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Freelance vs Contractor: Understanding the Differences

Freelance vs Contractor: Understanding the Differences

When it comes to working with independent professionals, there are two main categories to consider: freelancers and contractors. While these two terms are often used interchangeably, they actually have distinct differences that can impact your business. In this article, we'll explore the differences between freelancers and contractors, including their legal status, working arrangements, and more.

What is a Freelancer?

A freelancer is an individual who offers their services to multiple clients on a project-by-project basis. They are typically self-employed, and work as independent contractors. Freelancers have a high degree of flexibility in terms of their work schedule and the clients they work with. They are often hired to complete specific projects or tasks, and may work remotely or on-site.

What is a Contractor?

A contractor, on the other hand, is an individual or company that provides services to a client under a contract. Contractors are often hired for longer-term projects or ongoing work. They may work on-site or remotely, and may work as part of a team or independently. Contractors may be hired through an agency, or may work directly with the client.

Legal Status

One of the main differences between freelancers and contractors is their legal status. Freelancers are self-employed, and are responsible for their own taxes and insurance. They are not entitled to benefits such as sick leave or vacation time. Contractors, on the other hand, are often considered employees of the company they work for, and may be entitled to benefits and protections under the law.

Working Arrangements

Freelancers have a high degree of flexibility when it comes to their working arrangements. They can choose when and where they work, and are not tied to a specific schedule. Contractors, on the other hand, may be required to work specific hours or be on-site at certain times. They may also be required to work as part of a team, rather than independently.

Payment

Both freelancers and contractors are typically paid on a project-by-project or contract basis. Freelancers may charge by the hour, project, or day. Contractors, on the other hand, are typically paid a fixed fee for the duration of the contract. They may also be paid in instalments as certain milestones are met.

Lancr

If you are looking to work with freelancers, Lancr is a great platform to consider. With Lancr, agencies can save 75% in fees and 2 hours a week paying their freelancers. We make paying your freelancers easy, with smart payment routing and easy to use time tracking and approvals. By using Lancr, you can save time and money when paying your people.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while freelancers and contractors may seem similar, there are distinct differences between the two. Freelancers are self-employed and offer their services to multiple clients, while contractors work under contract for a specific client. They also have different legal statuses and working arrangements. Understanding these differences can help you determine which type of independent professional is best suited for your needs.

What’s a Rich Text element? 1

The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.

What’s a Rich Text element? 2

The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.

What’s a Rich Text element? 3

The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.

What’s a Rich Text element? 4

The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.

What’s a Rich Text element? 5

The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.

What’s a Rich Text element? 6

The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.

Why is ESG data expensive?

The costs of collecting, analyzing and storing data are not cheap. And unlike financial data, there is no standardized process for determining ESG scores.The complexity of ESG data and the lack of standardization in the process for assessing environmental, social and governance factors also makes it difficult to compare companies on these metrics. Regulators are trying to make ESG information more transparent by mandating that companies disclose them alongside their financials, but this is still materializing globally. Traditional providers such as MSCI or Refinitiv employ armies of analysts to get this data from corporate disclosures (if it exists) and then normalize that data and provide it back to you. This is a very expenive process, with lots of quality control, and importantly - because this data is not disclosed very frequently (companies typically disclose ESG related data annually), there is less incentive to have a continuous subscription to a ESG data feed, along with risk of information leakage. All of this results in very expensive, and limited annual contracts.

Artificial Intelligence is changing the way we create and consume ESG data, which address many of the issues above - but that is a topic for another day.

Why is ESG data expensive? 6
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