To Be or Not to Be a Freelance E-Learning Designer?

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I talk to a lot of e-learning designers who currently work in organizations but dream about going out on their own. If you’re reading this article, chances are the thought has crossed your mind as well. But the world of freelancing isn’t always rosy. Just like anything, there are advantages and disadvantages to being self-employed. To get a behind-the-scenes look at what those are, I talked to community members Philippe Siwinski, Ray Cole, David Tait, Russ Sawchuk, Bruce Graham, Ashley Chiasson, and Matthew Bibby—all of whom have worked as e-learning freelancers at one time or another. I pulled together their insights below to help you decide if being a freelance e-learning designer is right for you.

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Advantages

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Freedom to work whenever and wherever.
No commute (unless you decide to work in a co-working office).
Ability to accept or decline work (once you’ve got a steady client base).
No boss, so you can do things your way. Or at least in theory. As David Tait says, “This isn't always the case, as every client is your boss—he who pays the piper calls his tune.”
High demand, so there are many opportunities.
Opportunity to develop your own reputation and brand.
Less “busy-work,” such as department meetings, performance evaluations, etc.
Opportunity to work with a variety of people on a variety of topics.
Flexibility to charge rush fees for crash projects.
Ability to multitask (laundry keeps moving, dinner gets started, etc.) if working from home.

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Disadvantages

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Risk of isolation if working from home.
Payments often arrive 30 to 75 days after work is completed.
Workloads can be volatile. Ray Cole says, “Income (and work hours) can be extremely bursty—feast or famine, with plenty of famine. Feast times often come during holidays. I was always busy over the Christmas/New Year/Winter ‘break’ as a freelancer.”
More administrative tasks (cash management, invoices, taxes, etc.). Take it from Matthew Bibby, “Running a business takes time. You'll have invoicing, contracts, tax stuff, sales calls, scheduling, website development, and discovery meetings that all need to happen ... but you likely won't be paid to do them!”
No paid vacation, sick leave, or other employee benefits (401k, health care, etc.).
Scheduling vacation can be hard. Ashley Chiasson’s recipe for success in this department is giving her clients plenty of notice for the time when she won’t be available.
No access to an IT person or department when computer issues arise.
More difficult to switch off from work at the end of the day.
Less space in your home if working from home because you need an office.
More difficult to get house or car loans when starting out.

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Do You Have What It Takes?

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If you’re still on the fence after reading the pros and cons list above, here are some questions to ask yourself to decide what path is best for you.

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Are your e-learning design and development skills up to par? It’s generally a good idea to get some experience as an e-learning designer and developer in an organization before freelancing. That way you have a chance to learn from others and really hone your skills.
Do you have project management chops? As a freelancer, you’ll have to manage your own projects. If that’s something you’ve never done before, you might want to consider trying to get some experience doing that before setting off on your own.
Are you a good salesperson? As a freelancer, you need to be good at selling yourself. You need to be able to explain to people what makes you special and why they should work with you instead of someone else. In sales terms, what is your Unique Selling Point (USP)?
How do you handle uncertainty? There are a fair amount of ups and downs in freelancing. Sometimes you’ll have tons of work and other times you won’t have any. If you’re uncomfortable with uncertainty, then it might not be the best option for you.
Do you have any other sources of income? As Russ Sawchuk points out, it’s a lot easier to make the decision to be self-employed when your spouse or partner has a steady income that you can depend on. However, this doesn’t mean single people can’t be freelancers! It just means you might want to have more saved up before you start.
Are you an introvert or an extrovert? If you’re highly extroverted and love to be around people, you might feel isolated working at home by yourself. However, that doesn’t mean all freelancers have to be introverts! There are plenty of options to make sure extroverted freelancers get their daily fill of social interactions. Philippe Siwinski suggests setting up shop at a coworking space or, for a few hours a day, a local coffee shop. Another option would be to make a point of getting together with friends after work.

