When the switch makes sense
When your freelance income has been steady but capped. When you want health benefits / equity / a manager. When you’re tired of selling yourself every quarter. When you want one big problem to focus on instead of many small ones.
How to position freelance experience
Treat your freelance work as employment on your CV. "Independent Engineer, 2022–2026" with bullets on 3–4 named client outcomes (paraphrased if NDAs). Recruiters are more comfortable with this format than "freelancer."
What to expect from the change
More meetings. Less control over what you build. Slower pace (full-time roles have more dependencies). Better stability, benefits, often higher equity-adjusted compensation. Less ability to take 2 weeks off whenever.
Pitfalls
Don’t take the first offer just because it’s a job — your alternative (freelancing) is real. Negotiate just as you would client work. Don’t mention freelance "side hustles" in interviews unless asked — most full-time employers want commitment.