The choice between sole trader and limited company is one of the most fundamental faced by any freelancer. Do you incorporate, deal with the extra bureaucracy and keep more of your money as a reward? Or do you stay a sole trader, pay a bit more tax but not have to deal with Companies House?
Inspired by a few recent emails we’ve received that amounted to no more than an outlet for some bad-client-induced rage, we’re today introducing the RantBot. If you’ve got a torrid tale to tell about a terrible client who caused you to lose what little hair you have left, send it over!
Was one of your New Year resolutions to be more productive and grow your business? Digital Dragonfly believes you need good IT systems in place to do both. If you spend all day working on your computer read on for 7 ways to develop healthy tech habits in 2012.
Good news everyone! HMRC, in the face of a crippling strike from the PCS union which will see 80% of their call centre staff walk out on January 31st, have taken the decision to extend the deadline until midnight on Thursday February 2nd.
It’s currently the height of tax return season, and this means two things. One, accountants everywhere are pulling their hair out, and two, those dastardly spammers are sending out their bi-annual HMRC phishing emails, attempting to fool innocent freelancers, contractor and small businesses into giving up their financial details in the belief that they’re in line for a tasty tax refund.
Although Google+ has been getting a lot of buzz in the tech press and recently announced it has amassed 90 million users, it is still seen by many as a social media also-ran, having been unable to break into the public psyche in the same way Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn have.
We recently reported on the Government’s tentative plans to introduce a General Anti-Avoidance Rule to tackle tax avoidance. A GAAR has been discussed in the past as a potential replacement for IR35, so the prospect of its introduction had the potential to rid freelancers and contractors of an unwanted headache.
Accordingly to the quarterly yardstick of freelancer, contractor and small business confidence, the Federation of Small Business’ ‘Voice of Small Business’ index, the mood of the UK’s small firms crashed in the latter part of 2011 due to a combination of high inflation, rising utilities bills and reduced consumer spending power.
If you’re a rookie freelancer and haven’t submitted an online self-assessment before, you’ve only got about 24 hours left to register online with HMRC in order to get your activation code in the post in time to submit your tax return by midnight on January 31st.
This is certainly the first time we’ve heard a company website advertised as a way to help your cause in an IR35 status dispute, although in theory it could fall under the Direction and Control IR35 tests – if a worker is an employee, they wouldn’t have a website – right?
HMRC has taken a lot of stick for its late filing penalties recently – and rightly so. The fines, which can easily run into the thousands of pounds for small businesses (even if they do not owe any tax) are completely out of step with those levied at companies orders of magnitude larger.
Pinterest was launched in March 2010, and has really blown up in popularity over the past few months. Pinterest is an online pin board / social network – and despite what you may have heard is not just for fashion and food bloggers!
Jon Norris | Review,Technology
When Google debuted their Chrome operating system, there was lots of excitement about the prospect of a web-only OS. You could do away with pesky updates, niggling security worries and annoying software installations and fully embrace the web, at the same time benefiting from the increased speed that a virtually non-existent OS brings.
Freelancers and small businesses looking to take advantage of the Olympic Games this summer should watch out for a new book entitled ‘Olympics: a snapshot history of the Olympic Games’, which illustrates the effect the Olympics is already having on small businesses in London’s East End.
Last year HMRC was criticised by a report from the Treasury select committee for it’s over-reliance on online services, as these apparently put those without internet access or technical knowledge at a disadvantage. Never one to not ignore criticism, HMRC is pushing ahead with plans to move all VAT submissions online as of April this year.
Be thankful if you’re a freelancer, contractor or small business owner in the South of England today. A recent study from RMS Tenon, one of the UK’s largest accountancy firms, has showed that more than 21,000 companies became insolvent in 2011, but more importantly saw a widening of the divide between the North and South of the country
Once again, Freelancer.com has published their quarterly Fast 50, a barometer of demand for freelancing work based on the fluctuations of their giant online marketplace. There was good news overall as the number of job postings rose from 114,000 jobs Q3 to 134,820 jobs in the fourth quarter – a jump of almost 20%.
For a long time a General Anti-Avoidance Rule (GAAR) has been touted as a preferable alternative to IR35. General Anti-Avoidance Rules are used in Canada and New Zealand, and form a set of principles rather than hard-and-fast laws. It’s introduction would allow fresh case law to be established around disguised employment and limited company contractors, and hopefully allow HMRC to avoid the mistakes of the past.