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Tips for Starting Out

\n

One of the scariest things about starting out as a freelancer is that you can no longer count on a monthly paycheck. Here are some tips for making a smooth transition:

\n

Bruce Graham recommends doing some freelance work on the side for a year or so to see how you like it and how much revenue you’re able to generate. That way if you decide it’s not your cup of tea, you won’t have to look for a new job. And if you really like it, you’ll already have a couple clients of when you decide to give it a go on a full-time basis. Before you do this, make sure your current work contract doesn’t prohibit it. If it does, consider negotiating that aspect with your boss.
Save up enough money to last six to nine months, to give yourself a little wiggle room if your business takes a while to get off the ground.

\n

The Bottom Line

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Freelancing isn’t for everyone. It’s important to take your personality, skill level, and financial situation into account when you’re deciding whether to become your own boss. Hopefully this insider information will help you make the right call.

\n

Looking for more information about freelancing? Check out these resources:

\n

Like this article? Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest e-learning inspiration and insights directly in your inbox. You can also find us on LinkedIn and X (Formerly Twitter).

\n

I talk to a lot of e-learning designers who currently work in organizations but dream about going out on their own. If you’re reading this article, chances are the thought has crossed your mind as well. But the world of freelancing isn’t always rosy. Just like anything, there are advantages and disadvantages to being self-employed. To get a behind-the-scenes look at what those are, I talked to community members Philippe Siwinski, Ray Cole, David Tait, Russ Sawchuk, Bruce Graham, Ashley Chiasson, and Matthew Bibby—all of whom have worked as e-learning freelancers at one time or another. I pulled together their insights below to help you decide if being a freelance e-learning designer is right for you.

\n

Advantages

\n

Freedom to work whenever and wherever.
No commute (unless you decide to work in a co-working office).
Ability to accept or decline work (once you’ve got a steady client base).
No boss, so you can do things your way. Or at least in theory. As David Tait says, “This isn't always the case, as every client is your boss—he who pays the piper calls his tune.”
High demand, so there are many opportunities.
Opportunity to develop your own reputation and brand.
Less “busy-work,” such as department meetings, performance evaluations, etc.
Opportunity to work with a variety of people on a variety of topics.
Flexibility to charge rush fees for crash projects.
Ability to multitask (laundry keeps moving, dinner gets started, etc.) if working from home.

\n

Disadvantages

\n

Risk of isolation if working from home.
Payments often arrive 30 to 75 days after work is completed.
Workloads can be volatile. Ray Cole says, “Income (and work hours) can be extremely bursty—feast or famine, with plenty of famine. Feast times often come during holidays. I was always busy over the Christmas/New Year/Winter ‘break’ as a freelancer.”
More administrative tasks (cash management, invoices, taxes, etc.). Take it from Matthew Bibby, “Running a business takes time. You'll have invoicing, contracts, tax stuff, sales calls, scheduling, website development, and discovery meetings that all need to happen ... but you likely won't be paid to do them!”
No paid vacation, sick leave, or other employee benefits (401k, health care, etc.).
Scheduling vacation can be hard. Ashley Chiasson’s recipe for success in this department is giving her clients plenty of notice for the time when she won’t be available.
No access to an IT person or department when computer issues arise.
More difficult to switch off from work at the end of the day.
Less space in your home if working from home because you need an office.
More difficult to get house or car loans when starting out.

\n

Do You Have What It Takes?

\n

If you’re still on the fence after reading the pros and cons list above, here are some questions to ask yourself to decide what path is best for you.

