If you’re reading this post, then chances are you’re considering a career as a freelance dental writer, and you’re not alone. In the US, 60 million people worked freelance in 2023 and in the UK and Europe, around 14% of the continent’s workforce are freelancers.
While remote working has served me well over the past thirteen years, there are many advantages and disadvantages that I wish I’d known before starting. So to help you answer the question “Is freelancing worth it?” let’s dive in and take a look at my top pros and cons of freelancing life
Being your own boss
This is one of the most appealing aspects of being a freelance dental writer – well, for me, anyway. Being able to make my own decisions from deciding who I work with, to when, where, and how I work, is incredibly liberating, and for me, that was an exciting prospect.
At the same time, being your own boss has its challenges too, and this is something I learnt the hard way.
Essentially, the buck begins and ends with you. Any problems you encounter (and you will) mean that you’re the one who has to sort them out.
Sometimes it feels like you’re continually firefighting problems, particularly when you have a heavy workload work or are working with a team of writers.
For example, I’ve had other writers bail on me, and likewise, I’ve had clients who decided to change the scope of the brief halfway through the project.
I’ve also had clients who haven’t paid for completed work and I’ve had to go through lengthy processes to retrieve the money owed. Inevitably, you’re the one who has to deal with the aftermath, and that in itself can become stressful.
So, while being your own boss is a liberating feeling, it can mean an awful lot of soul-searching and lesson-learning, particularly in the early days when you’re just getting started.
Variety
In the 9-5 world, you might do the same tasks day in and day out as part of your job role and this can become repetitive and boring. Yet, when you’re a freelance dental writer or any kind of freelancer for that matter, every day brings variety.
During a typical working week, you might, for example, need to:
- Write client-facing blogs,
- Answer emails or queries,
- Put together a client content plan,
- Update your personal blog,
- Carry out marketing,
- File your tax returns,
- Send invoices,
- Chase up payments,
- Attend virtual meetings with clients,
and so much more.
Ultimately, when you decide to become a freelancer, it’s certainly far from boring.
On the flip side of this, you also have to wear many hats.
Sure, you’re a writer, but you also need to be a marketeer, an administrator, an accountant and a general dogsbody, all rolled into one. These are roles that you won’t typically get paid for as they are done to support the day-to-day running of your business.
So, if you aren’t good at marketing, filing taxes or accounting, then you’ll either need to become competent or hire someone who is. The sheer variety of roles that you need as a sole freelancer isn’t something that I was prepared for and is something that you should seriously consider before taking the plunge.
No earning limits
Perhaps the biggest difference between working 9-5 and being a freelancer is that when you have a paid job, wages pretty much stay the same, month in and month out. In other words, unless you work on a commission basis, do overtime or get promoted, there’s little chance of earning more. You get what you get, and that’s it!
Conversely, as a freelance writer or any freelancer for that matter, there are no such earning limits. As your business grows and you get more clients, you’ll earn more, and that’s exciting.
If you want to know how much you can realistically expect to earn as a freelance dental writer, I’ve written a blog that addresses this point.
However, on the flip side of that, be prepared to go through periods where work is scarce. Sometimes it feels like you just can’t catch a break and you can’t land a project for love or money. Nevertheless, you still have bills to pay, and that’s a scary place to be.
The constant state of flux as your income rollercoasters from “up here” to “down there” is a big disadvantage of freelancing and it can feel like you’re only ever one client away from financial disaster.
For this reason, many freelancers consider futureproofing their businesses to prevent income fluctuation by adding parameters or revenue streams that provide recurring or passive income.
Factors like taking on regular client blogs or creating monthly membership courses are solid ways in which freelance writers can combat the cycle of ‘feast or famine’.
Essentially, income that is either regular or passive provides predictability, relieves stress and creates a sense of normality, even in times when new client work is in short supply. So it’s well worth looking at.
If you want to know more, here’s a post I recently wrote on recurring revenue and why it matters for freelancers.
Work from home
The final point is more about where you work rather than how you work, and it’s this…
As a freelance dental writer, you get to choose where you work and for many that equates to working from home. This means no more daily commutes, no more getting stuck in traffic and no more having to struggle through the rush hour – Yay!
Naturally, that’s a big advantage for anyone looking to enter the freelance world as they can save money on transport, parking, fuel, etc.
As an example, I have a dedicated office space on the second floor of our house so my daily commute is about 10 metres. I don’t have to worry about what the weather’s doing outside, and what the roads are like, and I haven’t got to endure the stress of whether I’ll make it to work on time. Instead, I just climb the stairs, step into the office, fire up my PC and I’m ready to go.
Oh, and I don’t have to worry about what to wear. Instead, I dress in whatever’s comfortable. Normally, that’s a T-shirt and jeans.
Of course, while all of these are salient points, there is a downside to working from home and that’s isolation. Freelancing can be a lonely business and one that takes some getting used to.
In general, most freelancers are content with their own company or they learn to get comfortable. Even then, working on your own, day in and day out can take its toll. This is why some freelancers prefer work spaces or cafés so they get that buzz or interaction from others. These, however, come with their own set of advantages and disadvantages.
Another issue with isolated work is that you have to be sufficiently self-motivated to get tasks done. After all, there’s no one else to spur you on or gee you up if you’d rather be away from the desk and outside in the sunshine.
You might also be faced with other distractions, like kids and family members, home deliveries, pets, etc. Again, this is something to take into consideration when thinking about becoming a fully-fledged, work-from-home freelancer. Can you get used to working in this type of environment?
So there you have it, the unboxed truth about some of the pros and cons of becoming a freelance writer.
The fact remains that there is a growing demand for freelance dental writers in this industry as more and more trusted content is needed to support businesses. So if you have an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of becoming a dental writer and you enter this business with your eyes open, there’s no reason why you can’t have a rewarding career that supports you both now and in the future.
Here’s to your success!
Dale
Oh, and don’t forget to hit me up if you have any questions or concerns about anything I’ve covered. I’d love to hear from you.