Alick Mighall | Marketing Yourself,Starting Out
If you have a great idea for a business, service or a website, one thing you’ll want to do is to secure an appropriate domain name as soon as you can. This is a good idea. Domain names are inexpensive, so it doesn’t matter if you buy the name in advance of starting work on [...]
Michael Rose | Accountancy & Tax,Starting Out
Continuing our Freelance Stories series we talk to artworker and print production pro Bill Greenwood.
After 20-years working for top design studios Bill has decided to go it alone and tells us what it is like to start your own Limited Company.
Mel Dixon | Managing Business,Starting Out
For some people forming a business plan may seem a rather intimidating prospect because ultimately it will reveal whether your business idea is a realistic proposition. And if it turns out it’s not? Well, you’ve just wasted your time haven’t you? Err… not really.
Based on what you’ve discovered you can then either alter your plan or come away from the experience wiser for it. It’s a ‘win-win thing!’
Ed Hopson | Managing Business,Starting Out
I have always been interested in running a project/small business outside of my 9 to 5 full-time job. Something that I can grow in my spare time and that has the potential to grow and then become my main source of income! Talking with friends, I was given a copy of Emma Jone‘s Working 5 to 9 – How to start a successful business in your spare time — Great timing!
Emma Jones | Starting Out,Working From Home
A recent feature in The Guardian ran with the headline: ‘Graduates warned of record 70 applicants for every job’ The next line went: ‘Class of 2010 told to consider flipping burgers or shelf stacking to build skills’.
Was I the only one thinking flipping burgers and shelf stacking is a flippin’ great way to earn part-time income whilst building a business? For all graduates considering self-employment, here are five tips along with stories of those who’ve been there and done it.
Michael Rose | News,Starting Out
Despite cuts across the board, overall, UK business is seeing a positive change thanks to the new Government. Tax breaks, including extended relief on the increase in Capital Gains Tax and National Insurance have been introduced and support for SMEs has been very positive.
To mark the importance of SMEs, The Startups Awards 2010 have added a Home Business of the Year category to their annual awards.
Michael Rose | Employment,Starting Out
An inspiring case study in the Guardian this week telling how Chris Clarke, a former financial controller, used Freelance jobs site PeoplePerHour.com to get back into business as a book-keeper.
Chris, a victim of the recession, was made redundant when his employer had to cut-costs so he went it alone and setup his own business. To find more clients, he has been attending events at his local chamber of commerce and using websites like PeoplePerHour.com where he can advertise his services.
Emma Jones | Managing Business,Starting Out
Emma Jones believes in starting a business and then finding and focusing on your niche.
But what happens when you feel the niche audience you’ve chosen could be restricting in view of its size? Then it’s time to expand your product range, as opposed to extending your niche.
Emma explains how…
Leif Kendall | Starting Out,Training
John Williams believes that work doesn’t have be a chore. After itching for something more than the corporate 9 to 5, John went independent and discovered the joys of being paid for things he would happily do for free. John’s interests and work eventually led him to coach other aspiring players.
Freelance copywriter Leif Kendall takes a look at the advice on offer.
Emma Jones | Managing Business,Starting Out
Whether you’re thinking of an idea to start off in business or mulling over how to grow, Emma Jones suggests ideas will come from asking five straight questions.
What would you do if someone out of the blue gave you £100 to spend on your business?
A competition from Enterprise Nation & PayPal asks you to come up with the best way of spending £100 on your respective businesses. The top 100 ideas will win the money, giving you the opportunity to put your plans into action.
What advice can you act on when starting out as a freelancer?
Internet Consultant and Developer Alick Mighall shares his advice on the circumstances, principles and practices you’ll need to help you manage big clients.
Emma Jones | Starting Out,Working From Home
There are over 5 million people doing it and today a book is launched to help many more follow in their footsteps. We’re talking about ‘Working 5 to 9’ which involves holding down a day job and building a business at nights and weekends. The book’s author, Freelance Advisor Emma Jones, offers 8 steps showing how you can do the same.
A wonderful talk on Surviving as a Freelancer from Brighton-based freelancer Anna Debenham
Well worth a watch if you’re starting out in freelancing.
Freelance Advisor and Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones has returned with a new book which works as an indispensable guide to starting a business in your spare time.
