自由建筑師或建筑技術(shù)專家可以采取多種形式。也許你一直在建筑工作室工作，覺(jué)得你想要自由職業(yè)者的自由；您的選擇多種多樣。

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您可以開(kāi)始向其他工作室（甚至是您過(guò)去受雇的工作場(chǎng)所?。┨峁┓?wù)。這種類型的自由職業(yè)者通常以合同為基礎(chǔ)，也許是為了支持需要比工作室目前雇用的員工更多的大型項(xiàng)目。項(xiàng)目完成后，工作室可能不再需要您的工作，直到他們?cè)俅涡枰~外資源。您還可以為沒(méi)有足夠穩(wěn)定的工作流程來(lái)雇用全職員工但在項(xiàng)目達(dá)到高峰和流動(dòng)時(shí)需要額外支持的小型實(shí)踐提供您的服務(wù)。

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自由職業(yè)者的另一種選擇是直接與客戶合作，為他們進(jìn)行設(shè)計(jì)工作。這可能是一個(gè)開(kāi)始建立自己的實(shí)踐的機(jī)會(huì)，從小規(guī)模開(kāi)始，慢慢發(fā)展以雇用更多員工，最終可能成立一家公司。

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當(dāng)然，您可以同時(shí)提供這兩項(xiàng)服務(wù) — 為其他實(shí)踐提供架構(gòu)支持并為客戶設(shè)計(jì)工作。

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本文將考慮前一種選擇——為其他實(shí)踐或工作室提供建筑服務(wù)。我們將在本系列的后續(xù)文章中探討后者，直接與客戶合作：“設(shè)置您自己的實(shí)踐”。

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成為建筑師的自由職業(yè)者的理由

讓我們明確一點(diǎn)：成為一名自由建筑師或自由建筑技術(shù)專家并不是一個(gè)容易的選擇，也并不適合所有人。這需要大量的工作，而且你最終會(huì)做的比你習(xí)慣的常規(guī)建筑/設(shè)計(jì)工作多得多。你不能再依賴你的雇主來(lái)找到你的工作，你需要自己做這一切。

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也就是說(shuō)，如果您正在尋求職業(yè)生涯中更多的獨(dú)立性并有可能發(fā)展自己的業(yè)務(wù)，或者，如果您發(fā)現(xiàn)自己被裁員或失業(yè)，那么自由職業(yè)者可能適合您。自由職業(yè)者可以享受更多的自主權(quán)，更少的官僚主義和對(duì)他們工作的更多控制。同樣，選擇一些自由職業(yè)項(xiàng)目也可以讓您在困難時(shí)期帶來(lái)一些現(xiàn)金。

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自由職業(yè)的好處

現(xiàn)在，隨著在家工作成為新常態(tài)，公司比以往任何時(shí)候都更加接受遠(yuǎn)程工作和靈活工作。自由職業(yè)現(xiàn)在很龐大，各行各業(yè)的許多公司都在使用自由職業(yè)者的服務(wù)，建筑師和建筑技術(shù)人員出于多種不同的原因轉(zhuǎn)向自由職業(yè)。

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獨(dú)立

由于為自己工作的自主權(quán)，自由職業(yè)者通常對(duì)許多人有吸引力。通過(guò)自由職業(yè)，您可以自由地按照自己的條件工作，選擇您的客戶和您的項(xiàng)目。

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靈活性

自由職業(yè)者通常為您的工作日提供靈活性。雖然在正常辦公時(shí)間內(nèi)與客戶進(jìn)行討論和會(huì)議（如有必要，在線）是必不可少的，但您仍然可以靈活地開(kāi)展工作。例如，您可能會(huì)分開(kāi)工作并在中午休息更長(zhǎng)的時(shí)間——也許您喜歡早上工作，下午有空閑時(shí)間。不管是什么，只要您在商定的時(shí)間范圍內(nèi)完成工作，您的客戶就會(huì)很高興。

