24 April 2015

Difference between Freelancing and Telecommuting


When people work from home they have two primary options. The first option is freelancing and the other option is telecommuting. A higher percentage of work from home people is freelancing.

Freelancers are not employees, but some freelancing projects might require some freelancers work as self-employed employees for a particular period of time. Once the projects are completed the freelancers look for other projects. Telecommuting is a work arrangement set up with your existing employer or a new employer that 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 enjoy all or most of the employment benefits if not defined otherwise by your employer when you are working from home as a telecommuter.

Freelancing for Work from Home Jobs

There are two categories of people who work from home for more freedom and flexibility. Freelancing is a great way of life for people who enjoy working from the comfort of their home or anywhere they like really.

Freelance workers do not work for a single company forever. They work for several employers or companies as self-employed freelance consultants or contractors on simple projects. The advancement of technologies means you can work from anywhere and anytime you want to, to your own schedules as a freelance.

Telecommuting for Work from Home Jobs      

Telecommuting is a very popular way of employment, and generally beneficial for both employers and employees. The concept of telecommuting is same as freelancing when it comes to working from home. But unlike freelancers, telecommuters are employees who are hired permanently or on contractual basis and given all or some employment benefits if not set otherwise by the companies.

You do not have to live in the same town, city, etc necessarily to be able to telecommute as many companies use telecommuting concept or method to hire employees from overseas.

What Are Differences?

There are many differences between freelancing and telecommuting. Although both freelancers and telecommuters perform their jobs or tasks from home, they have different approaches. For example, a telecommuter may need to report his or her progress of work every day or from time to time to their employers.

A freelancer is largely independent when it comes to how to go about the jobs or tasks they are entrusted with. Typically, a freelancer uses his or her own tools and other resources to complete a job or task, whereas, a telecommuter may use his or her own tools or resources provided by their companies.

The ways both freelancers and telecommuters work from home are determined by the nature of the jobs or projects and the instructions they receive from their employers or clients.

Freelancers typically work for many different individual clients or customers, while telecommuters work a single company or employer. Many telecommuters are hired on part-time basis, permanently or contract basis. Freelancers are their own bosses and choose to work according to 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.