In recent weeks, I’ve noticed many more conversations on the Freelance Content Marketing Writer group on Facebook about the possibility of taking a full-time job. And the topic has come up much more often with other freelancing groups as well. I’m not surprised. The combination of layoffs and ChatGPT brings up many questions about the future of freelance writing. And if you’re wondering whether a full-time position is the right option, it’s is a very reasonable question. 

Fulltime Employee vs Freelance Business Owner

I’ve said many times that one of the biggest benefits of freelancing is our ability to design our business around our financial and personal needs at any given point in our lives. And the ability to move between freelancing and full-time is another great example. I know many writers who have taken full-time positions for a few years because it made sense for their circumstances at the time. Full-time is an even more attractive option now with more remote positions offering more flexibility than ever. 

But some freelancers feel that taking a full-time position means they failed at freelancing. And that’s the furthest from the truth. In fact, if that’s the right choice for you, then you should be proud of yourself for recognizing that and making it happen. And for taking the flexibility that freelancing offers to easily move between types of employment. Plus, moving back to freelancing after working full-time is a heck a lot easier than starting freelancing from scratch. 

Reasons Freelancers Take a Full-Time Job 

Here are some of the common reasons that freelancers move to full-time:

Benefits/Health Insurance

If I had to find my own health insurance instead of using my husband’s policy when I was first starting out, I’m not sure freelancing would have been a viable option. Now that my business is established and I’m the sole income earner, we buy our own insurance and it’s not a huge issue. But that is only a relatively recent development. 

However, many freelancers who look for a full-time employee position automatically assume that their new employer will have great benefits. But companies have really slashed their benefits in recent years, so that’s not always the case. Before you decide to take an interview with a company for a full-time role, check out Glassdoor to find out more about their benefits. And if you are offered a job, be sure to ask a lot of questions about benefits before saying yes. 

Regular Paycheck 

Knowing that you are going to get X dollars on X day(s) is very comforting. And if you are struggling financially, having income that you can depend on may very well be what you need.  You can get ourself into a more secure financial position and alleviate the worry of wondering how you will pay your bills. And if finances are causing you a lot of stress making it hard to work, then full-time really makes a lot of sense. 

I’ve also heard of freelancers who pay themselves a regular paycheck to give themselves a feeling of security. Yes, this means you must save up a cushion to do this. But for many of us, it makes us feel less anxious and makes financial planning a lot easier. This helps you plan for bills and savings in a more predictable way. Yes, you often have to pay yourself at least a little less than you are actually making for this to work. But it does help remove some of the feast and famine cycle of freelancing. 

Paid Vacation/Time Off 

Several freelancers have said that they love having paid time off. And I get that, to a point. If you’re worried that you aren’t getting paid while taking time off and that you will have no income coming in when you get back really does take some of the fun out of vacation. Add in unexpected sick days and that makes feeling bad even more stressful. 

But when you take a full-time job, your ability to take a vacation or even a single day off typically means that someone else must approve it. So you often end up taking less time off than you expect. So while it’s paid, you have a lot less control. More on that later. 

Something that works for me as a freelancer is creating a vacation pay fund. Each year, I plan to take six weeks off: some vacation, some sick time, and some “it’s a really nice day today and my kayak is calling me” time. I figure out how much money I would earn during those six weeks on average and then divide that by 12. Every month I tuck away that amount into my vacation pay fund and then I will transfer that money after my vacations so I “get paid” for my time off. 

Co-workers/Camaraderie 

Freelancing can be lonely. And I’ve heard writers say that one of the things that they love or miss about a full-time job is having co-workers. If you are an extrovert and especially if you live alone, having a job with co-workers can be very fulfilling and provide you with social connections. And if you find a full-time job with coworkers you love to work with, then this can be a fabulous solution and benefit. 

However, you don’t get to choose your co-workers at a full-time job. So while they may be fabulous, you could also get in a situation where your coworkers cause you significant stress and drama. The best situation is when you know someone who works at the company and can give you the real lowdown on the office politics angle before you take the job. 

For me, I need people, but office drama causes me significant anxiety and stress. So I’ve found my own co-workers. And the best part is that I get to pick them. And if at any point, they cause me more stress than value then I can back away from the relationship, which you can’t really do with actual co-workers.

The best thing I ever did professionally was sit next to my friend Stephanie at a conference 10 years ago. We’ve been emailing each other daily for 10 years and she provides me the support that I need to do this crazy freelance life. And the second best thing I did was join an accountability group (that Stephanie started) three years ago. Between the two, I honestly don’t feel alone. And if I need even more support, I just post in the Freelance Content Marketing Writer group on Facebook. 

