16 Pros & Cons Of Starting A Freelance App Developer (2024)

Updated: January 18th, 2023
Become A Freelance App Developer

Please note that the data provided in this article are estimates and may vary depending on various factors, and should not be considered as perfect or definitive.

Trying to understand the pros and cons of starting a freelance app developer?

Here are all of the pros and cons of selling app development services online:

Learn more about starting a freelance app developer:

Where to start?

-> How to start a freelance app developer?
-> How much does it cost to start a freelance app developer?

Need inspiration?

-> Other freelance app developer success stories
-> Examples of established freelance app developer
-> Marketing ideas for a freelance app developer
-> Freelance app developer slogans
-> Freelance app developer names

Other resources

-> Freelance app developer tips

Pros Of A Freelance App Developer

Pros Description

Ability to start your business from home

It's not necessary to have a physical storefront or office space to get your business started. You can do everything from the comfort of your own home, at least in the beginning!

Little startup costs required

The cost to start a freelance app developer costs significantly less money than most businesses, ranging anywhere from 62 to 39,111.

Rewarding work

Starting a freelance app developer can be really rewarding work. After all, you are solving an immediate issue for your customer and you're working on something you truly care about.

High customer retention rates

Once a customer invests in your product, they've invested their time and energy to utilize your product/service which is highly valuable to them. Typically, your product or service becomes indispensable to your customer.

Quick build time

The average time it takes to build your product is quick - typically around 8 months. This will allow you to bring your product to market faster.

Pick & choose the clients you work with

Freelance App Developeres have the ability to choose the clients they work with. You have the freedom to work with only a few loyal clients or with hundreds of clients!

Control of workload

With becoming a freelance app developer, you have the unique ability to choose how little or how much you want to work. You also have the freedom to decide which projects you want to work on, and can turn down the ones that do not interest you.

Gain exposure and experience

This career allows you to gain experience working for multiple different businesses - which will benefit your resume and also keep things interesting for you!

Unlimited income potential

With becoming a freelance app developer there is no cap as to how much income you can make. The stronger your business skills and the more energy/time you put into your career, the more you'll make.

Cons Of A Freelance App Developer

Cons Description

Crowded Space

Competition is high when it comes to your freelance app developer, so it's important that you spend a good amount of time analyzing the market and understanding where the demand lies.

Security Issues

With any Saas business, data loss and security issues may arise throughout your process of building your product. It's critical that you understand exactly what you're responsible for and how to avoid potential issues down the road.

Work can be inconsistent

As a freelance app developer, the amount of work assigned to you and schedule tends to be more inconsistent, which may make your income less stable. It's important to set boundaries and budget accordingly based on the amount of work you plan to have.

Lack of benefits

With a freelance app developer, you are typically self-employed and responsible for finding your own insurance, which can be quite costly and time-consuming.

Isolation

Often times, as a freelance app developer, you typically work alone and do not have much face-to-face interaction with other team members.

Taxes

As a freelance app developer, you typically pay self-employment taxes which can be quite high. It's important to understand what you will be paying in taxes each year so you can determine if the work you're taking on is worth it.

No safety net

Typically, as a freelance app developer, you do not receive a consistent pay-check and instead earn money based on your transactions each month. During the slow periods, you typically take away less since the job is based on commission. It's important to budget accordingly for the slow times.