As a freelance website programmer, I am always looking for freelance jobs whether it be through people that I know, or through websites like Freelance Nation. I can understand why companies like freelancers, they are usually cheaper than hiring someone on salary and they don’t need to keep them on longer than needed, so really it helps businesses, especially ones without the resources to have extra staff on hand full time. As a freelancer I know the perks of being one, the biggest one for me is not having a boss to report to, I can come and go as I please, make as much as I need or want, and take on multiple clients without worrying about conflict of interest arrising, since all parties know that I am neutral and will work on as many projects as I can handle, no matter what kind they are.
As it is right now, I have two clients who are both freelance, one who is a solid client and I am pretty much on a weekly payment schedule with him, but he is still a client. The other one is a friend of Krissy’s who has given me work from a couple companies, including her father a few times, since she knows that I am dedicated to my work. That can be a major issue with a lot of freelancers, they don’t have a boss, and they don’t have a set schedule to work so things fall apart and then they are screwed in the end and so is their client. If you are going to freelance you need to maintain your focus and be able to get the stuff done when the client wants.
A lot of freelance websites that allow companies and freelancers to hook up will have a rating system for just that reason. If one company was screwed over by a freelancer, then they wouldn’t want the freelancer to do the same thing to another company. If you need to go to court because they messed up and couldn’t handle it, then that is something that needs to be dealt with and needs the public to know, which is why I like those places that allow the businesses to leave feedback on the freelancer, this way people will know that I will not screw them like others have.