[ryanSrich]

It's safe but it's also exponentially more difficult than starting a startup.

The amount of connections one would need to start a business tomorrow generating $500k in annual profits is insurmountable.

Being a successful consulting agency or freelancer is attainable in two ways:

1. Know a lot of people at a lot of very large companies that are willing to throw you a bunch of work.

2. Build up clientele for a very long time making no money until you hit critical mass.

When I was freelancing it was one of the worst experiences of my life, so of course I'm bias. But I want readers to know that there are 2 sides to every coin.

[halcyondaze]

Exponentially more difficult than starting a startup? No shit, all you have to do to start a startup is say you started one and give a vague semblance of the idea.

[ryanSrich]

In more concrete terms; I'd say it's harder to gross $100k as a freelancer than it is to raise a $6 m+ Series A.

[knughit]

You need a Bootstrap website too.