Everything to Know About taking on Gig Work

Image by Rajesh Balouria from Pixabay

As workers in general are looking for more flexible options to working, gig work has taken off in the past few years. Enabled by technology, working remotely is now essentially the new norm and there’s a booming industry of tools to help workers make money and companies hire talent– all online.

How Do Gig Job Sites Work?

Freelancers select a gig work site to work with and will then create a profile with their skills, past experience and rate. From there, companies both large and small can select a freelancer to partner with to complete a project. It can be a beneficial arrangement for both the worker and the hiring company. The worker gets the flexibility and assets to build their professional experience and portfolio. While the company gets a short-term worker that they can try out to see if it’s a good fit and get work done quickly without all of the red tape that hiring and onboarding can often present.

What Does the Pay Look Like?

As a freelancer, you can set your rates depending on your experience level and project. Money is typically exchanged through the platform you use, so you can expect a percentage or flat fee to go towards that overhead. Some sites charge based on a percentage, some a flat-fee, and some will mark up your services and pass that usage fee along to the company. Be sure to check out what fee schedule makes the most sense depending on the amount of work you expect to take on. You’ll likely also be classified as a contractor, which can have heavy tax implications, so be sure to consult with a financial advisor before you begin your gig work. Some freelancers report making less money than a traditional W-2 job, however it all depends on the amount of work you put in and the tradeoff for the added work flexibility. For some side hustlers, nomads, caretakers, and upskillers, gig working on the weekends may make sense. 

What Are the Top Gig Sites?

  • Upwork
  • Fiverr
  • Freelancer
  • Toptal
  • Guru
  • FlexJobs

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