Difference between Freelancer, Consultant and Entrepreneur

Key Difference: A Freelancer is someone who is essentially self-employed. He works for an employer for a short time with any long-term commitment. A consultant, on the other hand, is a professional, usually with years of experience in a field. He then works as a consultant in that particular field providing professional or expert advice Entrepreneurs are people who start their own business or company.

There was once a time in the industry when the only norm was a full-time employee. Here a person was hired for a particular job post, served the traditional 9-5 work hours and was paid a salary for the time that he was with the company. However, this scenario is now changing. Instead of the traditional 9-5, people are now more open to non-traditional working structures. Such as freelancing or consulting. In fact, some people choose to forgo working for someone else completely and turn to entrepreneurship instead. So what is the difference between a Freelancer, Consultant and Entrepreneur?

A Freelancer is someone who is essentially self-employed. He works for an employer for a short time with any long-term commitment. A Freelancer may even work for multiple employers at the same time. Freelancers may charge by the day, hour, a piece rate, or on a per-project basis.

The term, freelancer, actually originates from the medieval phrase ‘free lance’ which referred to a free knight that did not have ties to a particular kingdom. This free lance could then be hired by anyone to fight on their behalf.

Consultant

A consultant, on the other hand, is a professional, usually with years of experience in a field. He then works as a consultant in that particular field providing professional or expert advice. A consultant differs from a freelancer in one major aspect, freelancers offer deliverable, concrete and tangible goods, such as an article, a website design, a piece of music, etc. However, consultants give professional or expert advice, and generally to management.

Additionally, while freelancers usually work from home or a personal office, a consultant goes to the clients’ workplaces, assesses the situation and offers advice on how to improve or streamline, etc.

Entrepreneur

In contrast, entrepreneurs are completely different. Entrepreneurs are people who start their own business or company. They develop a business model, acquire the human and other required resources, and are fully responsible for the business’s success or failure.

The main difference between freelancer, consultant and entrepreneur is that freelancers and consultants sell themselves; their entire business is depended on themselves, as they are the core of their services. However, entrepreneurs are different. They have formed a business and/or company and once they are sure of the sustainability of the business, they can step back and let the employees manage the business, or sell it off completely for a profit.

Comparison between Freelancer, Consultant and Entrepreneur:

	Freelancer	Consultant	Entrepreneur
Definition (Merriam-Webster)	A person who pursues a profession without a long-term commitment to any one employer	A person who gives professional advice or services to companies for a fee	A person who starts a business and is willing to risk loss in order to make money. One who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise.
Payment	Freelancers may charge by the day, hour, a piece rate, or on a per-project basis.	Consultant usually charge on a per-project basis. Some may charge by the day or hour.	Earn a share of what their company or product earns.
Types	Independent contractors – the payer has the right to control or direct only the result of the work done by an independent contractor, and not the means and methods of accomplishing the result On-Call Workers – Workers called to work only as needed, although they can be scheduled to work for several days or weeks in a row Temporary Help Agency Workers – Workers paid by a temporary help agency, whether or not their job actually was temporary Workers Provided by Contract Firms –Workers employed by a company that provides them or their services to others under contract and who are usually assigned to only one customer and usually work at the customer’s worksite	Internal consultant - someone who operates within an organization but is available to be consulted on areas of specialism by other departments or individuals External consultant - someone who is employed externally, either by a firm or some other agency, whose expertise is provided on a temporary basis, usually for a fee. As such this type of consultant generally engages with multiple and changing clients.	Corporate entrepreneurship – starting a company Social entrepreneurship - pursuing innovative solutions to social problems Political entrepreneurship – founding of a new political project, group, or political party. Gaining profit through subsidies, protectionism, government contracts, or other such favorable arrangements with government(s) through political influence. Knowledge entrepreneurship - recognizing or creating an opportunity and take action aimed at realizing an innovative knowledge practice or product.
Benefits	Follow or pursue personal passions Scheduling freedom Flexibility Extra income Working from home	May need to travel for work Build up on specialty knowledge Change in workplace after every job Status in the workplace	Own boss Set guidelines for own and other’s work Decide where the company is headed
Drawbacks	Unsteady income Lack of job security No employment benefits such as a pension, sick leave, paid holidays, bonuses or health insurance Earn less than their employed counterparts	Need specialty knowledge May need to travel for work Stay away for weeks from family	Assumes all risk of company or product Must manage every aspect of the business, including the employees. Need to seek venture capital or angel funding.
Industries	Music, journalism, publishing, screenwriting, filmmaking, acting, photojournalism, cosmetics, fragrances, editing, photography, event planning, event management, copy editing, proofreading, author editing, indexing, copywriting, computer programming, web design, graphic design, website development, consulting, tour guiding, video editing, video production, translating, illustrating and micro jobs.	Security (electronic or physical), management, accountancy, law, human resources, marketing (and public relations), finance, engineering, science or any of many other specialized fields.	Any and all.