The importance of a strong legal framework can never be under estimated when establishing a relationship with a customer. What are we talking about? The key fundamental within business, a contract of course! If you’re mad enough to be working for any customers under a loose agreement or worse still a verbal agreement, stop and get it on paper straight away!
I’m sure many of you reading this may have already been ‘bitten on the bum’ by a customer who changed the ‘agreed’ job and terms half way through and I guess you quite probably spent a lot of money creating a contractor agreement for your next customer so it didn’t happen again!
The team at Freelance Advisor did of course consider using the trusty In-house Lawyer at our sponsors at Crunch to produce a range of rock solid contracts. But we came up with a much better idea, we’ve found one of the best collections of legal contracts for freelancers and contractors out there, those provided by the Professional Contractors Group (PCG).
For as little as £120+VAT per annum the PCG provide a selection of free contracts for their members as well as the total reassurance that they will stick by you in the event that the Inland Revenue take you to court, say for a IR-35 violation.
There’s a whole host of services offered by PCG, as well as Professional Indemnity Insurance services, and if the fact that I joined immediately on becoming a freelancer isn’t enough (Member 55278) then all I can say is just do it!
Here are a few more reasons why Freelance Advisor recommend the PCG:
PCG provide a range of contracts that can be used for direct relationships with clients or relationships via Agencies but do bear in mind most agencies are likely to have their own contracts.
The selection of draft contracts are vetted by experts in commercial, employment and tax law.
Normally popping down to your local lawyer for a contract of this nature will cost you between £150-£200 and of course they will need to be familiar with the complications of IR-35.
Note: that full access to contracts is only available to members
Freelance Advisor Recommends
We recommend joining the PGC without delay. The most appropriate membership, for a freelancer it’s normally a single fee earner package. See the PCG membership page for the packacge that suits you.
I have recently come across your site, and it’s proving very useful, however I need some slightly different advice. I am a fashion designer and I have a full time job. I have recently taken on some freelance work with a company based in Singapore and I’d like a contract to make sure everything is legally binding, we are both happy and I get paid on time! I have drawn a brief one up, but I need a solicitor to look it over. Do you know how/where I can do this without paying £120 per hour? I would also appreciate any advice on other legal issues I may require. I saw your link to the PCG, but I do not think it’s worth me joining as I am not a full-time freelancer.
Your help on this issue would be greatly appreciated.
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For as little as £120+VAT per annum the PCG provide a selection of free contracts for their members as well as the total reassurance that they will stick by you in the event that the Inland Revenue take you to court, say for a IR-35 violation.
Nov 11, 2008
at 1:37 pm
I have recently come across your site, and it’s proving very useful, however I need some slightly different advice. I am a fashion designer and I have a full time job. I have recently taken on some freelance work with a company based in Singapore and I’d like a contract to make sure everything is legally binding, we are both happy and I get paid on time! I have drawn a brief one up, but I need a solicitor to look it over. Do you know how/where I can do this without paying £120 per hour? I would also appreciate any advice on other legal issues I may require. I saw your link to the PCG, but I do not think it’s worth me joining as I am not a full-time freelancer.
Your help on this issue would be greatly appreciated.
Aug 24, 2009
at 9:45 am
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