Self-employment is earning income without being employed and paid by someone else. Self-employed persons may be involved in a variety of occupations but generally are highly skilled at a particular kind of work. Writers, tradespeople, freelancers, traders/investors, lawyers, salespeople, and insurance agents all may be self-employed. Self-employment isn't like being a traditional worker because self-employed individuals aren't tied to an employer. Being self-employed gives people flexibility but comes with certain tax implications.