to your freelance status. Permanent members of staff may consider you a temporary member of the team, not worth investing the time establishing a relationship with. Some companies even issue different-colored ID badges or lanyards to freelancers so they can be easily distinguished from full-time staff. You’ll definitely need to have the knack of establishing rapport with your SMEs very quickly and the skill of finding information by whatever means necessary in the shortest possible time. |
| Gain valuable industry experience when full-time roles are scarce, which might eventually lead to full-time roles, if that’s your aim. | Most new writers benefit from working with and learning from experienced technical writers. When you freelance, you may find yourself working solo. You might find you have less opportunity to work with other writers, which can put you at a disadvantage when it comes to growing your skills. If you’re already highly experienced, this might not matter so much to you. Having a strong network is essential for successful freelancers who are always on the lookout for the next contract. |