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選擇

自由職業(yè)者可以從技術(shù)上挑選和選擇他們將與誰(shuí)合作以及在哪些項(xiàng)目上工作。雖然這是真的，但在早期，您可能無(wú)法如此挑剔。你必須盡你所能去開(kāi)始，但從長(zhǎng)遠(yuǎn)來(lái)看，你可以希望與你喜歡工作的客戶和讓你興奮的項(xiàng)目建立良好的關(guān)系。

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改變

雖然大學(xué)的自然發(fā)展是在建筑工作室/實(shí)踐中工作，但在獲得經(jīng)驗(yàn)后，您可能正在尋找改變。在實(shí)踐中工作并不適合所有人，自由職業(yè)者可以讓您在替代環(huán)境中繼續(xù)作為建筑師/技術(shù)專家工作。

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自由職業(yè)者的缺點(diǎn)

雖然您將受益于為自己工作的自由，但在進(jìn)行過(guò)渡之前，您應(yīng)該考慮自由職業(yè)肯定會(huì)帶來(lái)一些缺點(diǎn)。?

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令人生畏的前景

成為一名自由建筑師或技術(shù)專家可能令人生畏。您基本上是在開(kāi)始自己的業(yè)務(wù)，無(wú)論是個(gè)體經(jīng)營(yíng)者還是有限公司，您都有責(zé)任確保每個(gè)月都有足夠的資金。自行設(shè)置可能令人興奮且充滿力量，但在您探索新領(lǐng)域時(shí)也可能充滿壓力和傷腦筋。

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額外的工作和責(zé)任

完全負(fù)責(zé)找工作、確保正確設(shè)置會(huì)計(jì)和保險(xiǎn)、跟蹤向客戶開(kāi)具發(fā)票等可能會(huì)帶來(lái)壓力。此外，您還需要執(zhí)行許多在普通就業(yè)情況下無(wú)需執(zhí)行的額外任務(wù)。由于這些原因，除了為客戶所做的設(shè)計(jì)工作之外，您最終可能需要加班以完成所有管理工作。

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陰晴圓缺

可能有一段時(shí)間你沒(méi)有任何工作，而其他時(shí)間可能特別忙。重要的是能夠在財(cái)務(wù)上為較安靜的時(shí)期做好計(jì)劃，確保在您不那么忙的時(shí)候總是保留一些資金。

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管理你的時(shí)間

作為一名自由職業(yè)者，您可以管理自己的時(shí)間和客戶的期望。在上一點(diǎn)中，我們提到了工作的潮起潮落；當(dāng)您有疑問(wèn)時(shí)，很容易對(duì)所有事情說(shuō)“是”，但可能很難管理您的時(shí)間和客戶的期望。

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如何開(kāi)始成為一名自由建筑師

那么，讓我們來(lái)看看如何開(kāi)始成為一名自由架構(gòu)師。

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個(gè)體工商戶或有限公司

成為自由職業(yè)者意味著您必須處理好您的賬戶和所得稅責(zé)任。因此，您應(yīng)該考慮的第一件事是與會(huì)計(jì)師交談，他可以就您是個(gè)體經(jīng)營(yíng)者還是成立有限公司向您提供建議。

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如果您以個(gè)體經(jīng)營(yíng)者的身份開(kāi)始工作，則需要確保每年都通過(guò) HMRC 完成自我評(píng)估。這意味著您需要在提交第一次自我評(píng)估后繳納稅款，因此將錢存起來(lái)用于納稅至關(guān)重要。在標(biāo)準(zhǔn)就業(yè)情況下工作時(shí)，您的稅款會(huì)在收到您的付款之前每月從您的工資中扣除。作為個(gè)體經(jīng)營(yíng)者的自由職業(yè)者，您需要將這筆錢放在一邊以備日后支付。

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建議與帳戶進(jìn)行對(duì)話以討論所有這些是如何工作的。

