Being Autónomo in Spain: Is It Worth It?

As I enter my final week of being “autónoma”— AKA a freelancer, or sole trader — I’ve been reflecting with friends and family on my experience with this way of working. My two years as a sole trader have been instructive and have given me insight into a way of working (and living) that I was previously unfamiliar with. 

Many foreigners coming to live in Spain will be faced with the prospect of being autónomo. The combination of (relatively) low wages, few job prospects, and visa requirements makes working for yourself the only viable option for many newcomers. However, it’s worth knowing the challenges you’ll face as an autónomo in Spain before you dive in to make the best possible choices for you and your family.

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My Experience As an Autónoma

I was recruited in May 2023 as an outsourced copywriter in an agency based in LA. Their business model involved recruiting employees in “low-wage” countries to reduce their payroll while offering flexible, remote, and (for many) relatively lucrative work. This model is a win-win situation for foreign nationals living in countries where the American dollar goes a long way. This was exactly my case when I started with the company two years ago, a time when I was living in La Paz, Bolivia.

However, my prospects changed somewhat when I moved back to Spain at the end of 2023. Though the idea remained the same, my salary simply didn’t stretch as far in San Sebastián as it did in La Paz. It was then that the true reality of life as an autónoma hit me.

Pros of My Life as an Autónoma

There are many good reasons why so many people end up as autónomos. These include:

Self-Determination

Life as an autónomo isn’t for the faint-hearted as it requires a fair amount of hustle. Ultimately, you get what you give in a career as a freelancer. More work doesn’t always translate to greater success or money in the bank. However, it does inevitably lead to more contacts, more potential leads, and more avenues to explore. 

For many, this idea of self-determination drives their motivation as freelancers. You depend on nobody but yourself and see the fruits of your labour at the end of each month. Freelancing is certainly a motivator to put yourself out there and do what’s required to reach your goals. You’re answerable to yourself and your goals.

Flexibility

The greatest pro for me has been the incredible flexibility I’ve enjoyed the last two years. This certainly isn’t the case for every autónomo, as many will work typical office hours (and many more!) However, I write this reflection on a Monday at 11am on the train to Madrid, happy in the knowledge that I’m free to take this time to relax and disconnect when it suits me. No programming time off months in advance or calling in every time I have a medical appointment is definitely a plus!

Independent Work

For many workers, the constant pressure of being micromanaged in the office is enough to send them running to the hills (and a life of freelancing). Being a sole trader is a liberating experience as it allows you to be your own boss. This also gives you the chance to to work with the clients that suit you, not the company. This experience has been valuable for me and it’s developed the way I advocate for myself, set boundaries, and assert myself as a worker.

Cons of My Life as an Autónoma

The Cost

As any autónomo will tell you, the cost of life as a sole trader in Spain is perhaps the biggest drawback. It’s true that the costs pale into insignificance if you’re raking money in. However, if what you're making could be considered a fairly normal salary for Spain, the costs are certainly a hard pill to swallow. Once you factor in the 300 euro + “cuota de autónomos”, which essentially pays your social security, you withhold 21% of your bills aside for taxes, and pay your accountant, sometimes it feels you’re left with very little to play with for the rest of the month.

Be aware that newcomers to freelance life pay a greatly reduced “cuota de autónomos”, which works out to around 86 euros per month. This can be extended by another year if you request it. This gives you a couple of years to establish yourself or your business and hopefully start to earn an income that justifies the other costs.

The Lifestyle

The flipside of the independence freelance life gives you is the feeling of never truly disconnecting from your job. This feeling often comes to the fore when discussing your plans “at the weekend” or “for the bank holiday”. More often than not, these concepts mean little to me as freelance work doesn’t answer to concepts like public holidays. 

Though there’s freedom in the chance to take time off when it suits, it can feel oppressive to live without a clear distinction between work and rest time. This is my personal experience of freelancing, but it certainly won’t be the same for everyone. Establishing clear work hours and a routine should help others establish a healthier balance between work and home life.

Instability

Perhaps the worst aspect of freelancing is the lack of precarity that comes with it. With no contract, and nothing to oblige clients to keep you on, you live from month to month without the security a fixed pay cheque awards you. Some will say that this is the best motivator there is to keep hustling. However, sound financial planning is made much more difficult without the certainty knowing how much you have coming in gives you.

Freelancing and Bank Loans in Spain

Working as a freelancer also puts you in a significantly worse position to ask for a mortgage. Banks (understandably) respond to stability and predictability; just the opposite of what autónomos offer! Imagine my surprise when my partner and I approached the bank for a mortgage in early 2025 and were told that he alone was a better candidate than both of us together! When I asked them to review our situation when I signed my new contract, I was allowed onto the mortgage and was told the amount they could give us had been raised by 120,000!

 This of course is only one example — and many freelancers successfully ask for mortgages every day — but it’s certainly a factor to take into account.

So What’s the Verdict?

The potential downsides of freelancing shouldn’t put people with drive and a great business idea off chasing their dream. There’s certainly a lot to be gained from successful ventures, and the costs involved will become less significant as you earn more over the years.

However, if you’re earning a smaller amount without much scope for significant growth over the years, it may be worth exploring different options. This is because the security and financial benefits are greater when working as a salaried employee.

Ultimately though, the motivations behind working as an autónomo are multifaceted. Studying your options, getting sound financial advice, and taking advantage of all the resources open to you as a freelancer are the best ways to ensure a prosperous future in your solo venture.