There are a lot of things about freelance writer jobs that are different from classic corporate jobs. Whether it’s the constantly changing client list or the fact that you choose the hours you work, this variety can offer a lot of interesting days. One of the topics I’ve been really looking forward to writing about is expenses. Do freelance writers have expenses? What can these look like? Let’s dive in.

Do freelance writers have expenses?

This is a common question that I get from curious people in my life. After all, what does a freelance writer do that requires expenses? We just sit on computers and clickety-clack away, right? Sort of. Freelancers have expenses, just like other types of hard-working professionals. However, they aren’t related to gas money or uniform stipends. It’s all about understanding where you need to put your money and how you need to invest in your business as a freelancer.

What are normal freelance writing expenses?

As you might be able to guess, a lot of the expenses that you have as a professional freelancer will be determined by how you actually work. Since my own workflow has changed over the years, I’ve used a few versions to show you what I mean. It’s really neat to look back on my different “levels” of expenses and see how much things have changed for me!

• Start-up expenses: Like many budding freelancers, I started professionally writing on my laptop, working at whatever public space I felt like that day. Since I was in university at the time, it was often in a common space. So, my expenses were limited to the costs of my coffee or tea and whatever time I spent writing. I was still learning how to make money as a freelance writer.

• Workspace expenses: As I got more serious about my chosen career path, I then “graduated” into expenses related to workspaces. This included a high-quality office chair, a dedicated work desk (I chose a DIY approach rather than buying one), and a more powerful computer. Since I was still a starving freelancer, I still kept my expenses limited to just the essentials that allowed me to invest in myself and my skills.

• Professional services expenses: Now firmly established as an experienced freelance content writer, I also have made room in my budget for professional services that fit my business model. These are not essential to putting out top-quality content as a writer, but I do consider them to be an important part of my writer’s toolkit for the best overall result for my clients.

Stay tuned for more

Next time, I’m diving into the specific expenses that I have as a freelance writer, and from there, I’ll talk about optional ones, too. I have to admit that I’ve been surprised to discover that the world of freelance writer expenses is an interesting one! Then again, I find more things about freelancer life pretty interesting.

But what do you think? What is your approach to expenses? Share below!