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成立有限公司比作為個(gè)體經(jīng)營(yíng)者的成本更高。您將需要一名會(huì)計(jì)師每年向 HMRC 提交您的賬戶，并且在設(shè)置過(guò)程中還有其他額外費(fèi)用。

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注意：我不是會(huì)計(jì)師：在決定如何建立您的自由職業(yè)時(shí)，請(qǐng)尋求專業(yè)建議。

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保險(xiǎn)

自由職業(yè)者的另一個(gè)關(guān)鍵因素是確保您擁有所有適當(dāng)?shù)谋ｋU(xiǎn)來(lái)開(kāi)展工作。例如，您可能需要專業(yè)賠償保險(xiǎn)和/或公共責(zé)任保險(xiǎn)。確保您與專業(yè)顧問(wèn)交談，為您將從事的工作獲得正確的保險(xiǎn)。

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保險(xiǎn)可能很昂貴，但必須確保在出現(xiàn)任何問(wèn)題時(shí)都能得到保障。

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您還需要考慮是否應(yīng)該在適當(dāng)?shù)膶I(yè)機(jī)構(gòu)注冊(cè)，無(wú)論是在 RIBA、ARB 或 CIAT 還是任何其他未提及的機(jī)構(gòu)。

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你的專長(zhǎng)是什么？

想想您的優(yōu)勢(shì)，以及您是否認(rèn)為可以/應(yīng)該專注于某個(gè)特定領(lǐng)域。您是否在特定建筑類型方面擁有豐富的經(jīng)驗(yàn)，或者您是否對(duì)可持續(xù)建筑有很多了解？也許您特別擅長(zhǎng)組合投標(biāo)包或建筑法規(guī)圖紙集。

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成為專家可以讓您從人群中脫穎而出，您可以成為廣受歡迎的顧問(wèn)，他可以為實(shí)踐無(wú)法在內(nèi)部完成的項(xiàng)目帶來(lái)很多好處。

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你的服務(wù)是什么？

你們提供什么服務(wù)？你是一個(gè)完整的設(shè)計(jì)服務(wù)？也許您提供 3D 視覺(jué)效果？你們提供測(cè)量調(diào)查嗎？

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要回答這個(gè)問(wèn)題，您還應(yīng)該考慮您的客戶可能正在尋找什么。無(wú)論您是提供完整的設(shè)計(jì)還是專業(yè)的技術(shù)服務(wù)，您都需要清楚地了解自己的工作以及如何進(jìn)行溝通和營(yíng)銷。

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您將在哪里提供服務(wù)？

考慮您是想在當(dāng)?shù)剡€是在全國(guó)范圍內(nèi)提供服務(wù)。通過(guò)留在當(dāng)?shù)?，您將與客戶建立面對(duì)面的聯(lián)系，并有可能在他們的辦公室拜訪他們并參與現(xiàn)場(chǎng)訪問(wèn)。?

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在全國(guó)范圍內(nèi)工作是完全可能的，尤其是在遠(yuǎn)程工作變得越來(lái)越普遍的情況下。?

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在我們的下一篇文章中，我們將著眼于以自由建筑師的身份尋找工作，但就目前而言，可能值得考慮您是想要更多地關(guān)注本地還是全國(guó)。兩者都有其優(yōu)點(diǎn)和缺點(diǎn)。

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什么軟件？

作為為不同的建筑工作室工作的自由職業(yè)者，您可能會(huì)使用不同的軟件遇到不同的辦公室。例如，您會(huì)限制自己只在 AutoCAD 中工作，還是會(huì)進(jìn)行培訓(xùn)以能夠使用多種軟件，以便輕松適應(yīng)客戶的需求？?

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對(duì)于自由職業(yè)者來(lái)說(shuō)，這可能是一個(gè)艱難的決定。通常需要查看可用的工作選項(xiàng)以及您的技能是否符合要求，或者您是否需要擴(kuò)展技能以提高競(jìng)爭(zhēng)力。?

