This article has been published in 3 parts.

To read the previous article click here for the 1st article and here for the 2nd one in their English versions.

How to become a freelance CRA? (Part 3)

What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a freelance clinical research associate?

Happy like a CRA freelance

The advantages when you want to become a CRA freelance:

• A better wage (you double or even triple the simple employee salary)
• Working time management flexibility (no need to schedule holidays 6 months in advance, you just inform customers a few time in advance for any absence and you can take as much vacation as you wish, not fixed schedules, you can go shopping during the day)
• Greater flexibility in the tasks and customers choice,
• The fact that we are the only one that operates in our company.

The disadvantages of this status:

CRA freelance stress

The disadvantages when one would like to become a freelance CRA:

• Precariousness (no unemployment compensation, no missions = no money = no help of the employment center)
• We must ensure our own training (although when one is employed, he/she has internal training) and have regular knowledge update,
• We are in charge of our own professional insurance,
• We are in charge of paying our own taxes,
• Customer payments deadlines. We must follow these billings and regularly remind our customers,
• No lunch vouchers,
• No working environment (you work alone at home)
• Administrative problems with the SSSLP (social security scheme for liberal professionals) the IFPPI (inter-professional fund provident and pension insurance) and with the URSSFA (the union for the recovery of social security and family allowances)
• Accounting. You can do it yourself or hire an accountant. However, when you did science studies, you have generally little accounting concepts so I recommend calling the accountant who costs between 1200 and 2700 euros / year.
• It is difficult to rent an apartment because you do not have a salary slip and getting a bank loan requires generally three years of seniority.

While reading this article you will think that there are much more disadvantages to be freelance CRA than employee. However, if all goes well…. It’s a real treat!

For more information on business start up, visit the Amazon website to buy the next guides:

These guides were really useful for me in the beginning fo my status’s choice. They are complete and have relevant advices. And are available in French version.

You can also visit the APCE website where you will find further information.

This article is published in three parts.

All you ever wanted to know about the profession of freelance clinical research associate (part 2)

All you ever wanted to know about the profession of freelance clinical research associate (part 1)

Click the English version.

If you have additional information about it, please, put your comment below for the readers,

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Vanessa Montanari,

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Vanessa Montanari