All’s been quiet on the IR35 front recently. Since news of HMRC’s woeful enforcement record surfaced late last year, there’s been a relative dearth of IR35-related tomfoolery, instead most compliance related head-scratching has been directed towards the Agency Workers Regulations.
Recently, Freelance Advisor reported on the very important Supreme Court 2011 legal judgement on Autoclenz Ltd v Belcher and Others and how this may affect freelancers and contractors who have IR35 concerns. As this case is so important for all employees, workers and freelancers in deciding their employment status, at Workline we thought we’d explain this in more detail.
The case highlights the importance the Courts now give to finding clarity in employment relationships, not by looking at what is written down in a contract, but what is actually happening in the working relationship.
Jon Norris | Getting a Job,Resources
Scoring new clients can be tricky this time of year – most people have already mentally checked out for Christmas, making new projects hard to come by. That makes it all the more important that you’re able to hang on to those clients who do come knocking during the holiday lull. Here’s five easy ways to make sure you keep hold of any new business until January comes around.
Leif Kendall | Lifestyle & Time out
Freelancing can be tough, but it does offer hefty perks. Recently I’ve been enjoying the freedom to pursue side projects – the extra-curricular activities of the solo professional. Of course, you don’t have to be freelance to have pet projects (that’s what evenings and weekends are for) and some employers give staff free time to pursue their own interests, but no employer can offer the total freedom you have as a freelancer.
Rachel Soothill | Events,Resources
Christmas can be the toughest period for freelancers despite all the joy and cheer it brings. There are many issues and concerns that arise during the festive season that affect freelancers. These dilemmas include…
About nine-and-a-half weeks ago the Agency Workers Regulations came into effect in England, Wales and Scotland, and following lots of corporate hand-wringing beforehand, October 1st came and went without incident, and most of the contractors impacted carried on as normal – it seemed like the Y2K virus of the employment world.
Research carried out by business solutions firm, Pitney Bowes, has revealed that almost 50% of small firms are cancelling Christmas parties this year in order to save money. Five hundred small businesses participated in the survey which found that 63% of respondents admitted to scaling back on seasonal festivities.
We heard from plenty of people who had experienced emotional or financial trauma at the hands of bumbling accountants in our freelancers survey recently, and now a new study by The Accountants Club has provided a little colour to back up our findings.
A survey carried out by recruitment firm Hays has revealed that a third of staff are choosing to stay put rather than risk job security by moving on. The research was carried out on 1,795 adults and found that 33% were reluctant to change jobs in the current turbulent job market and planned to put off job hunting until the economy picked up.
Jon Norris | Getting a Job,News
As we usually carp on about, marketing is a necessary part of any successful freelance career – even if you hate the thought of self-promotion. Every so often we come across people who have decided to do something really interesting to further their freelancing career.
We’ve chronicled at length why a sole trader may choose to form a limited company. It could be to keep a little more of their earnings through increased tax efficiency, or it may be to give them financial security through limited liability.
I’d like a Second Job – what do I need to know? There has undeniably been a huge increase, across all professions, of people taking second jobs or finding an extra source of income by ‘moonlighting’. Getting a second job can be a great (or necessary) thing to do, and while it’s not illegal to have a second job, there are several issues you need to consider, to avoid jeopardising your main source of income. Here we describe what you need to know.
Rachel Papworth | Resources,Working From Home
Working from home is one of the things many freelancers love about our working model. No morning or evening commute. Eating healthy, home-cooked meals instead of expensive, shop-bought lunches. Not spending Saturday mornings queueing at the sorting office for parcels that arrived while you were out.
In part two of our freelancers survey results we explored how a freelancer’s relationship with their accountant can change the way they work, and their knowledge on industry matters. In part three we’re going to cast a beady eye over whether freelancer’s service costs are going up as the recession continues, and what proportion of those surveyed are looking to change the way they work.
In part one of our freelancer survey results we gave a broad overview of the results – whether people incorporated, if they used a local or online accountants, and if they understood IR35. In part two we’re going to “drill down” into the results a little more and examine how your relationship with your accountant changes the way you do business.