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結(jié)論

成為自由建筑師或自由建筑技術(shù)專家有很多很好的理由，并且有很多機(jī)會(huì)這樣做。然而，成為一名自由職業(yè)者并非沒(méi)有艱苦的工作，需要考慮額外的管理人員，找到穩(wěn)定工作的責(zé)任在于你。

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英文版

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A freelance architect or architectural technologist can take many forms. Perhaps you have been working in architectural studios and feel that you would like the freedom of freelancing; your options are varied.

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You could start offering services to other studios (even workplaces where you were employed in the past!). This type of freelancing is usually on a contract basis, perhaps to support a large project that requires more staff than the studio currently employs. Once the project is complete, the studio may no longer require your work until they need additional resources again. You also may provide your services to small practices that don’t have a steady enough workflow to take on full-time employees but need additional support as projects peak and flow.

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An alternative option for freelance is working directly with the client, carrying out design work for them. This could be an opportunity to start building your own practice, starting small and slowly growing to employ more staff and perhaps eventually setting up as a company.

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Of course, you could provide both of these services — architectural support for other practices and design work for clients.

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This article will consider the former option — providing architectural services to other practices or studios. We will explore the latter, working directly with clients, in a later article in the series: “Setting Up Your Own Practice.”

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Reasons To Go Freelance as an Architect

Let’s be clear: becoming a freelance architect or freelance architectural technologist is not an easy option, and it’s not for everyone. It takes a lot of work, and you will end up doing a lot more than the regular architectural/design work that you are used to. You can’t rely on your employer to find you work anymore, you need to do all that yourself.

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That said, if you are looking for more independence in your career and to potentially grow your own business, or, if you have found yourself redundant or out of work, then freelancing could work for you. A freelancer can enjoy more autonomy, less bureaucracy and generally more control over their work. Similarly, picking up a few freelance projects will also allow you to bring in some cash while times are hard.

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The Benefits of Freelancing

Now more than ever, remote working and flexible working are being embraced by companies as working from home becomes the new normal. Freelancing is massive now, with many companies across various industries using the services of freelancers, and architects and architectural technologists turn to freelancing for a number of different reasons.

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Independence

Freelancing is often appealing to many because of the autonomy of working for yourself. With freelancing you have the freedom to work on your own terms, choose your clients and your projects.

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Flexibility

Freelancing often provides flexibility in your working day. While it is essential to be available for discussions and meetings (online if necessary) with clients during regular office hours, you can still enjoy flexibility in how you carry out your work. For example, it might be that you split your hours and take a longer break in the middle of the day — perhaps you like to work early in the morning and have your afternoons free. Whatever it might be, as long as you get the work done in the agreed timescale, your clients will be happy.

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Choice

Freelancers can technically pick and choose who they will work with and on which projects. While this is true, in the early days, it may be that you aren’t able to be so selective. You have to take what you can to get going, but in the long run, you can hope to build up good relationships with clients that you enjoy working for and on projects that excite you.

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Change

While the natural progression from university is to take a job working in an architectural studio/practice, after gaining experience, you may be looking for a change. Working in practice isn’t for everyone, and freelancing allows you to continue working as an architect/technologist in an alternative environment.

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The Drawbacks of Freelancing

While you will benefit from the freedom of working for yourself, there are certainly drawbacks that come with freelancing that you should consider before making the transition.?

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A Daunting Prospect

Becoming a freelance architect or technologist can daunting. You are essentially starting your own business, whether that’s a sole trader or a limited company, with the responsibility on you to make sure there is enough money coming in month to month. Setting up on your own can be exciting and empowering, but it can also be stressful and nerve wracking as you navigate the new territory.

