Is working independently as a freelancer or contractor better than working for an employer? It really depends.

As someone who has been in both situations at different periods of my career, I can say each of these working styles has its pluses and minuses. But what’s more important than making a general statement is to recognize the many realities involved with each beyond idealizing any of them.

Many may be more familiar with office jobs. At times if you’re fed up with working for the Man, running paycheck to pay check and having a limited opportunity for advancement, you may think that going independent is the best solution. That solution can work out for many people but to make sure that you don’t get disappointed along the way, you must keep in mind that being self-employed can be tough and risky. In fact, it is almost never an easy ride as it is thought by many -- where you can work at your own schedule, take frequent vacations and earn as much money as you want.

Here are a few misconceptions that often lead to big disappointments.

Work selection

You may think that working as an independent contractor will give you some liberty in selecting what type of projects you do and what you don’t. That is only theoretically true. With many financial responsibilities, you may find yourself just taking whatever you can get. Especially when you’re just starting out, you can hardly be picky. Toward the goal of making enough money, you need to be as flexible as possible. So it is important that you’re prepared and able to do jobs that aren’t interesting and that you’re not totally passionate about at all.

Flexible hours

Yes, you may be able to work at odd times since you don’t really have to check in and out. But it is important to realize well in advance that as you try to meet deadlines and interact with other businesses, you will often find yourself working during normal office hours. Only in a few professions that don’t require such an interaction, you may be able to work overnight, weekends, etc. But generally working independently doesn’t come with a fewer number of hours unless you’re not concerned with making as much money as you were making previously. In this case, your part-time activities may be easier to juggle along with other life necessities.

No boss

Gone are the days of reporting to someone else, right? Yes, but in a way, this doesn’t mean your performance and work quality are going to go unchecked. When you’re working directly with clients, both will be subject to continuous scrutiny, and you may even get less leeway than if you’re working in a team within a company. Missed a deadline? This is something that may be sorted out with an explanation and an apology in an office environment. When it is your one-person-show, a missed deadline can cost you a client and future business.

Lean operation

You can work lean, get organized, take care of your finances, maintain your IT systems, do your own archiving, etc. But all of the above takes time and energy, and after a while you may begin to appreciate all the help that you were getting in an office environment. To determine how far you’d be able to handle these additional responsibilities, look at how far you tolerate doing nontechnical parts of your job. Do you volunteer to offer tech support in your office? Do you like taking time to reorganize archives, introduce new procedures, etc.? If the answer is no and you only care about your specific job duties, brace yourself for these extra responsibilities that will fall on you solely. Many of them might not be enjoyable, but they are a must for running your business smoothly.

More money

This again depends on how much time and dedication you’re willing to put into your new work. The good news may be that you’re mostly able to set your own ceiling, but you must have a realistic view at how much time and effort you actually will be able to put in this process. Your personal limitations can be a result of your family set up, care for the quality of your life, etc. So don’t plan your future based on that you’ll be working 24/7 because many won’t and don’t do that in the long run.

- Rania Oteify, a former Gulf News Business Features Editor, is currently a Seattle-based editor.

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