Almost 20 percent of Italy’s workers are self-employed – close to double the EU average, and second only to Greece.
After we looked at what's driving this trend, we asked The Local’s self-employed readers to share with us the pros and cons of being self-employed in Italy.
The advantages
Software engineer Emond relocated from the Netherlands to Lucca four years ago "for the people, the weather and the food," while Glasgow native Alexander Gillan moved to northern Tuscany "for a better standard of living."
READ ALSO: Why Italy has one of Europe's highest self-employment rates
Ellie Robinson, who worked as an English teacher for ten years before transitioning to working as a translator and copywriter, came to Bologna in 2013 after graduating from an Italian Studies degree in the UK.
"I decided to move just as a temporary thing but I'm still here!" she said.
"I love living in Bologna, it has a lot to offer."
The challenges
While moving to Italy is a dream for many, readers say life as a self-employed worker here is not without its challenges.
“Unfortunately, many clients take a long time to pay, and (very) occasionally some new clients never pay,” said Alexander, who has worked as a freelance translator for over two decades.
David Murphy in Sassari, Sardinia, who also works as a translator, agreed that late payment “can be a problem,” though added he’d only ever had one client default on payment.
For the majority of readers, by far the biggest hurdle they had to overcome was setting up as a self-employed worker in the first place.
READ MORE: So you want to move to Italy and work remotely?
In Italy, this requires opening a partita Iva (VAT number) and using an electronic invoicing system.
“No one tells you how or what to do" when first using the digital invoicing system, said translator and copywriter Ellie.
“I made so many mistakes at the beginning. It was really stressful.”
David in Sardinia said he found it “surprising, and even shocking, that you can’t run a very simple one-person business without using the services of an accountant.”
“The bureaucracy is far too complicated to envisage that,” he added.
Rebecca from London, who lives in Siena and works with clients in the UK’s creative industries, was also taken aback by “how complicated the invoicing system is and how expensive accountants are.”
‘There’s always someone to help’
There was near universal agreement among readers, however, that the services of an accountant – known in Italy as a commercialista – are indispensable.
“It is impossible to have a business without one in Italy,” said Helen Burgess, a management consultant and trainer in Lazio.
READ ALSO: ‘Do your homework’: Essential advice for self-employed workers in Italy
Ellie in Bologna said her life became significantly easier once she started using an online accounting platform (in her case, Fiscozen).
“You can invoice and immediately be in contact with your accountant or there is an online chat where there's always someone to help,” she said.
David in Sassari has also found that his accountant is “always willing to help if I have any problems,” adding that “once you have the electronic invoicing system set up, it’s straightforward.”
Having done this job for “many years”, he believes life as a freelancer in Italy has become easier over time.
“The bureaucracy has gradually become less burdensome, and the forfettario regime has significantly reduced taxes,” he said.
READ ALSO: Everything you need to know about getting Italy’s partita IVA
So if you’re on the fence about whether to move to Italy as a self-employed worker, is it worth taking the plunge?
"You should bear in mind that your pension will be meagre and you don’t get any holiday or sickness benefits,” David cautioned.
“You’re unlikely to get rich but you will have the satisfaction of being your own boss if you enjoy what you do.”
Comments