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Extra Work and Responsibility

It can be stressful to be fully responsible for finding work, making sure you have correctly set up your accounting and insurance, keeping track of invoicing your clients and so on. In addition, there are many extra tasks you will need to carry out that you wouldn’t have to do when working in an ordinary employment situation. For these reasons, you may end up working extra hours to carry out all your admin, on top of the design work you are doing for your clients.

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Ups and Downs

There may be spells where you don’t have any work coming in, while other periods may be particularly busy. It is important to be able to plan for the quieter spells financially, making sure you always keep some funds aside for periods when you are less busy.

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Managing Your Time

As a freelancer it is up to you to manage your time and your clients expectations. In the previous point we mentioned the ebb and flow of work coming in; it is easy to say yes to everything when you have an enquiry but can be difficult to manage your time and your clients expectations.

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How To Get Started as a Freelance Architect

So, let’s take a look at how to get started as a freelance architect.

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Sole Trader or Limited Company

Becoming a freelancer means you have to take care of your accounts and income tax responsibilities. So the first thing you should consider is speaking with an accountant who can advise you on whether you should be a sole trader or set up as a limited company.

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If you start off working as a sole trader, you will need to ensure you complete your Self Assessment with the HMRC every year. This means that your tax is payable after submitting your first Self Assessment, so it is crucial to put money aside for tax payments. When working in a standard employment situation, your tax is deducted from your wages each month before receiving your payment. With freelancing as a sole trader, you need to put this money aside to pay later.

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A conversation with an account is advisable to discuss how all of this works.

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Setting up as a limited company is more costly than being a sole trader. You will need an accountant to submit your accounts to HMRC each year, and there are other additional costs in setting up.

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Note: I am not an accountant: please seek professional advice when deciding how to set up your freelancing business.

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Insurance

Another critical factor for freelancing is to ensure you have all of the appropriate insurances to carry out your work. For example, it could be that you need Professional Indemnity insurance and or Public Liability insurance. Ensure you speak to a professional adviser to get the correct insurance for the work you will be undertaking.

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Insurance can be costly, but it is imperative to ensure you are covered should anything go wrong.

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You also need to consider whether you should be registered with your appropriate professional body, whether with RIBA, ARB or CIAT or any other not mentioned.

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What is your speciality?

Think about your strengths and whether there is a particular area you feel you could/should specialize in. Do you have a wealth of experience in a specific building type, or perhaps you have a lot of knowledge of sustainable architecture? Maybe you are particularly good at putting together Tender Packages or Building Regulation drawing sets.

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Being a specialist can make you stand out from the crowd, and you could become a sought-after consultant who can bring a lot to a project that practices can’t do in-house.

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What are your services?

What services are you offering? Are you a full design service? Perhaps you offer 3D visuals? Do you offer measured surveys?

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To answer this question, you should also consider what your clients might be looking for. Whether you provide design to completion or specialist technical services, you need to have a clear picture of what you do and how you will communicate and market this.

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Where will you offer your services?

Consider whether you would like to offer your services within your local area or nationally. By staying local, you will build a face-to-face connection with clients and potentially visit them at their offices and get involved in site visits.?

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Working on a more national scale is entirely possible, especially with remote working becoming more commonplace.?

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In our next article, we will look at finding work as a freelance architect, but for now, it might be worth considering whether you want a more local or national focus. Both can have their advantages and disadvantages.

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What software?

Being freelance working for different architectural studios, it is possible you will come across different offices using different softwares. Will you limit yourself to only working in AutoCAD for example, or will you train up to be able to use multiple softwares so that you can easily adapt to the needs of your client??

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This can be a difficult decision for the freelancer. It is often the case of needing to look at the work options available and whether your skills fit the requirements or if you need to expand your skillset in order to be competitive.?

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Conclusion

There are many good reasons to become a freelance architect or freelance architectural technologist and plenty of opportunities to do so. However, being a freelancer is not without hard work, with extra admin to consider, and the onus is on you to find steady jobs.

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