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A Comparison Guide:

Self Employed vs Freelancers

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How would you describe yourself?

Choose as many as you like

Self-employed

Freelancer, independent contractor, etc

Salaried employee

Full-time or part-time W-2 employee

Business owner

LLC, S corp or partnership

What's the difference between a self-employed individual and a freelancer?

Working independently can bring a lot of freedom. Freelance workers and self employed people can benefit from this lifestyle by creating a better work-life balance and growing professionally. The terms self employed and freelancer may seem like they can be used interchangeably, but there are some stark differences between them. You might be self-employed, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a freelancer. You might have your own accounting business or own a pastry shop. But whether you’re a freelancer or self-employed, you’ll most likely be filing your own self-employment taxes. This comparison guide will help you understand what freelance work entails, what it means to be self employed and the similarities and differences between the two.

Table of contents

Key Takeaways:...Read more

What is a self employed individual?...Read more

What does it mean to be self employed?...Read more

What does freelance mean?...Read more

What is freelance work?...Read more

Self employed vs freelancer...Read more

What about taxes?...Read more

Key Takeaways:

  • Every freelancer is self-employed but not every self-employed person is a freelancer
  • There are 3 main types of self-employment
  • The tax requirements are the same

What is a self employed individual?

The definition of self employed is someone who works for themselves as a freelancer or business owner. They might be a sole proprietor or an independent contractor. So if you’re asking yourself the question, what is a self employed individual? They usually are someone skilled in a trade, skill or profession and set their own terms and conditions, rather than following an employer. When choosing your self employed occupation path, you have to consider whether you want to work in a partnership, Limited Liability Company (LLC), corporation – like S Corp or C Corp, a sole proprietorship or even an independent contractor.
Image describing 3 main types of self-employment: Sole proprietorship, Partnerships, and Independent contractors who work on a project basis for clients. No mention of 1099, freelancer or taxes.

What does it mean to be self employed?

When you’re self employed, you work for yourself and aren’t an employee at a company or business. It also means you’re responsible for paying your own taxes. When you're self employed, you’re not eligible for automatic benefits that an employer may provide like paid sick leave, holiday or vacation days, 401(k) matched contributions, health insurance or maternity leave. You also can’t apply for unemployment or worker’s compensation benefits. Plus, you’ll need to provide your own equipment, like a computer, printer or anything else you might need for your work. But, you can take tax deductions for a variety of things that can help lower your taxable income.
Image of text listing common tax deductions for anyone, including self-employed individuals, such as home office, business meals, vehicle use, internet or phone bills, business travel, and interest.

What does freelance mean?

The freelance definition is someone who has a profession without a long-term commitment to one set employer. The true freelance meaning is someone who earns money on a per-task or per-job basis. Freelancers usually have multiple projects happening simultaneously and clients pay for their product or service. Freelance workers are considered self-employed. But the main difference is freelancers' work revolves around client expectations, projects and assignments. Usually, a freelancer works on their projects alone.

What is freelance work?

Freelance work usually depends on the client. The client needs to approve the project timeline, budget and payment terms. Payment may depend on how satisfied the client is with the work. Some examples of freelance workers include: You might be a freelancer if you’re an independent journalist that writes articles on your preferred topic. You then sell your articles to the highest bidding publishing firm. Or a web designer who designs websites on an online platform for various companies. You listen to the client’s expectations, then set your own timeline and price for the project. Maybe you’re an animator who creates animations and special effects for movies, video clips, games or advertisements based on the project requirements. Whatever your freelance work involves, staying organized, sticking to deadlines and communicating with the client is important.

Quick tip

A business license might be required for freelancers depending on the type of work and your location.

Self employed vs freelancer

Every freelancer is self-employed, but not every self-employed person is a freelancer. Let’s look at some of the differences.

Clients and contracts

Multiple jobs

Nature of work

Clients and customers

Other work

What about taxes?