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) are warning all business owners and self-employed workers that if they did not send in their paper self-assessment tax returns by the 31st October deadline, they must now send them online or face increased penalties.
If you have your own business website, it might take the form of a blog, or at the very least have a blog section. Content is king, as they say. If you want to be king, you’ve got to have content. Blogging is a great way to start a conversation with potential customers, improve traffic to your site, and keep visitors coming back.
A little while ago we ran a reader survey to find out a little about how the UK’s freelancers run their businesses, how they regarded their accountants, and what they thought of industry worries such as HMRC fines and IR35. We’ve finally managed to dive into the results and pull out some interesting titbits.
TimothyTim | Guides,Technology
OK, that’s it. I’ve had it with sloppy internet stupidity and moronic marketing strategies from site owners. Here are my top ten (alright, eight) moronic things you’re doing to your website that dramatically hinders your ability to sell stuff.
Did you see the BBC Panorama programme last week, All Work and No Pay? As the National Minimum Wage increased to £6.08 on 1st October 2011 (for workers aged 21 and over) Panorama discovered that many British workers are still being paid much less than the law states
While the UK’s largest banks remain largely unaccountable for current financial quagmire they’ve dumped us all in, consumers are at least given one stick to beat them with – complaints figures from the Financial Services Authority.
The latest CIPD Coaching Climate Survey for 2011 has revealed that coaching and mentoring consultants are being used more than ever to improve business performance. A total of 332 organisations took part in the survey which showed that of those who use coaching nearly 84% are using it more now than they were two years ago.
Last week software developer Serif released a new piece of research showing that some small businesses are spending over £1,000 on developing their company websites. The motives for this survey were obviously self serving, however the press release raised some interesting questions.
In January 2011 there were a reported 153,205,413 identified blogs on the internet and this number was growing by approximately 47,719 per day. These figures reflect just how popular blogging has become but also highlight the difficulties of getting your blog to stand out from the crowd.
Freelancer.com, the largest online marketplace for freelance workers, yesterday added hourly billing to their repertoire of services for freelancers and employers. The site’s 2.8 million members can now specify an hourly rate (assuming they have no qualms about going public with pricing), and be hired on short- or long-term contracts by employers with commission starting at just 3%.
The saga of IR35 is full of twists, turns, loop-the-loops and groin-kicks, and doesn’t show any sign of letting up soon, following George Osborne’s decision to take the path of least resistance in his 2011 Budget. Following a freedom of information request from the PCG, HMRC has divulged some interesting figures which shed some light on HMRC’s tremendous mis-management of IR35.
A survey carried out by online recruitment agency People Per Hour has revealed that in the last 12 months there has been a 68% increase in the amount of businesses that are taking on freelancers in order to solve staffing issues.
A virtual assistant carries out the same role as a traditional administration assistant; however the person fulfilling the role no longer has to be physically present in the office (or home, if you’re a working from home type).
In everyday life surprises can be a lovely thing, in business however they usually mean that you and your client have different ideas about key areas of your current project. This often leads to you needing to charge more than your quote to finish the work, or working at a loss to deliver the completed project in a way which satisfies the client.
A little while back we reviewed the quite-excellent freelancing guide Brilliant Freelancer by our friend and contributor Leif Kendall, proprietor of Kendall Copywriting. Luckily for you, dear reader, we’ve now been given five copies of the book to give away by the man himself.
Your brain. Resplendent in it’s awesomeness; it has many distinct advantages. Without the weird array of half remembered crap it keeps locked up in it’s squidgy folds you would be a gibbering vegetable and would almost certainly fail hard at everything you did. However there are a large number of techniques and tricks you and your business can use to make your business, tactics and marketing better.
Picture the scene – there’s a big important meeting, many miles away, you’re tired and it’s snowing. Do you get out of your nice warm bed four hours early and travel to the site, or simply stroll downstairs, log onto your PC and send in your virtual self via robot?
One of the common challenges that most freelancers face, and most loathe, is the need to pitch yourself and your services to potential clients. For most of us this is the hardest part of being self-employed and can be terrifying and intimidating.
If you are thinking about joining the world of freelancers or perhaps you have recently started your own freelance business – good for you!
We’ve known for some time that the freelancer and contractor sector has been growing, and now a few pieces of research have revealed the source of some of that growth – students and over-55s are increasingly choosing self-employment over the traditional job market.
