Freelance Switch, the world’s largest freelance blog compiled a report featuring freelancing statistics and the results are rather interesting. Now, I’m not at liberty to divulge all the findings but I do feel it’s a fascinating read. 3700 freelancers (including yours truly) in six continents were asked 38 questions regarding their freelancing habits. Some of the responses were surprising:
For instance:
- 80% of all freelancers polled were men. 80%! With more and more stay at home moms working, the number really surprised me. Now that might not mean 80% of freelancers are men, it might just mean 80% of the people chose to participate are male.
- 87% of respondents are between the age of 18 and 37. This doesn’t surprise me as much as it makes me feel old. I know that the younger generation is more interested in finding work at home solutions.
- Only 6.4% of those polled were writers. Most were in the web design field.
- 45% of those polled don’t feel they have job security. This really surprised me as I feel more secure now than I did working an office job. I know I could lose clients at any given time, but I always felt as I’d be able to find work. It’s different from when I was afraid of getting fired from an office job.
There were a lot more questions asked about freelancing habits. How often we exercise, what our work day is like and our average pay. The section regarding pay is most telling. What I found most interesting is how only 9% of all freelancers polled bill for every hour they work. No wonder we’re underpaid! Speaking of underpaid, writers appear to be paid less than all freelancers.
Now this is a poll made up of freelancers from various industries. I’d be very interested in learning the habits of only writers and bloggers, and may even do my own little survey in the future.
If you’d like to purchase the Freelance Statistics Report at Freelance Switch, by all means do so. You’ll need to make a $9 donation to make up for all the man hours use to compile this report. It’ll give you some insight into the habits of other freelancers and is definitely worth a look.
When I worked as president to the owner of U.S. Mailing, I never feared losing my job. In the past year, I’ve turned away one job because the owner wanted to cut pay by 70% claiming she couldn’t afford to keep up payments. The larger job I lost was totally unexpected, so I do believe that job security is a concern.
Side note but—I have a question to ask of anyone else who may have been in this situation. Last Friday, I had all tax forms instead of one 1099 that I needed to file. Still didn’t have the form from this company and they did not respond to emails from myself or any other writer. So I called IRS and they told me to tally up invoices and claim the amount I’d been paid for the full year. I did this. I just now got an email from the company saying they never sent out 1099s because they needed people’s W9s. I happen to have the email stating that they’d received my W9s when I started working for them back in March 2007 and that the first project was attached.
So now they are telling me I am required to give them my SS so that they can send the 1099 and that they want this information emailed to them ASAP. I’ve already filed my taxes at this point followin the advice of the IRS, so sending the 1099 now to me is pointless. I’ve sent them the email stating they had my W9 in hand as proof that they already have that information. Additionally, since they’ve sold and are now owned by a new company, I’m not sure I want the new company having my SS number.
Has anyone dealt with this before?
Ann G.,
My business is incorporated, so ideally the 1099s match up with revenue — never happens.
Even some large publishers don’t send 1099s. I don’t even have one from a accounting publication. Of 15 major clients last year, I had one 1099 (Jan. 31 is deadline for mailing them). A CPA advised me that they never match up with revenues. So I follow the advice IRS gave you, even though it wasn’t the agency who mentioned it to me.
I’m just getting started so I’m envious of your problems.
Any tips on making this work would be appreciated.
Thanks Phil.
My friend is an accountant and said that if anything the company is late filing the 1099s and would be in trouble. She read the email and said given their semi-threatening tone, she recommended I have their emails blocked and let them deal with it.
The book looks really nice. I`m gona buy it, after my next transaction. In fact I`m a freelance article writer and the statistic sounds great for “us”.