Alvalyn Lundgren, Freelance Designer

Alvalyn Lundgren has been in business as a freelance designer for over 40 years. She’s always been entrepreneurial, preferring freedom of time, choice of projects, and determining her own value as a female creative and business owner to working for someone else. Independent contracting gave her the ability to profit from her creative talents. Her freelance income enabled her to purchase a home which is also home base for her business.

A single mother, she was able to be present at her child’s school and sports activities — even coaching a few teams — because her time is flexible. Full-time employment would have kept her from being available.

As a solo business owner, Alvalyn is not dependent on any one client for revenue and enjoys working on a variety of clients and projects. Because she established her own pricing structure and business policies, she can be selective about who she works with, and is not relegated to working for minimum wage, by the hour, or for the staff designer rates that are common in the design fields. The benefits and security she’s enjoyed as a self-employed freelancer far outweigh what’s offered to W2 employees. She’s become a mentor and business coach to fellow freelance creatives.

Located in California, Alvalyn witnessed firsthand the devastation caused by AB5 and its detrimental impact on solopreneurs across all sectors of the state’s economy. Although subsequent legislation “exempted” her profession from AB5 after pushback, and she was able to tweak her business and marketing strategies, clients remain wary — especially those from out of state.