What Freelancers Union does

Freelancers Union, Inc. is a nonprofit membership organization founded in 1995 and headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, serving independent workers across all 50 U.S. states. The organization operates as an advocacy, education, and benefits aggregator rather than a technology platform, delivering value through a portfolio of free programs: the Freelancers Hub (a NYC-based co-working and event space), SPARK meetup chapters in approximately 25 cities, a free Contract Creator tool, a Legal Clinic operated through its 501(c)(3) affiliate Working Today, the Freelancer Survival Guide publication, and the Freelance Isn't Free advocacy campaign that has produced enforceable freelancer protection statutes in NYC (2017), Los Angeles, Illinois, Minnesota, and statewide New York (August 2024), with additional jurisdictions in process. Member scale is reported at 500,000+ across the U.S., out of an addressable population of 60-61 million independent workers.

The business model is dual-pronged. Unrestricted funding comes from donations processed through Working Today, the organization's 501(c)(3) charitable arm. Commercial revenue is generated through insurance referral commissions from partner platforms — Solo Health Collective (nationwide PPO health plans), Catch (federal/state marketplace), Galileo Medical (24/7 telehealth at $229/year), and Opolis (W-2 employment platform with $400 member discount) — when members elect to purchase partner products. Membership itself is free, and pricing on partner products is set by carriers rather than Freelancers Union, positioning the organization as an aggregator rather than a direct insurer.

Distribution is primarily digital via freelancersunion.org (available in English, Spanish, and Simplified Chinese), supported by the NYC Freelancers Hub and SPARK regional chapters. Marketing relies on content (multilingual blog, weekly newsletter), organic social media, SEO, advocacy-driven PR, and community events. The organization reports no proprietary technology platform and operates with 51-100 employees, reflecting a community-and-advocacy operating model rather than a software/SaaS one.

Name

Freelancers Union

Legal name

Freelancers Union, Inc.

Website

https://freelancersunion.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Freelancers Union is a 501(c)(3)-affiliated nonprofit founded in 1995 that serves 500,000+ U.S. independent workers through advocacy (including the Freelance Isn't Free Act), community programs (NYC Freelancers Hub, SPARK meetups in ~25 cities), and curated insurance partnerships (Solo Health, Catch, Galileo, Opolis).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Freelancer advocacy and benefits organization

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Contractor Benefits & Perks Administration (BPACAGAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Agent of Record (AOR) / Contractor Engagement Services (BPACAGAB)

Keywords

• Freelancer advocacy services
• Independent worker benefits
• Self-employment resources
• Freelancer community support
• Freelance rights advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership Contributions: As a nonprofit, Freelancers Union is funded primarily through donations from its members and supporters. Membership is free. Donations are processed through Working Today Inc., the organization's 501(c)(3) affiliate, and are tax-deductible.
2. Insurance Commissions and Referrals: Freelancers Union earns referral/commission revenue by directing members to insurance products through partner carriers (Solo Health, Catch, Galileo, Guardian Dental). When members purchase insurance through the union's partners, the organization receives compensation that supports its advocacy work.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Freelancers Union is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization that provides advocacy, education, and access to benefits for more than 500,000 independent workers and freelancers across the United States. Its core offerings include free community and workspace resources (Freelancers Hub, SPARK meetups), curated insurance and benefits access through partner carriers, free legal and tax clinics, online tools such as a Contract Creator, and policy advocacy campaigns such as the Freelance Isn't Free Act.

Product overview

Freelancers Union is a nonprofit membership organization (501(c)(3) via its affiliate Working Today) serving independent workers across all 50 U.S. states through advocacy, community, education, and curated benefits access. Rather than a unified software platform, the organization offers a portfolio of free resources and programs: the Freelancers Hub (NYC community space), SPARK Meetups (25-city networking chapters), a Contract Creator tool, the Freelance Isn't Free advocacy campaign, the Longest Invoice tracker, insurance brokerage partnerships (Solo Health, Catch, Galileo, Opolis), a Legal Clinic, Tax Center, Freelancing 101 guides, and the Freelancer Survival Guide publication. Membership is free and open to all freelancers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Freelancers Hub Free coworking workspace and resource center in New York City offering workshops, free legal and tax clinics, and community programming for independent workers.
• SPARK Meetups Volunteer-led small gatherings (in-person and virtual) connecting independent workers for networking, support, and community building.
• Contract Creator Free online tool that helps freelancers generate customized service contracts for use with clients.
• Freelance Isn't Free Campaign Advocacy campaign that promotes the Freelance Isn't Free Act and related protections to help freelancers collect unpaid wages from clients.
• Longest Invoice Campaign Public campaign that tracks and highlights the most extreme cases of unpaid freelance invoices to pressure clients and raise awareness.
• Insurance Access (Multi-Carrier Aggregation) Aggregated benefits marketplace connecting Freelancers Union members to health, dental, and disability insurance from partner carriers such as Solo Health, Catch, Galileo, and Opolis.
• Legal Clinic Free legal consultation service for freelancers, accessible online and via the Freelancers Hub in NYC.
• Tax Center Resource hub providing tax-related guidance, tools, and consultation support for independent workers.
• Freelancing 101 Educational program introducing independent workers to the fundamentals of running a freelance business.
• Freelancer Survival Guide 2025 Annual report-style publication providing data, trends, and resources for the U.S. independent workforce.