Whether you’re self-employed or a freelancer, taxes are still something you’ll need to manage. The IRS considers freelancers as self-employed when it comes to 1099 tax filing. That means you’re responsible for filing and paying your taxes. Anyone self-employed must pay FICA taxes, including Social Security and Medicare taxes. As a W-2 worker, your employer usually contributes half of your FICA taxes. But anyone self-employed has to cover the total 15.3%. 12.4% is for Social Security and the remaining 2.9% is for Medicare. You won't have to file self-employment taxes if you make less than $400 from freelancing. If you expect to owe $1,000 or more in taxes for the year, you’re required to file quarterly tax payments. These estimated tax payments occur four times a year. To help calculate estimated tax, you can use a tax calculator. Estimated quarterly taxes are due on April 15, June 15, September 15 and January 15 of the following year.

Adjusted Gross Income

A lot of terms get thrown around when it comes to the tax season and your adjusted gross income (AGI) is one of them.

Modified Adjusted Gross Income

Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) can be found by adding back certain deductions to AGI. Use MAGI to check your eligibility for tax credits.

About Self Employment

Self-employment Simplified – For Freelancers, Independent Contractors & Gig Workers

Freelance Vs Self Employed

Self-employed Vs. Freelancers – What’s Common & What’s Not

About Gig Economy

How the Gig Economy Works for Freelancers | FlyFin

Mortgage for Self Employed

Getting a Mortgage as a Self-Employed Individual | FlyFin

How to calculate your self employed salary

Calculating Your Self-employment Income | FlyFin

What is self employment tax

Self-Employment Taxes | Pay SECA Tax As A 1099 Worker | FlyFin

SECA Tax

How to Pay SECA Taxes the Smart Way

Tax Deductions for self employed

Self-Employed Tax Deductions

Avoid Tax Penalties

How to Avoid Tax Penalties When You’re Self-Employed

Retirement plans for self employed

Retirement Plans for Anyone Self-Employed

Health Insurances for Self Employed

How Self-employed people Choose Health Insurance | FlyFin

1099 Employee Rights

Know Your Rights as a 1099 Employee

1099 and W2 in same year

Is It Best To File 1099s and W-2s Seperately or Together? | FlyFin

Open Business Banking accounts

Opening a Business Account for Professional Use | FlyFin A.I.

Benefits of 1099

A Guide to Understanding 1099 Jobs | FlyFin A.I.

When are 1099s Due?

When is Form 1099 Due? | FlyFin A.I.

What are Freelance Taxes?

The Definition of Freelancer Taxes - Important Date and Forms | FlyFin A.I.

What do Independent Contractors do

Employee Vs. Contractor – A Watch At Their Taxes

Independent contractor taxes in california

Independent Contractor Taxes in California

Top Independent contractor jobs

Top Independent Contractor Jobs

Tax Preparation Checklist

We've compiled a list of things you need to know when you file taxes for your 2022 tax year or need information on the 2023 quarterly tax payments.

Adjusted Gross Income

A lot of terms get thrown around when it comes to the tax season and your adjusted gross income (AGI) is one of them.

Modified Adjusted Gross Income

Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) can be found by adding back certain deductions to AGI. Use MAGI to check your eligibility for tax credits.

About Self Employment

Self-employment Simplified – For Freelancers, Independent Contractors & Gig Workers

Freelance Vs Self Employed

Self-employed Vs. Freelancers – What’s Common & What’s Not

What’s FlyFin?

FlyFin caters to the tax needs of freelancers, gig workers, independent contractors and sole proprietors. But anyone can file taxes through FlyFin! FlyFin tracks all your business expenses automatically using A.I. to find every possible tax deduction. Then, the CPA team files a guaranteed 100% accurate tax return for you – to save you a couple thousand dollars and a ton of time on your taxes. Download the FlyFin app and have your taxes filed in less than fifteen minutes, saving time and more money on your taxes than last year, guaranteed.
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