Working 5 to 9 is the follow up to Emma’s best-selling debut Spare Room Start Up and taps in to the modern day phenomenon of people starting businesses at the end of their ‘employed’ working day.
Darren Fell | Starting Out,Training
Digital veteran Darren Fell, founder of Pure360.com and the ground breaking online accountancy service Crunch.co.uk, shares his experience in Personal Branding for freelancers – marketing YOU to generate leads
This interactive lecture is now over, however slide of the event are available below.
The Farm‘s Paul Silver talks freelancing; getting started, working for clients, finding work and staying alive.
Yesterday Brighton’s Media Jobs and Skills fair was a huge success we talked to hundreds of potential freelancers from the recently redundant and looking to start a new career to students wanting to go straight into freelance — avoiding the traditional desk job altogether. It was really inspiring to see so many people interested in freelancing and we had over 100 new freelancers sign up for our ‘Go Freelance’ guide during the event.
The day was rounded off perfectly by academic, BBC filmmaker and Guardian journalist Dr Alek’s Krotoski talking to an audience of students and staff at the Sussex University Enterprise Thursday’s event — and the good Doctor was very happy to extol the virtues of Working for Yourself and Working from Home.
Read on for a video clip of Dr Krotoski and the perils of pyjamas.
Michael Rose | Starting Out,Training
The very heart of any digital consultancy or freelancing business is the sales you bring in. You will literally live or die by this. Sales tactics for the digital freelancer Event Detail: Digital veteran Darren Fell, founder of Pure360.com, freelance advice site FreelanceAdvisor.co.uk and the ground breaking online Accountancy service Crunch.co.uk tells his story of [...]
Emma Jones | Managing Business,Starting Out
Home based businesses are increasingly outsourcing and partnering, as opposed to taking on staff. As a freelancer and small business owner you may want to collaborate with others to get larger projects complete and, as more people start collaborating, it’s becoming important to have agreements in place with new partners that allows for a smooth running and profitable partnership. Emma Jones explains how to go about it.
Alick Mighall | Guides,Starting Out,Technology
If you want a website for your small business or to show off your freelancing work AND know what you want then you are almost ready to contact the designers but thinking clearly, focusing on objectives and writing a good, clear brief can make a world of different when it comes to getting a quote.
You’ll not only save yourself time and money but you’ll also make developers and designers like Alick Mighall really happy.
Michael Rose | Accountancy & Tax,Starting Out
Negotiating yourself the best rate possible is crucial to your financial success as a freelancer or contractor. However, it is also one of the most daunting prospects if you have never done it before.
This guide outlines a few things to think about when trying to secure yourself the best deal.
Michael Rose | Accountancy & Tax,Starting Out
If you decide to set up your own limited company then you’ll need a business bank account to separate your personal and business finances.
It may sound like a lot of hassle but our quick guide shows you what you need to do.
One the most frequently asked questions when people start contracting or freelancing is ‘how much should I charge?’
As well as knowing what other contractors in your field charge you can also apply following factors to work out a rate of pay.
Leo Babauta | Lifestyle & Time out,Starting Out
As Confucius said… “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
As part of our new series on Making a Living Without a Job, productivity guru and professional blogger Leo Babauta explains that everyone can go freelance and earn a good living by doing the things they love to do.
Michael Rose | Accountancy & Tax,Starting Out
Setting up a Limited Company is one of the smartest way to get paid for your work. With a Ltd you get to define your brand, own everything you do, run your business in the most tax-efficient way and pitch for work you wouldn’t be able to get as a sole-trader.
Some people, usually the folks at Umbrella companies, will tell you that setting up a company is costly and complicated but with low-cost solutions out there it’s a no-brainer.
Marketing yourself with an excellent CV or resume is not easy. Malvolio has found that there are not only technical issues to deal with but often several layers of audience from recruitment agencies, to human resources, departmental heads and senior management.
Can you help Malvolio unpick this particular puzzle?
How to get ahead in film-making. Brighton-based film-maker Tom Hickmore from Nice Media gives his top tips for getting noticed and getting a job in the film and media industries.
Find out what you need to do to impress, from CVs and portfolios to selling yourself and outright flattery!
