Are freelancers an economically sound market?

I N T E L L E C T U A L L A B O R A T O R Y

Are freelancers an economically sound market?

So let’s destroy myths and learn to cooperate.

Yes, they are.

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According to various estimates there are more than 100 mln freelancers.

HUGE NUMBER, ISN'T IT?

= 10 mln 4

According to various estimates there are more than 100 mln freelancers.

HUGE NUMBER, ISN'T IT?

Nearly 1/7 population of Europe.

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However, there are actually MORE PREJUDICE AND MYTHS than about the dinosaurs. Let's look at the best known of them.

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MYTH 1. FREELANCERS ARE LESS RICH THAN OFFICE WORKERS

REALITY: Freelancers with more than 3 years of experience, well-done portfolio and references get paid as much as their office competitors and sometimes even more. IN FACT IT IS FROM 40$ TO 80$ PER HOUR Depends on the occupation, the most well-paid are software developers, photographers and project managers.

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MYTH 2. FREELANCERS ARE NOT RELIABLE, THEY DISAPPEAR WITH THEIR ADVANCE PAYMENT

REALITY: There are fraudsters everywhere, for freelancers their reputation is of primary importance. Their best sales channel is word of mouth advertising and is a good reason for them to improve skills and grow professionally.

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MYTH 3. FREELANCERS ARE NOT QUALIFIED, BAD PERFORMERS

REALITY: Freelancers are much more responsible for what they do than office employees because it effects on their reputation that in its turn guarantees their welfare.

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MYTH 4. TO HIRE A FREELANCER IS MUCH CHEAPER THAN TO GO TO AN AGENCY OR DELEGATE WORK TO OFFICE EMPLOYEES

REALITY: Most freelancers are experienced and highly qualified specialists graduating from universities with even Doctor's Degree. Probably their prices are a little lower than on the traditional labor market because they have little income tax. Nevertheless, the price can't be three times lower than the average one.

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THE IDEA OF FREELANCE IS THE CONCEPT OF FREEDOM. WHAT IS FREEDOM IN TERMS OF THEM?

In industrial times of global economy the worker was seen as simple function, in fact, fulfilling certain operation and not as personality. And that is why a lot of qualified specialists choose not the office but freelance so that they could say: I can be myself.

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WHAT DOES THAT FREEDOM BRING?

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Advantages are the same for all freelancers regardless of their occupation: 1.  Flexible working timetable, you control your life and schedule.

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Advantages are the same for all freelancers regardless of their occupation: 1.  Flexible working timetable, you control your life and schedule. 2.  No fears to become suddenly redundant and no external control over

creativity, you carry out full responsibility for what you do.

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creativity, you carry out full responsibility for what you do. 3.  Mobility, you may choose any place which you find comfortable to work

for you: your home, coworking, cafe etc.

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for you: your home, coworking, cafe etc. 4.  A good chance to earn more money and gain qualifications in a shorter

period than at the office.

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for you: your home, coworking, cafe etc. 4.  A good chance to earn more money and gain qualifications in a shorter

period than at the office. 5.  A good chance to create your business project in a well known

professional area, you may start your own company and manage other specialists, for example, other freelancers.

41,5%

4,5%

6,8%

10,1%

16,3%

20,8%

Other challenges

Getting better fees

Managing time/staying productive

Maintaining work-life balance

The feast-or-feaming cycle of work

Finding clients

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HOWEVER WHAT IS VALUE OF FREEDOM?

Freelancer challenges

Source: Freelance Industry Report

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Freelance is a recipe for disaster in the world where conventional mechanisms of how the society exists do not function well any more (failure of many states and businesses to pay enough pensions, welfare, benefits, dismissal pay etc).


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Freelance is a recipe for disaster in the world where conventional mechanisms of how the society exists do not function well any more (failure of many states and businesses to pay enough pensions, welfare, benefits, dismissal pay etc). Despite popular myths freelancers are not in a shaky position. The survey says that

MORE THAN 50% FREELANCERS feel all right and quite secure about their current jobs.


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No 46%

Yes 54%

Do you feel safe being freelancer?

No 7%

Yes 93%

Are you happier since you started freelancing?

Source: Freelance Industry Report

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WHAT ARE FREELANCERS' FUTURE ENDEAVORS?

30%

8,1%

37,5%

24,4

Generate income from other solo work

Return to full-time employment

Open a small business

Always solo freelance

Source: Global Freelancers Survey

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It's obvious that the number of freelancers will grow in the nearest future. Digital technologies, quick mobile Internet, cloud services have opened new opportunities for employees and employers. DISTANT WORKERS BRING PROFIT FOR COMPANIES FOR MANY REASONS.

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It's obvious that the number of freelancers will grow in the nearest future. Digital technologies, quick mobile Internet, cloud services have opened new opportunities for employees and employers. DISTANT WORKERS BRING PROFIT FOR COMPANIES FOR MANY REASONS. Experts of the biggest freelance stock Elance consider that direct access to gifted performers, efficient communication, cost cutting policies under the global economic crisis — ALL THESE FACTORS WILL BECOME TRIGGERS of online hiring by global and national companies.

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Legalization and protection. Lawyers' support is necessary when making up agreements with clients to avoid situations when the job is not paid or there is no clear understanding of the parties' liabilities.

HOW MAY COWORKINGS HELP FREELANCERS?

It's a paradox that freelancers are undoubtedly profit bringing for the state but they have no legal protection. In many countries there are still not clear legal definitions of what the word 'freelancer' means, what 'distant work' implies, how business relations should be legalized.

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Creating environment to make it possible for freelancers to awaken their entrepreneurship 'spirit'. Small businesses and fresh brains are in high demand in any country. Workshops, lectures, acceleration programs, partnerships with investment funds.


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Building the community. Experience exchange, problem and solution sharing, friendly atmosphere with people who can understand you — is a big motivation to move ahead.


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Legalization and protection


Creating environment

Building the community

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Close attention of coworking owners towards freelancers' needs and problems,

due help to meet and solve them +

shape loyalty of coworkers and make the launching pad both for coworkings' and freelancers' growth.

=

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Close attention of coworking owners towards freelancers' needs and problems,

due help to meet and solve them +

shape loyalty of coworkers and make the launching pad both for coworkings' and freelancers' growth.

=

ARITHMETIC IS SIMPLE.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

I N T E L L E C T U A L L A B O R A T O R Y

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Are freelancers an economically sound market?

Lifestyle

mln freelancers

freelancers regar

concept of freedom

office employees reality

external control

office workers reality

office competitors

flexible working timetable