Comments on: Working Freelance From Home or Inhouse, Pros and Cons

By: Tara: Freelance Designer

Tara: Freelance Designer — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:21:38 +0000

Hi Kara, There is no reason you can’t have the best of both worlds. When I started off I did mostly inhouse work when design agencies needed an extra pair of hands, but also did some work from home direct for clients. As long as you plan it all in a diary/planner it should work out ok. I personallt prefer working from home, but the advantage of inhouse is it is much more social if you want to get out and meet people.

By: Kara

Kara — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:16:16 +0000

Well not sure what to make of this. I have been at home with my children for the past 3 years, I need to get back to work and I am trying to decide whether to do some freelance work or go back to an in house environment, I am finding the decision quite hard.

By: Tara: Freelance Designer

Tara: Freelance Designer — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 09:08:50 +0000

Hi Alyssa,

Its always hard to manage changes. I try and build something into my quote for them and also put something like price includes minor changes, extensive changes chargable at £XX per hour

By: Alyssa

Alyssa — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:47:28 +0000

I find it harder to manage clients on my own.. easier when working for a design agency. Maybe because you are freelance, your time is not valued as much and they see you as less professional.. therefore willing to do 1001 changes and then another 1001 changes or more because your time is not as valuable.

By: Tara: Freelance Designer

Tara: Freelance Designer — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:27:30 +0000

Hi
Some agencies do let you work from home – I do some work for marketing companies etc at home.
Have you tried doing a bit of freelance work in you spare time? I started freelancing by sendind a load of letters out to local design agencies and design companies I had worked for in the past. Some of them gave me inhouse work. When I first started freelancing the majority of my work was working inhouse for agencies when they were busy or someone was on holiday. Gradually though I have picked up more direct work mainly through my websites. I would say set up a blog and portfolio website start writing and advertising your services. Hopefully others may have some more advice for you.
Good luck

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:19:28 +0000

Hi… I am desperate to set up my own small design business working from home on my own initially but maybe growing the business if things take off. The only draw back is I don’t have the first clue how to go about it! lol. I’ve always worked in agencies so have no experience of going it alone. Any advice for a newbie?

Would also love a job working from home for an agency but these type of jobs just don’t exist!

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 02:40:11 +0000

Depending on how many people you live with, you can have more distractions at home than in an office. But It’s worth having a list like this so you can send to your friends who think working from home is a piece of cake.

By: Joe

Joe — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:15:58 +0000

Great stuff!

When working at home and doing freelance stuff. It can be more distracting than working in the office if you have younger kids who are always in need of their parent.

Thanks for sharing!

By: Kanti Sharma

Kanti Sharma — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 01:15:19 +0000

I have done it all, started my own little freelance business, it grew to become a 30 people setup. Then things started going bad and I had to shut it down.
Then picked up a job at a fairly senior position.
Which one was the best, all in all I believe working in a company is the best – sorry for going against the flow.
It is best when you are working someplace where there are people who you can interact with, and the interaction is with your peers or superiors.
That said it does help if you keep on doing something of your own too, that keeps on bringing new ideas.

By: Holly Wise

Holly Wise — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 02:16:08 +0000

I think working freelance would really suit me and my style of working (I’m easily distracted).. I’m still a uni student though studying design but I’ve been doing my own freelance work on the side and really enjoying it, however, when I finish up uni this year I think I could learn a lot from working in a studio and hopefully, I’ll venture off and do my own thing once I’ve got that experience.. So, I guess a pro for studio work might be learning about the business from professionals, especially from my perspective..Great post btw!