self-employed

If someone is self-employed, they earn money by working for themselves rather than by receiving a regular wage or salary from an employer. They may own a business, work alone, or provide services directly to clients and customers. In simple terms, they are their own boss.

This can describe many kinds of work. A photographer who books clients directly, a carpenter who takes private jobs, a shop owner who runs a family store, or a consultant who works with several companies can all be self-employed. Some people work alone, while others may hire staff and still remain self-employed because they own and run the business.

Being self-employed often gives a person more freedom. They may set their own schedule, choose the kind of work they want to do, and build something that belongs to them. At the same time, it also brings more responsibility. They usually have to find customers, keep records, pay taxes, and deal with slow periods on their own.

In everyday English, the phrase is commonly used when talking about jobs, taxes, business life, and official forms. Someone might say, "My mother is self-employed and runs a small catering business," or "He became self-employed after leaving his office job." The idea is always the same: the person is working under their own control, not as a standard employee of someone else.