Quantifiable outcome

• 61% of freelancers who filed complaints with NYC OLPS under Freelance Isn't Free received payment within 90 days; 90% received the complete amount owed.
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered key, core and secondary.

• NYC City CouncilkeyOthers · 25 September 2025NYC City Council provided generous funding for the 2025 Freelancer Survival Guide, published by Working Today, the nonprofit arm of Freelancers Union. The guide profiles 30 of NYC's top freelancers and is distributed at the Freelancers Hub and elected officials' offices.
• NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD)keyOthers · 25 September 2025NYC DYCD co-funded the 2025 Freelancer Survival Guide alongside the City Council, as part of Working Today's mission to support independent workers in New York City.
• Working TodaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking Today is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit affiliate of Freelancers Union. It administers the organization's donations, operates programs such as the Freelancers Hub and Freelancer Survival Guide, and serves as the legal vehicle for tax-deductible contributions. The two organizations work hand-in-hand to provide advocacy, community, and resources to freelancers.
• Solo Health Collective (Solo)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSolo Health Collective provides nationwide PPO health insurance plans to Freelancers Union members. Solo offers deductible-only health plans with affordable monthly premiums, full preventive care coverage, and year-round enrollment. The partnership targets healthy freelancers and self-employed individuals seeking cost-effective health coverage.
• CatchcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCatch is a health insurance marketplace partner that helps Freelancers Union members compare and enroll in federal and state marketplace plans. Catch identifies tax credits and government subsidies to reduce members' premiums from Day 1. Available to members seeking health coverage through the marketplace.
• Galileo (Galileo Medical)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerGalileo is a 24/7 telehealth partner offering Freelancers Union members unlimited medical consultations for $229/year with zero copays and zero deductibles. Add-on Galileo Medical Plus includes dental, vision, and prescription discounts. Galileo provides on-demand primary, specialty, and urgent care via video or chat.
• OpolissecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerOpolis is an employment platform that enables freelancers to access W-2 employment benefits including group health insurance, retirement savings, payroll tax compliance, and income verification. Freelancers Union members receive a $400 discount on the $497 lifetime membership fee. Opolis replicates traditional W-2 employment security for the self-employed.
• Healthy Business Group (HBG)coreTechnology or IntegrationHealthy Business Group (HBG) is the team behind Solo Health Collective. HBG is described as passionate about making the benefits landscape easier for freelancers, providing concierge support and virtual-first care options through the Solo platform.
• UpworksecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFreelancers Union and Upwork co-produced the Freelancing in America study, which reveals that 57 million Americans (35% of the workforce) freelanced, contributing nearly $1 trillion (5% of GDP) to the economy. This joint research partnership establishes Freelancers Union as a leading voice on freelance economy data.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Deel: Deel is a global EOR and contractor management platform serving independent workers with payroll, benefits, and compliance. Comparable to Freelancers Union as both serve freelancers' need for portable benefits and engagement, though Deel is a venture-backed software platform rather than a nonprofit.
• Remote: Remote provides global employment, payroll, and benefits infrastructure for contractors and employees. It addresses the same portable-benefits gap Freelancers Union curates through partners, but as a paid SaaS platform rather than a community-led nonprofit.
• eHealth: eHealth is an established online health insurance marketplace serving individuals, families, and small businesses including the self-employed. It competes with Freelancers Union's Catch and Solo partnerships for the freelancer insurance buyer.

Direct peers

• Opolis: Opolis is both a partner of Freelancers Union and a direct comparable: it provides W-2 employment services (health, retirement, payroll, income verification) for independent workers via a membership model with a lifetime fee plus a 1% community fee—directly competing for the same freelancer benefits wallet.
• Stride Health: Stride Health is an insurance marketplace and benefits platform purpose-built for self-employed and freelance workers. It offers health, dental, and other coverage via partner carriers, directly mirroring Freelancers Union's curated insurance referral model.
• Catch: Catch is a health insurance marketplace partner of Freelancers Union and a direct competitor in the freelancer benefits category—helping self-employed workers compare plans, claim subsidies, and enroll in coverage through similar carrier relationships.
• Galileo: Galileo is a primary-care and telehealth subscription service offered through Freelancers Union's insurance partners, competing head-to-head for the same independent-worker healthcare dollar with a $229/yr member subscription.
• National Domestic Workers Alliance: NDWA is the largest U.S. nonprofit advocating for and organizing domestic and independent workers through policy, benefits access, and chapter-based community—structurally the closest nonprofit analog to Freelancers Union's advocacy-and-community model.
• Coworker.org: Coworker.org is a nonprofit tech and advocacy platform that helps workers organize and campaign for policy changes. It shares Freelancers Union's member-driven advocacy approach and target audience of non-traditional workers.

Emerging players

• Mbrella: Mbrella is a benefits platform tailored to gig and independent contractors in Europe, offering portable health and social protections. It is an emerging international analog of the curated-benefits approach Freelancers Union deploys via partners in the U.S.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/freelancersu
• Facebookfacebook.com/freelancersunion
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/freelancers-union

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Freelancers Union