Is there a difference between a Freelancer and a Contractor?

[PAH]

Mmmmmmmmmmmm.

Purple hair.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm.

I remember the red hair (from the very first episode, along with the dentistry ) but not the purple. I read she got through quite a lot of wigs though, and each cost something like 5k a piece. Seems a bit of a waste of budget seeing as she looks mighty fine in her natural brunette form.

If only all freelancers were so hot.

[Sysman]

In my experience freelancer refers to those who tend to work from home at their own schedule, bid on small projects, etc; contractor is more typically someone engaged to work on site or at least on a more typical working week.

But it's all rather woolly.

Another definition. Freelancer means self employed. Contractor means LtdCo or brolly.

But the former depends on rates and what accountants advise.

[SueEllen]

Dictionary definition-
Contractor has a contract to sell/provide goods or services
Freelancer sells/provides goods or services without any long term commitment

[Mushroombump]

Thank you very much for all of you're replies. I like the idea that a Freelancer is someone who works for various clients for a very short period of time, and usually from home/their office. And a Contractor is more of a long-term project based person.

[PAH]

Thank you very much for all of you're replies. I like the idea that a Freelancer is someone who works for various clients for a very short period of time, and usually from home/their office. And a Contractor is more of a long-term project based person.

Trouble with that is that many (most in my case) contracts have started as short term (i.e. typically an initial 3 month contract) that are then extended to well over a year, at 3 month intervals.

So when you think about it like that contractors are the 'leet' and the freelancers are those that aren't good enough to be kept on for longer for other projects/work.

[d000hg]

I see it as contractors are hired for a time period, and freelancers are hired for a specific piece (or going pieces) of work. So a freelancer may well find they have a week of 12-hour days then a few days with nothing to do (and no pay).