What Is the Difference between Being Employed and Self-Employed?

There are many differences between being employed and self-employed. For many people, this includes taxation laws, the advantages and disadvantages of sole proprietorship, and the needed level of self-motivation. Understanding these differences is important for anyone looking to make a switch between being employed by a company or undertaking self-employment.

One of the main differences between being employed and self-employed is the fact that there are completely different sets of tax laws in most countries. Individuals who are employed by a business or company automatically have these taxes taken out of their paychecks, and the employers pay a portion of the taxes due. Those who are self-employed are required to pay out and keep track of the amount of taxes owed to the government, and are responsible for the entire amount.

Self-employed individuals have what is known as sole-proprietorship. Many people enjoy the independence obtained through self-employment. The trade-off is that self-employed individuals do not receive paid sick leave or retirement funds from an employer, and in many countries are responsible for their own health insurance. Another difference between being employed and self-employed is that if there is no work for a self-employed person, there is no pay. There is also no avenue under sole-proprietorship for workers' compensation if an injury occurs.

Being self-employed also has a number of advantages over being employed by a company or business. A self-employed individual is in charge of the business. Responsibility for themselves and others in the workplace is a key factor. The individual has the freedom to do things as he or she sees necessary instead of answering to a boss or supervisor.

Perhaps the biggest advantage to self-employment is the financial aspect. It is quite possible that the self-employed person can make more money than the employed individual for the same amount of work. A sole proprietor basically gets to decide the amount that is made each week. He or she can work as little or as much as is deemed necessary.

One of the biggest differences between being employed and self-employed is the fact that a self-employed person doesn’t have a boss or supervisor to report to and depend on. Self-employed individuals are essentially on their own. Even though self-employed people have more freedom in making decisions and flexibility in putting together their own schedules, they also have many more responsibilities.