Working 9-to-5 becoming a less-popular way to make a living

NEW YORK -- If you want an income, or you're an employer looking for help, it may be time to scrap the idea of the traditional 9-to-5 arrangement.

For workers, it's become easier and less risky to go solo. Affordable health insurance plans, which kept many workers shackled to traditional jobs, are more accessible because of the Affordable Care Act. And companies are increasingly open to hiring freelancers and independent contractors. Many say independent workers bring fresh ideas without the long-term commitment.

An industry dedicated to serving the companies that offer freelance and contract work and the people who fill those openings is growing. Gigs can be found at a number of websites, such as Upwork.com and Freelancer.com, or through hiring services that connect professional freelancers and companies. And companies that provide shared rented office space, such as WeWork, let freelancers mingle with fellow contractors.

In 2013, 23 million people were self-employed, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That's up 1.2 percent from the year before and up about 24 percent from 2003. That number doesn't count self-employed people who also may hire employees.

"This isn't going away," said Brooke Borgen, co-owner of Canopy Advisory Group, a hiring company for freelancers in Denver. She started the business five years ago with co-owner Griffen O'Shaughnessy. They observed companies needed a way to access independent workers, while friends and colleagues were telling them they wanted to find ways to balance their work and personal lives.

"More and more people want to have ownership over their career," Borgen said.

Henry W. Brown ditched his fledging advertising career 11 years ago, sick of spending 15 hours a day at work and having "no life." Now he works 30 hours a week, juggling about four projects a year, and earns a salary in the six figures designing websites and apps. Brown has time for two-hour yoga sessions, midday bike rides around his New York City neighborhood and lunch dates with friends. He also has more time for passion projects: He spent a month at an elephant sanctuary in Thailand this year, and he started a Facebook page called TheDogmatic, posting photos of dogs in shelters to help get them adopted. He never plans to work for just one employer again.

"Everything about an office was such a waste of time to me," he said.

When Brown first went freelance, he emailed companies, asking for work. Now, most comes from referrals. Sometimes he checks in with a hiring agency.

"I'm not clamoring for work," Brown said. "I can be picky and choosy with what I do."

Depending on the industry, the work can be lucrative. Business Talent Group connects independent workers with companies. Its contractors can make between $1,500 and $2,500 a day, said CEO Jody Miller. Most have a master's degree and at least 10 years working experience, she said. They can be hired by companies to help launch new products, research investments or other tasks.

Companies weren't always so thrilled about hiring freelancers, said Allison Hemming, CEO of New York staffing company The Hired Guns. When she started the company 15 years ago, companies would say, "if they were that good, they would have a job," Hemming said.

That's changed. "The concept of freelancers as slackers is completely over," Hemming said.

Spex, a company that makes software and apps used for home inspections, turned to Canopy Advisory Group to find a part-time publicist. CEO Brett Goldberg said he didn't have to post a job description, sift through resumes or conduct interviews, saving him time and money.

At food company Cargill, Michael Balay hires independent contractors with specialized skills to manage projects, such as combining groups of workers inside the company. Balay, who is a vice president of strategy and business development, increasingly has turned to hiring agencies.

"It cuts the search and qualification time down," Balay said. "It's way easier now."

Stephen Wunker left a consulting firm in 2009 to spend more time with his children. Wunker and his partners started New Markets Advisors and are hired by companies to come up with business plans or create a growth strategy.

He still works 40 to 80 hours a week, but his schedule is more flexible. He can take days off whenever he wants and spends about a month a year working from Ecuador.

"I have a dramatically better lifestyle," he said.

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Pros, cons of freelancing

Thinking of making the leap to freelance or hiring a freelancer? Here are pros and cons to keep in mind:

For freelancers

Pros

• More control over the work you do.
• Flexible schedule.
• The possibility of making more money.

Cons

• You*'re responsible for finding the next job.
• Need to figure out health insurance, retirement savings and taxes. Must also keep track of payments from gigs.
• Not having co-workers can get lonely.

For companies

Pros

• Independent contractors bring fresh ideas without paying a full salary and benefits.
• Contractors can focus on one problem or issue.
• Hiring companies can vet contractors, saving time and money.

Cons

• If a company likes an independent contractor, it may be hard to get him or her to stay or work full-time hours.
• The contractor might not be a match and could take time and additional money to find a replacement.

*-- Associated Press