Freelance or Contract : Which is better?

The Covid-19 pandemic might be long behind us but it left a shift in the world’s work culture. Many organizations now seek experts to attend to their company needs outside of the four walls of the office. That leaves them with two main choices, freelance or contract worker. Experts are beginning to embrace contract jobs and freelance jobs because of the work independence they tend to enjoy. 

While both contracting and freelancing are similar due to their remote features, it is important to differentiate both. This article will break down the differences between both to help you know which path is best for you. 

Freelance or Contract: An Overview 

The decision between choosing between freelance or contract is one many African freelancers face when transitioning to remote work. Freelancers and contractors are both self-employed and undertake work through client contract agreements or freelance agreements. Freelance jobs include short-term projects and one-off tasks, which at times may lead to long-term work based on the client’s needs. Often, freelancers work with multiple clients and provide one-time services.

Independent contractors, as it is mostly called, however, are hired by clients for longer projects, typically to work in specific roles. These arrangements may vary in tenure, ranging from part-time to full-time, and can last anywhere from a few weeks to two years. 

As the name implies, freelancers are free to decide when, where, and how they wish to work. They manage their availability and set their prices, either on an hourly basis or per project. The majority of freelancers work in a niche area and offer expert-level services to their clients.

Clients use independent contractors when they require a greater skill set and a longer commitment. Independent contractors generally have more detailed contracts that specify their work, deliverables, and pay, but they retain control over their work. The customer mainly controls the outcome by establishing goals and expectations.

One thing you should know is that both contract jobs and freelance jobs require tools to boost your work effectiveness. Nobody wants an under-performing remote worker. 

Differences Between Contractors and Freelancers 

As mentioned earlier, freelance and contract jobs exist within the remote workspace. However, the challenge most people face is distinguishing between both. This section will help you answer the question, freelance or contract, what is the difference? 

Clientele 

More frequently than not, freelancers work for more than one client simultaneously, while contractors would most likely work for one client at a time.

Freelance workers can choose for themselves which projects they want to undertake and which they will reject. You, being a freelancer, can choose to do one or two big projects with one or two clients that will take up most of your working hours or do a few small projects with multiple clients.

As a contractor, you can take on bigger projects, and typically that means you have fewer clients at one time. You may also work for an agency that may somewhat restrict what projects you can undertake, but similar to freelancing, you also get to choose your clients/projects.

Work Schedule 

When you do freelance jobs, you are in complete control of your work schedule. While you are expected to meet a deadline and work within a schedule, you get to do it all on your schedule.

But when you are a contractor, your work schedule can be more like an old-fashioned employee. Contractors often agree to work at a certain set time, such as from 9 until 5, but within those hours, they make their schedules. You can avoid burnout from your hectic schedules with some tips from here. 

Work Duration 

Getting the best clients as a remote comes with major sacrifices but you should know that the duration of the job varies. Freelancers work on short-term projects, while contractors work on long and more complicated projects. Provided you are working as a freelancer, all the work you do will be partly temporary compared to working as a contractor. 

Contractors usually work on longer term projects and most of the time have their contracts renewed to work on additional or new projects after completing a job.

Method of Hiring 

Another major difference between contract and freelance is how clients can hire a freelancer’s services in several different ways. A freelancer might bid for a job and be accepted without an interview, just a few exchanged messages or it might be a more professional agreement via multiple video interviews. 

Independent contractors tend to work in specific roles, and the work is longer term and more hours. Hiring a contractor can be more of an employee interview process and more time-intensive to onboard and draw up a formal agreement. 

Platforms like Upwork have a contract to hire to allow freelancers to transition from freelancing on a one-time job to working longer. 

Final Words 

While you consider freelance or contract, you should know that clients can hire both freelancers and contractors to fill any necessary role from anywhere in the world. Getting hired as a freelancer or contractor will be dependent on the type of work you are hired for. Get to know more about freelancing by visiting our website.