Emma Jones | Managing Business,Starting Out
Online spending is growing rapidly in the UK. E-commerce in 2009 will be worth over £20bn and, experts say, by 2013, online spending will make up for 10% of total retail sales. If you have a product to sell, you’re in a good position, but how to attract customers to buy? Emma Jones offers five recommendations.
When you’re a freelancer, stupidity can be expensive. It’s better to learn from the mistakes of others in order to avoid common pitfalls. Leif shares a few of the stupid things he’s done (or seen others do) so that you might avoid the same fate.
According to retail experts, the health & beauty sector is in rude health; thriving, they say. So if you’re wondering which sectors present good options for a new business start-up, this could be the sector for you. Emma Jones offers facts & figures and some business ideas you might like to try.
Freelance Advisor and Web Consultant Leif Kendall continues his mini-series of ten lessons learnt during his time freelancing.
These will be super-short micro-posts to get you thinking… Feel free to share your comments
Hannah Keep | Events,Starting Out,Training
It’s a tough climate out there. If you are looking for a permanent job then you are up against lots of candidates who are all fighting for the same job. If you are freelance/contract then you have to ensure your skills are leading edge, have the confidence to hit the ground running as well as [...]
Emergency Survival Guide for the Accidental Freelancer: Survive, thrive and eventually become Awesomitised. Freelance copywriter Leif Kendall outlines first steps for the newly freelance.
Have you been freelanced? Were you the victim of a surprise sacking? If you are new to freelancing, unprepared for this new way of life, don’t panic. Here is an emergency survival guide, packed with quick-fixes to get you started quickly.
Finding freelance work and getting more clients is vital for your success as a freelancer. Killer copywriter Leif Kendall outlines his bold new marketing method.
Join the revolution!
Freelance Advisor and Web Consultant Leif Kendall continues his mini-series of ten lessons learnt during his time freelancing.
These will be super-short micro-posts to get you thinking… Feel free to share your comments
Freelance Advisor and Web Consultant Leif Kendall continues his mini-series of ten lessons learnt during his time freelancing.
These will be super-short micro-posts to get you thinking… Feel free to share your comments…
Freelance Advisor and Web Consultant Lief Kendall continues his mini-series of ten lessons learnt during his time freelancing.
These will be super-short micro-posts to get you thinking… Feel free to share your comments
There is no right or wrong time to go freelance if you truly want to be a freelancer. The market is always presenting opportunities; it is just a matter of not being blind to those you are not familiar with and ensuring you understand your target market.
Daryl Close, our small business and entrepreneurial performance coach, discusses whether the economic downturn is a good time to go freelance.
Daryl Close, our small business and entrepreneurial performance coach, discusses the preparation you must undertake from both a strategic and mental perspective to establish a successful freelancing practice.
What do you need to do in order to establish a successful freelancing practice?
More than five million people are working from home after finishing their day job, according to new research published this week.
The survey, commissioned by the world’s biggest office products company Staples, and carried out by Enterprise Nation, the UK’s largest website for home based business, confirms that the ‘5 to 9’ trend is spreading across the country.
If you are just starting out in freelancing there many new things you will have to get used to. Without the support of a boss or company you will need to motivate yourself, build your business, overcome obstacles and disappointments and, most importantly, look after the needs of your clients.
This quick checklist from freelance copywriter Tom Albrighton gives us ten great tips for getting started in freelancing.
Martyn Reding, Creative Director at Preview, examines the realities of working as a professional designer. Working as a freelance designer: the things I never knew I didn’t know If you’ve been through the rigours of your design course and your now out in the world learning your craft then the last thing you need is [...]
Dianne Bown-Wilson | Starting Out
Choosing to switch from full-time to freelancing can be a tough decision and the change will go a lot smoother if you have the help and support of those closest to you. Freelance Advisor, Coach and Consultant Dianne Bown-Wilson continues her series of articles on freelance career development issues for freelancers and contractors. Nearest and [...]
The top 5 home-business occupations in 2009 Whether it is a second income to make ends meet, a result of reduncancy or a decision to make a fresh start as a freelancer, the home business and startup sector looks like it will continue to grow in 2009. Freelance Advisor and home business startup supremo Emma [...]
