Ask HN: How many of you are self employed?

Range of self-employment paths

• Very broad mix: solo SaaS, “digital product studios”, agencies, classic freelancing/consulting, law practices, tax/industry consulting, technical writing, indie games, ebooks, conferences, tutoring, coin dealing, furniture making, web hosting, real estate, education, and niche engineering (ML, embedded, aerospace, PostgreSQL, etc.).
• Many do a hybrid: product + consulting/contracting to smooth income.
• Some are “virtually” self‑employed via one‑person companies that bill a single long‑term client (common in places like Poland).

Motivations and perceived upsides

• Desire for autonomy, less office politics, less “crunch”, and more direct connection to customers.
• Flexibility in hours, ability to travel or live where they want (RVs, other countries, rural areas).
• Freedom to choose projects aligned with personal interests, values, or craft.
• Some find it addictive and say they can’t imagine returning to traditional employment.

Money, taxes, and healthcare

• Income ranges from “ramen profitable” and side income to high six‑figure personal take‑home and seven‑figure product profits.
• Several note that many indie products earn modestly; one cites data that only ~5% on a major indie platform exceed ~$100k/year.
• Common use of S‑corps/LLCs and similar structures to pay oneself a salary and retain profit in the company, with cross‑country debates about tax efficiency and “false self‑employment”.
• US posters emphasize ACA/Obamacare as crucial for individual coverage; premiums and deductibles are high but seen as better than pre‑ACA. Health insurance is a major concern, especially with families.

Finding work and marketing

• First clients usually come from prior co‑workers, referrals, and personal networks; some from platforms (Upwork, Toptal, old Elance, marketplaces).
• Strong communication and sales skills are repeatedly described as more important than rock‑star technical skills.
• Content (blogging, newsletters, TikTok, podcasts, talks, open source, books) is used both as marketing and as a lead funnel.
• Niche positioning (e.g., specific tech stacks, domains, or compliance problems) seen as more viable than generic “we build anything” shops.

Lifestyle patterns

• Mix of full‑time solo, part‑time freelancing, and “half‑half” alongside a day job.
• Location independence is common and celebrated; some use residencies, digital‑nomad visas, or move to lower‑cost countries.
• Several emphasize the joy of structuring each day; others value extra time with family or hobbies.

Risks, downsides, and skepticism

• Feast‑and‑famine cashflow, constant low‑grade anxiety about the next client, and difficulty truly taking vacations.
• Administrative overhead (taxes, invoicing, bookkeeping, contracts, healthcare) is widely disliked.
• Dependence on a single client is flagged as dangerous; others argue it’s unavoidable in some fields.
• Some return to salaried roles for stability, equity, health benefits, or to escape constant responsibility.
• Concerns about erosion of social safety nets when many people are classified as contractors rather than employees.

Advice and lessons shared

• Build a savings buffer, live simply, and avoid lifestyle inflation.
• Prefer B2B, clear pain points, and markets where money is already being spent.
• Specialize, develop business skills, and treat communication as a core competency.
• Maintain multiple clients over time when possible; avoid tying identity to a single product.
• Accept that progress is often slow and non‑linear; persistence over many years is common in the success stories.