\n

Are your e-learning design and development skills up to par? It’s generally a good idea to get some experience as an e-learning designer and developer in an organization before freelancing. That way you have a chance to learn from others and really hone your skills.
Do you have project management chops? As a freelancer, you’ll have to manage your own projects. If that’s something you’ve never done before, you might want to consider trying to get some experience doing that before setting off on your own.
Are you a good salesperson? As a freelancer, you need to be good at selling yourself. You need to be able to explain to people what makes you special and why they should work with you instead of someone else. In sales terms, what is your Unique Selling Point (USP)?
How do you handle uncertainty? There are a fair amount of ups and downs in freelancing. Sometimes you’ll have tons of work and other times you won’t have any. If you’re uncomfortable with uncertainty, then it might not be the best option for you.
Do you have any other sources of income? As Russ Sawchuk points out, it’s a lot easier to make the decision to be self-employed when your spouse or partner has a steady income that you can depend on. However, this doesn’t mean single people can’t be freelancers! It just means you might want to have more saved up before you start.
Are you an introvert or an extrovert? If you’re highly extroverted and love to be around people, you might feel isolated working at home by yourself. However, that doesn’t mean all freelancers have to be introverts! There are plenty of options to make sure extroverted freelancers get their daily fill of social interactions. Philippe Siwinski suggests setting up shop at a coworking space or, for a few hours a day, a local coffee shop. Another option would be to make a point of getting together with friends after work.

\n

Tips for Starting Out

\n

One of the scariest things about starting out as a freelancer is that you can no longer count on a monthly paycheck. Here are some tips for making a smooth transition:

\n

Bruce Graham recommends doing some freelance work on the side for a year or so to see how you like it and how much revenue you’re able to generate. That way if you decide it’s not your cup of tea, you won’t have to look for a new job. And if you really like it, you’ll already have a couple clients of when you decide to give it a go on a full-time basis. Before you do this, make sure your current work contract doesn’t prohibit it. If it does, consider negotiating that aspect with your boss.
Save up enough money to last six to nine months, to give yourself a little wiggle room if your business takes a while to get off the ground.

\n

The Bottom Line

\n

Freelancing isn’t for everyone. It’s important to take your personality, skill level, and financial situation into account when you’re deciding whether to become your own boss. Hopefully this insider information will help you make the right call.

\n

Looking for more information about freelancing? Check out these resources:

\n

Like this article? Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest e-learning inspiration and insights directly in your inbox. You can also find us on LinkedIn and X (Formerly Twitter).

Very nice article, Allison. As a former freelancer, I'd suggest that you (potential freelancer) really hone your elearning chops. And I think that takes a few years to do that, at least three. Enter into the elearning challenges that Sir David Anderson offers up, and ask yourself, \"Is my stuff some of the best stuff up there?\" If so, you're probably ready. Especially if your spouse is NOT self-employed.

On the flip side... I can honestly say, working for a large organization that values training offers a lot of freedom, too. So it might be just finding the organization that digs you and what you can do. --Daniel

That's excactly it, Daniel,
I worked hard in my company to get them into E-Learning. Now that E-Learning is a part of their normal learning routine, I have more work than i can handle. :)

If you find a company that fits you, I do think that you can have more freedom and time to develop new stuff, than on your own.
Your boss will have to understand that it takes a lot of time, to get something from your drawing book, to an actual E-Learning end-product.

When on your own, designing templates and new modules dont always pay out.
My fear of being on my own, is that after 3 months of hard work, no one will pay for my courses. And after 6 months, I'll be broke. :(

of course I also cherish the dream of being independent, rich and famous for my E-Learning. But for now, I count my blessing to be able to go to work every day, to do what I love, and being paid every month. (allthough I think I should earn more than I get :))

On this forum there are a lot of great designers who started succesfully on their own.
Thank you all for sharing so much of your experience and skills.

One thing we all do not have to worry about. In 10 years time, all learning will be E-Learning. I think there's gonna be enough work for all of us. :)

Allison,

Great article on the pros/cons of e-Learning freelancing. I'm sure people just starting out have lots of questions once they decide to go full-time into e-Learning freelancing. As someone who has made my fair share of mistakes and works in the \"trenches\" everyday, I'm collecting a ton of questions and responses on my blog. If anyone is interested, please feel free to stop by and see what you think. Hopefully, it will help some of those new e-Learning freelancers just starting out! https://www.howtobecomeanelearningfreelancer.com/blog/

This is a fantastic resource for e-Learning freelancers. If you're an e-Learning freelancer and haven't taken a look, I wholeheartedly recommend you do!

