Freelancers vs. Entrepreneurs: What's in a Name?

There was a post on BrazenCareerist today that caught my mind. The author, Thomas Aylmer, talked about the difference between entrepreneurs and freelancers.

I figured since many new grads are looking at nontraditional means of careers and work, I'd tough base on it. Actually, I didn't think there was a need for such a post (his or mine) but apparently, people get confused.

In short, entrepreneurs may not be making money at any given time. But freelancers are contractors and are getting paid to do short-term gigs. The two are kind of monumentally different but everyone seems to interchange the two.

I'm a freelancer. I get paid to do copywriting and editing projects for businesses. Am I an entrepreneur? No way. I don't have an invention and I'm not trying to launch something. I'm not looking to create an organization. Freelancers are more so creating their own businesses, and then we're kind of done. Entrepreneurs, as the author says, are creating organizations bigger than themselves.

Don't even ask me to define the newest, most bad-ass term out there: solopreneur.

So whether you're looking for a full time job or you want to go nontraditional, think about what you want out of it. Don't get so caught up in what you are, or what you will be...but it is nice to know the difference.