Many people only dream of being their own boss, but for Chattanooga residents already living out that dream, self-employment can bring both immense joy and some unique challenges.
Rob Bettis, who calls himself a “free agent marketing consultant,” said being able to work when he wants, where he wants and how he wants are the reasons why he enjoys self-employment. For two years, Bettis has been a freelancer, helping businesses with their advertising and social media strategies among other things.
“It’s been a really good change for me,” Bettis said. “It’s something I tried to do a number of years ago and was less successful at the time. I was a little bit naive. This time has been night and day different.”
While working out of a home office alongside his wife, who is a Realtor, allows him more flexibility, there is one thing that affects most self-employed or remote workers these days – loneliness. That is why Bettis, and a few other Chattanooga residents, have started networking and support-like groups for those who are self-employed or independent contractors.
The Internal Revenue Service states the “general rule” is that a person is considered an independent contractor if the payer has the right to control only the result of the work and not what will be done or how it will be done. They are subject to the self-employment tax and generally don’t get workplace benefits, like health insurance.