What Is Freelancing? A Basic Definition
Essentially, a freelance job is one where a person works for themselves, rather than for a company. While freelancers do take on contract work for companies and organizations, they are ultimately self-employed.
Freelancers are responsible for all sorts of things that traditional employees are not, such as setting their work hours, keeping track of time spent on different projects, billing clients, and paying their own employment and business taxes. Freelancers are not considered “employees” by the companies they work for, but rather “contractors.”
Ways to Say “Freelance Jobs”
When you’re searching for freelance jobs, there are a number of different terms to be aware of. These can help you find freelance job openings, and they’re also useful when describing yourself and the work you do to potential clients.
Contract work: Jobs where you’re a temporary contract worker, rather than a permanent employee.
Contract job: Same as contract work.
Independent contractor: Another common way to say freelancer, but your work terms are specified by a contract with another company or individual.
1099: Refers to the IRS form an independent contractor fills out, form 1099-MISC, and is often used to describe the job (“This is a 1099 contract role”).
Contract consultant: Someone who is hired for temporary consultations for specific issues within a company.
Contract-to-hire: A job that begins as a freelance, independent contractor position but has the potential to become a regular employee position if things go well.