Are you a freelancer or contractor? Do you live in or around Reading? Do you like receiving free advice on how to maximise your tax efficiency and manage your finances? Well then we’ve got good news for you!
Jon Norris | Lifestyle & Time out
Welcome to another working week. We thought we’d start this week off on a positive note with five freelancers and contractors who have done noteworthy, important or downright inspirational things.
Jon Norris | Lifestyle & Time out
Here comes another study which will cause the freelancers of the world roll their eyes wryly as the rest of the world slowly figures out what us homeworkers have been preaching all along.
The Government last week announced the location of 11 new Enterprise Zones, designed to boost local growth and create over 30,000 new jobs by 2015.
Internships and work placements have been getting some bad press lately. Are they an extremely good experience for both Employers and graduates or potentially unethical exploitation?
Could the real reason for the delay in UK businesses receiving tax payment reminder letters be that HMRC ran out of paper?
Although the iPhone may still be the dominant force in the smartphone world, Android is quickly catching up – and with more users come more apps. For the worker on the go there are a number of apps that can range from handy additions to complete lifesavers.
Rachel Soothill | Lifestyle & Time out,News
A new study by IFF research has revealed that two-thirds of small-business owners had less than two weeks’ holiday in 2010. The research was carried out on 500 firms and showed that 69% of bosses were unable to take more than 14 days out of the office
When it comes time to form a Limited Company, undoubtedly the biggest hurdle will be choosing a Company name. Company names are like URLs – they have to be unique – and with over 1,000 companies formed every day in the UK, the number of available company names is decreasing rapidly.
Lesley Furber | Legal,Resources
A recent survey by the British Chambers of Commerce of 1,000 sole traders looked into their attitudes to hiring staff. Here we disect the report and see if there are any solutions to encourage sole-traders to take on staff.
Many Contractors choose to use the services of an existing ‘Umbrella Company’ – they are limited companies that employ Contractors. If you choose to do this, your contracts will be treated for tax purposes as if they are all inside IR35.
This is a difficult and potentially time-consuming process. Long-term freelancers will certainly wish to ‘IR35-proof’ their contracts in order to avoid the reduction in earnings. Contracts will need to be checked for each job/project and they should highlight your status as a self-employed professional.
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has carried out a news survey that reveals sole traders are being deterred from becoming employers due to the expensive cost of employee pension plans, sick leave and dismissal rules.
Research by professional advice website Unbiased.co.uk has revealed that more than half of sole traders could be missing out on tax savings by not utilising the help of professional accountants for bookkeeping.
Selina Murray | Lifestyle & Time out,Resources
If there’s one thing we’ve learnt from Ryan Giggs in the last few weeks, it’s how not to use Twitter for business. Love it or loathe it (probably the latter for Mr. Giggs), Twitter can be a very useful business tool. If you work alone it can be invaluable for making connections.
Selina Murray | Events,Lifestyle & Time out
Attention Freelancers!
If you’re within travelling distance of London here’s a good excuse to get out of bed early on Monday and be part of a world record attempt.
Rachel Soothill | Getting a Job,Guides
Some see networking meetings as the foundation of any successful freelance business. It is an opportunity to meet potential clients, form relationships and share contacts which could turn into new business. Others see these meetings as an awkward and pretentious excuse to drink tea and waste business cards.
Freelancers are no longer a rare breed, more and more employees are turning freelance everyday and competition is growing fast. In these competitive times it is important to stand out from the crowd and embrace your individuality.
Jon Norris | Getting a Job,Guides
Thankfully they’re becoming more and more rare, but every so often a freelancer may be asked to deliver a pitch for a project. Aside from being a pain in the backside, pitches are usually used to determine whether or not you’ll cut the mustard. So how can you make sure you’ll impress your audience?
Jon Norris | Getting a Job,Guides
There are two types of clients for most freelancers. There are those who you’ve known for years and do regular work for – they call you up as and when they need you, and there are the one night stands. They’ll find your details somehow, get you to do a job and discard you like a used tissue. It’s always slightly disheartening – why don’t they want you back? Were you not good enough? Did you accidentally insult their wife?