One Employer Vs Many Clients 

The one reason that I often hear from freelancers (which I don’t fully agree with) is that full-time is more secure than freelancing. Almost all of the freelancers I’ve known who moved to full-time jobs in recent years have been laid off in the last six months. Some got good severances, but others got pretty crappy ones. And most of them didn’t see it coming at all. 

With a full-time job, you are putting all your financial security into one single basket – your employer. If that company hits hard times, eliminates your project or decides you aren’t a fit to work there, then you lose all of your income on a single day. Yes, the people I know were eligible for unemployment, but it’s a fraction of what you earned. Finding a new full-time job usually takes months and is a lot of work. 

If you lose a client as a freelancer, then you only lose a portion of your income and your benefits don’t change. If the client represents less than 20% of your income, which is what I recommend, then you still have 80% or your income. If you were a full-time employee, you would have zero income plus often no more health insurance. Let that sink in for second. 

Let that sink in for second. It’s big shift from how most people think and what they assume. But it’s a million percent true.

It is also much easier to find a new freelancing client than a full-time job. And you don’t have to start from scratch like you would if you were looking for a full-time job. You’ve already got the three pillars of getting clients set up – inbound marketing (LinkedIn, website, profiles), outbound marketing (an LOI template, LOIs you’ve sent out previously), and your network (current clients, past clients and freelance friends). Odds are pretty high that with some emails and a little bit of effort, you can pretty quickly either get more work from an existing client or land a new client. But we are talking days or weeks, not the months it can take to find a new full-time job. 

I really think that many writers overlook the fact that having many clients (or income sources) is more secure than having one client (or income source, like an employer). And I think it’s something that you should really consider before moving to full-time. Yes, if your business is really suffering right now and you are financially strapped, then the regular paychecks of a full-time might be the right move. But I feel pretty strongly that once you’ve built a solid business as a freelancer that you have more security with freelancing than a full-time job.

Flexibility in Time 

Many of us freelance because we have family obligations, such as kids or aging parents. Or our own health issue that need flexibility. So it’s not surprising that one of the biggest struggles I hear from freelancers who go full-time is that it’s challenging to lose the flexibility. Often that’s an acceptable trade-off for the freelancer.  But others struggle with handling their extra caregiving responsibilities. 

One of the things I’ve learned is that the flexibility really varies by company. Ask a lot of questions about flexibility before you take a job, especially in terms of work schedules. Also ask about ability to take vacation, unlimited PTO isn’t as big a perk as it sounds if no one ever takes it. 

The freelancers I’ve heard struggle the most are those that must work 8am to 5pm without any flexibility, even if it is remote. But if your new employer gives some flexibility about when the work gets done as long as you attend meetings and meet your deadlines, then it’s an easier adjustment. 

Flexibility in Income 

Many freelancers earn significantly more than they would in a full-time position. Yes, that takes a while. But I earn two to three times what comparable full-time jobs would pay. Even if you aren’t making that much now, freelancing offers flexibility in income that simply isn’t possible in a full-time job. 

Yes, you will get raises as an employee. But they are a small percentage. And someone else has to approve these raises. Not to mention that they are dependent on the company’s budget and stability. Your income potential is pretty limited at a full-time job. 

With freelancing, you can increase your income by simply either working harder or making smarter decisions. You can work more; I funded a vacation once by working over the weekend on a last minute project. You can also drop low payers and find higher paying clients. But the point is that you can control your income. There are very few (if any) writing jobs where you can earn $75K one year and $150K the next year in the same job as an employee.

Freelancing on the Side 

If you decide to take a full-time job, which is a very valid choice, my biggest advice is to keep freelancing on the side. Check with your company before taking the job to make sure that you aren’t restricted from freelancing. If you are not allowed to freelance at all, then I would seriously consider not taking the gig. 

By freelancing on the side, you can make extra money to supplement your income,. But most importantly, you keep your online presence and some clients. So if you are laid off or decide its not a fit for you then you have a headstart in building back your freelance business. 

And if you are taking the full-time job for a regular paycheck to get back on your feet financially, this strategy is a really solid one. Once you are more stable, you can then go back to freelancing and increase your income from your full-time job. 

The right answer for you

I do think many freelancers really think that full-time is easier and don’t really think about all the downsides, especially freelancing being more secure in tough economic times with more clients. It absolutely can be the right choice for many freelancers in the right situations. But those who I’ve seen thrive are the ones that go into it with a realistic view and stay freelancing on the side.  

You are in charge of your career and your freelancing business. And if moving to full-time makes most sense to you, then you should go for it. You are the only person that knows your situation and what keeps you up at 3am. One of the absolute best parts of freelancing is how easy it is to shift your business based on your current life needs. And sometimes that means taking a full-time job. 

Have you ever taken a full-time employee job after a period as a freelancer? What do you know now that you wish you knew then?