Hey,
I sometimes get asked why I don't have a team. No agency, no employees, just me. The question sounds like doubt, but it's fair.
The honest answer: because it's better this way. For me, but also for you.
The road here
I've been self-employed for over 15 years. Not because I couldn't find a job, but because I didn't want one. At least not one where someone else decides when I wake up and what I work on.
That sounds like freedom romanticism, and maybe it is a little. But mostly it's practical. I work better when I decide for myself. Better results, happier clients, happier me.
The beginning was shaky. The first years as a freelancer aren't easy for anyone. Client acquisition, uncertainty, the question of whether any of this actually works. It worked. Not because I was particularly brave. Because I was stubborn.
What this means for you
When you work with me, you work with me. Not with an intern answering my emails. Not with a project manager passing on your requirements. With me.
That has advantages. Communication is direct. No telephone game across three levels. When you say something, it arrives. When I say something, I mean it.
Responsibility is clear. When something goes well, I'm responsible. When something goes wrong, same thing. There's nobody to point at. That makes me careful.
Costs are lower. I have no overhead to pass on to you. No downtown office space, no managers, no meeting rooms. What I save, you save too.
The other side
Of course there are disadvantages. When I'm sick, your project sits. When I'm on vacation, I don't answer. There's no colleague to jump in.
For time-critical projects, that can be a problem. If you have a fixed deadline that can't move, the risk is higher than with an agency.
My solution: I have a network. Colleagues who can step in if necessary. It's not as seamless as an agency, but it's also not like you're left stranded.
And I build in buffers. If you say the deadline is in six weeks, I plan for four. That leaves room for the unexpected.
Why not an agency
I once considered growing. Hiring a team, renting an office, building an agency. I didn't do it.
Not because I couldn't. Because I didn't want to. Running an agency is a different job. Less design, more management. Less projects, more personnel. That's not why I do this.
I do this because I like creating. Because I like solving problems. Because I like working directly with clients. An agency would pull me away from that.
Also: the best projects happen when one person is in charge. Not a committee making compromises. One person who decides, who's responsible, who owns the result.
The actual point
Self-employment isn't for everyone. But for me, it's the right path. And for many of my clients too.
If you want a service provider who takes your project personally, I'm the right fit. If you want someone available around the clock with a team behind them, maybe not.
I'm not saying this to scare you off. I'm saying it to be honest. The right expectation at the start prevents frustration later.
And if we're a good match, you'll notice: a freelancer who takes their job seriously is sometimes better than an agency with ten people.
Cheers,
Rafael