Some businesses might not understand the kind of work that freelancers do. Much of the news to do with the gig economy and freelance working is directed at the likes of Uber or Deliveroo, and businesses may not understand that the term “freelancing” applies to many different types of work.
Businesses also might wrongly have the idea that freelancers are unreliable due to not having supervision, or could do the work and move on.
To break down this barrier, you could provide your employer with a contract outlining an agreement for the work that you will be undertaking. This will give your employer the peace of mind that they will receive an end product or output. You could also ask for feedback upon completion of the project. This gives you a chance to reflect on your work and use positive feedback to get more work for yourself, but it can also make your employer feel like there is more to the relationship than the end result.