Pros & Cons of Being an Independent Caregiver

 

Being an independent caregiver can have many benefits, but there are also drawbacks. To determine if it is the ideal lifestyle for you we have broken down some of the major pros and cons of being an independent contractor.

 

Pros of Being an Independent Caregiver

 

1. Earn more money.

You have the potential to earn much more money. Most caregivers who are hired through franchise agencies earn less than $10 an hour. When you decide to become an independent caregiver, you can set your own rate. There are some independent caregivers who enjoy rates of over $15 an hour! And that little five dollar difference can equate to over $10,000 more annually.

 

2. You are the boss.

If you decide to work independently you are in charge. As an independent caregiver, you can decide everything for yourself, like where you work, who you work for, and what you make. That sort of flexibility is nearly impossible to achieve when you work for a typical senior care agency.

 

3. Tax benefits.

You have a lot of flexibility with your taxes when you work independently. When you work for an employer, taxes are automatically taken out of each paycheck. But when you are an independent caregiver you can hold onto that money if you need to. You can pay your taxes all at once, or break them into estimated quarterly payments. You can also write off a great deal of what you spend money on – all travel to and from a client’s home, scrubs, gloves, and cleaning supplies are considered business expenses. Just be sure to track your mileage and keep your receipts!

 

 

Cons of Being an Independent Caregiver

 

1. No employer intervention.

Often when you work for an agency you can ask your employer to handle a difficult client for you. But when you work independently, you are completely on your own. You must learn how to have difficult conversations with clients which can be uncomfortable depending on the situation. It is always a good idea to have an exit strategy when dealing with a potential client.

 

1. No worker’s compensation or insurance.

If you get injured on the job, that comes out of your own pocket. Any time you must take off due to this injury will decrease the number of hours you are able to work and the money you are able to make. Additionally, in the rare circumstance that a client should feel the need to sue, the legal fees would come out of your own pocket. This is why many independent caregivers get their own general liability policy to cover themselves in the case of emergency.

 

1. No guaranteed employment.

While you have the opportunity to earn more as an independent caregiver, you also have the risk of working less hours if you are unable to attract clients to your profile. To be successful as an independent caregiver, you need to constantly promote yourself to potential clients. The number of bookings you get is entirely dependent on your ability to successfully interview and get hired. For many caregivers finding work is easy, and it is made even easier through Caregogi. For those who are uncomfortable acquiring their own clients, it might be difficult to thrive as an independent caregiver.

 

Make the right choice for you.

While there are some draw backs, there are so many benefits to working independently. Know that working as an independent caregiver can be extremely rewarding if you do it the right way. Learn the best tips and tricks to making the most out of your independent career by following Caregogi on Facebook. We post advice catered to independent caregivers every week.