People looking for work from home options,
have two primary options- freelancing and telecommuting. Most people working
from home are freelancers, meaning they are freelancing.
Freelancers are not employees but
some freelancers may work as self-employed employees for a short period of time
for companies or individuals. Telecommuting is a work arrangement in which your
existing employer or a new employer allows you to work remotely from your home.
You are hired on a permanent or
contract basis by an employer or company when you are telecommuting. You may enjoy
all or most of the employee benefits, depending on the company when you are
working from home as a telecommuter.
What Are Differences?
Although both freelancers and
telecommuters perform their jobs or tasks from home, they have different
approaches. For example, telecommuters may need to report their progress of
work every day or from time to time to their employers.
Freelancers are largely independent
when it comes to when and how they complete their jobs as long as they meet
deadlines for the jobs.
A freelancer usually uses his or her
own tools and other resources to complete a job or task. A telecommuter may use
his or her own tools or resources provided by their companies.
However, both the freelancers and
telecommuters usually receive specific instructions from their clients and
employers to complete the tasks.
Freelancers typically work for many
different individual clients or customers, but telecommuters work for a single
company or employer. Many telecommuters are hired on part-time basis,
permanently or contract basis. Freelancers are self-employed and choose to work
on their own schedules.
When taking on a job or project, a
freelancer is expected to deliver the work within a specified time but they are
generally independent when it comes to how and when they want to work.
Freelancers pay their own taxes but telecommuters work for others and their
taxes are deducted from their paychecks.
But if you are telecommuting for an
overseas company that is located in a different country, you may be required to
pay taxes when you receive the paycheck or salary to the tax authority or
department responsible for collecting taxes in your country.
Final Words
Both freelancing and telecommuting options
are designed for those people who want to work from home as self-employed
freelance workers and permanent or temporary telecommuting employees. However,
whether you are a freelancer telecommuter, you can enjoy great freedom and
flexibility when working from home.