Keep up the good work Richard!

Check out Richard's How to Become an e-Learning Freelancer eBook series on Amazon! I highly recommend them. :)

Thanks Tracy!

Richard - Thanks for providing that link. I think it's great that you've created a dedicated site to eLearning freelancing.

Thanks for sharing that link, Richard. Good stuff here, and clearly articulated.

You are welcome Daniel! I'm adding more questions up every week. As a new e-Learning freelancer, there are tons of \"What do I do in this situation?\" questions. I'm just trying to answer as many as I can to save a little heartache along the way. :)

Something to think about when you are doing a pros/cons approach. Keep in mind that what might be a \"pro\" for me, could be a \"con\" for you and vice versa.

Richard

Love, love, love this article! Thank you!

You're welcome, Mike :)

Great article, really enjoyed the different perspectives. Going freelance is an idea I am always toying with in the back of my mind, especially when the boss is being a major pain! After reading this, think I might try just doing it on the side for awhile, see how it goes. Thanks Allison.

I'm glad you enjoyed it! Best of luck as you try out freelancing on the side. Let us know how it goes! :)

Where is the best place to find freelancers? I have way more work than I can handle and my company is looking for options to help off set my e learning work load. I'd appreciate recommendations and what to expect for costs of a freelancer.

Hi Kelly. Sounds like your cup runneth over! If I were you I'd post this opportunity in our free e-learning jobs forum. Many of our freelancers keep close tabs on that board and you can be assured that your post will attract folks who are active in the E-Learning Heroes community and are likely experienced with using Articulate 360. Here's the link to the forum: https://community.articulate.com/e-learning-jobs

Loved the article! I often receive demands but I'm presently too busy to accept them. I will become a freelancer upon retiring in a couple of years since my clock is ticking… after 20+ years teaching and 7+ years in designing for e-learning, I still ADORE what I do. This article motivates me even more to pursue when my day comes. Just LOVED IT ! Thank you Allison and thanks to all those leaving so many interesting comments as well.

Glad you enjoyed it, Jhulio! :)

P.S. As a freelancer, check if you can deduct energy and phone bills in part when working from home, some of the heating, part of a lot of small expenses when you do have a permanent «office space» at home… you might be surprised :-)

Good to know!

Agree, it's based on the total sqft of your home and work space and how much time you spend working remotely. I missed those deductions for a long time but found it just in time to save a ton of tax liability last year. The IRS includes a worksheet on their website for additional guidance. Good luck everyone.

I done freelancing for around 15 years but anyone starting out needs to have a lot of drive and tons of self-discipline. You also need a different mindset - not a hobby but a business and your time is precious and chargeable. Be prepared to spend lots of time in hotel rooms too, sure you can work remotely but many large corporates I worked with wanted my time onsite with them too - mentoring their L&D teams, helping connect my courses to their LMS etc....not everything can be done remotely and onsite can sometimes be pretty profitable.

You'll also need a very broad range of skills as others have alluded too - sales tax (VAT), marketing (to sell yourself and showcase your digital portfolio) and crucially be good at building relationships with clients...repeat work is great. I'm also a big fan of multiple revenue streams so if you have a FT job as others have mentioned, I'd build up my client list PT until the numbers can pay your bills. even then I'd still look for income to supplement your earnings.

Thanks for sharing your experience Stewart! It's interesting to hear that companies often want you to come on site. I wouldn't have thought of that!

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To Be or Not to Be a Freelance E-Learning Designer?

Advantages

Disadvantages

Do You Have What It Takes?

Tips for Starting Out

The Bottom Line

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Advantages

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Do You Have What It Takes?

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Advantages

Disadvantages

Do You Have What It Takes?

Tips for Starting Out

The Bottom Line