Leif Kendall | Guides,Starting Out
Updated for 2010 our free ebook guide to getting started in freelance is essential reading for newbies and experts alike.
‘Go Freelance’ is a complete 32 page guide, covering everything from starting out to running your business and staying motivated.
Download your copy today.
Freelance Advisor and Web Consultant Leif Kendall continues his mini-series of ten lessons learnt during his time freelancing. These will be super-short micro-posts to get you thinking… Feel free to share your comments Lesson 4: Adopt a Karmic attitude Adopt a karmic attitude to life. Be awesome to people. Do great work. << Lesson 3: [...]
Freelance Advisor and Web Consultant Leif Kendall continues his mini-series of ten lessons learnt during his time freelancing. These will be super-short micro-posts to get you thinking… Feel free to share your comments Lesson 3: Do admin You need to spend time doing administrative tasks (filing, record-keeping, paper-work – call it what you will). It’s [...]
Freelance Advisor and Web Consultant Leif Kendall continues his mini-series of ten lessons learnt during his time freelancing. These will be super-short micro-posts to get you thinking… Feel free to share your comments Lesson 2: Make ‘em pay If you don’t value your skills, nobody else will. So make sure people pay for your time! [...]
Freelance writer, editor and blogger, Laura Spencer shares her experience of going into freelancing and some of the mistakes and failures she’s seen along the way. Freelance FAIL: 8 common mistakes As someone who has worked as a freelance writer for nearly six years now, I’ve observed (and sadly made) many freelance failures. Mistakes can [...]
Freelance Advisor and Web Consultant Lief Kendall offers some quick tips and tricks for freelancers
Gosh, well… what a year! If you don’t know me, then you won’t know that this year I turned 30, quit my day job and had a baby. It’s been an amazing, exciting year (and it’s not even finished yet!).
Freelancing: The Choice of Champions If you’re thinking of starting contracting or going freelance then you need to take a serious look at the opportunites and options available to you. Freelance Advisor and Web Marketing Consultant Leif Kendall tells us that freelancing is not the easy option… but it is the most rewarding option. Want [...]
In the last post we looked at the disadvantages of going solo. Now we turns to the ADVANTAGES of being freelance or self-employed… which is MUCH more fun! You are the boss You say what goes. If you want a lie-in or a day off, it’s up to you (but make sure you make the [...]
In the spirit of getting stuck into the difficult jobs that you hate, but which still need doing, Ground Zero‘s Jack Forester talks about some of the disadvantages of being self employed. First, it can be very lonely starting out in business, especially if you are doing it alone. You tend to spend the majority [...]
What motivates someone to choose freelancing? I think the potential reasons are many and varied, but I’d like to discuss my reasons for choosing this way of working. You may find they resonate with your own motivations, or they may remind you of a benefit you had forgotten – they may even convince you that freelancing is right for you.
Andy White | Podcast,Starting Out
Andy talks to Dave Mellors & Malcolm Cook of First Light Associates about the things that need to be done when taking on a new project. Topics Covered: Getting and capturing the scope How to charge for projects Handling scope changes and change control Project planning Contracts, agreements and legal matters Becoming a partner with [...]
Rosie Sherry | Lifestyle & Time out,Starting Out
Think freelance. Think freedom. Think about the 1 minute commute from your bed. Think working in your pyjamas. Think it’s perfect? Freelancing is often related to an improved lifestyle and work-life balance. Though the opposite often occurs. In today’s 24/7, always-connected world it’s all too easy to lock yourself away and lose track of what [...]
You can think of your website as the modern-day equivalent of the Victorian calling card. Before your prospective client decides whether you’re worth talking to, they’ll have a good nose around your site. And they might be asking themselves: How professional is this organisation? Do they have the products or expertise I’m looking for? Will [...]
Carey McIlvenny | Starting Out
As a freelancer, you often have a lot of business admin to manage. It’s easy to get in a muddle. It may sound obvious and tedious, but getting organised from the outset can save you time and money. It’ll help your finances Think about the 10 minutes a day you spend hunting for your keys [...]
Andy White | Podcast,Starting Out
Andy talks to Raju Ajiz, an IT support contractor, about some of the first things you should consider before embarking on freelancing or contracting.