After the recent hot weather and with summer around the corner (allegedly), is your client happy with what you wear to the office? The warm weather naturally lends itself to a different dress styles but what if you turn up to work in shorts, vests, mini-skirts and halter-necks?
This month Andy and Jon talk to Simon McVicar of the PCG about the latest developments on IR35, and how the PCG are attempting to advise the UK’s Government on future reforms. We also get an accountants perspective on how the changes brought about in the Budget will effect the nation’s freelancers from Steve Crouch of Crunch Accounting. This is a long one, so pour yourself a cup of tea.
The latest report by GlobalExpense (a ruddy huge expense management company) has found that UK businesses failed to claim around £124 million in 2010 in mileage expenses. The shortfall was largely due to missing VAT receipts, which are required to claim back any business mileage.
Rachel Soothill | Guides,Technology
As the biggest social networking site for professionals LinkedIn is a no-brainer for all freelancers looking to broaden their horizons. With over 6o million members, it is a great starting place for finding and connecting with potential new clients and also for being found.
Here’s something you don’t see often – the Government making appreciable, concrete strides towards a more user-friendly, useful web portal. Under the guidance of web brainbox Tom Loosemore, Alpha.gov.uk is a test version of a new Government portal that is supposed to eventually replace Direct.gov.uk.
Jon Norris | Getting a Job,Guides
Freelancers can be a paradoxical sort. From a client’s perspective we can be highly regarded specialists brought in to solve issues that no staff member can fathom, or we can be sandal-wearing layabouts who flit from place to place, only working when we choose to. Freelancers know that neither stereotype is correct – unfortunately the client’s perspective is often the only one that matters.
Brilliant Freelancer is, at it’s heart, a self-help book. This instantly made me concerned – not because I dislike the idea of people helping themselves, but because I’m a fairly self-conscious fellow and I like to do most of my reading on the train.
Its every freelancer’s worst nightmare. You find an awesome new client, agree on a brief, sign the contract, then one day you phone up to find all the staff have been let go and the MD has fled to the Caymen Islands. What can you do?
TimothyTim | Lifestyle & Time out
Everybody knows marketing agencies are up to no good. They’re either burning through your companies money at an alarming rate, or trying to trick your brain into buying something you don’t really need. We’ve been allowed access to a spreadsheet a freelance marketer kept of all the most brain-dead snippets to cross his desk.
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out,News
Television shows like The Apprentice, Dragon’s Den and The Secret Millionaire are persuading more people to consider starting up their own business, according to government research. The ‘Impact of Media on Entrepreneurial Intentions and Actions’ report found that media portrayals of enterprise is having a positive impact on non-entrepreneurial Britons.
Last night we attended the 7th annual Freelancer of the Year awards in London’s Soho – and quite the evening it was! Our own Mel Dixon was nominated in the Editorial category, and we were media partners for the event, which is put on by recruitment experts and all-round good eggs Xchangeteam.
Following this morning’s disappointing launch of the Office of Tax Simplification’s Small Business Tax Review, we have now had some more time to digest the whole document, and have pulled out some more snippets that are relevant and interesting to the self-employed community.
Completely unscientific of course, but a quick polling of the Twitterverse has yielded some interesting results as to what the biggest annoyances for freelancers are.
The results, somewhat unsurprisingly, focus on the behaviour of certain unscrupulous clients
A recent survey has revealed that freelancers in the North-West of the country are feeling decidedly uncertain about their prospects for the coming year. Although we’ve seen numerous studies claiming to reveal a promising new year for freelancers – but now a survey of the freelancers themselves has painted a slightly less rosy picture.
Jon Norris | Lifestyle & Time out
I’m a freelancer, you’re a freelancer. Why are we freelancers? Where does this silly word come from? It was first coined in 1819 by Scottish writer Sir Walter Scott in his novel Ivanhoe. Ivanhoe formed the basis of the Robin Hood character as it exists today, and is widely credited with renewing interest in the middle ages amongst 19th Century literary types.
We know finding a job can be hard, so we’re going to cherry pick our favourites from our expansive Jobs Feed and post them to our front page for your perusal. If you’ve got a job you’d like promoted on our front page, why not get in touch?
When you start out as a freelancer or small business owner, it’s important to have an idea of what sort of work you’ll say ‘Yes!’ and what sort of work you’ll say ‘No!’ to. The answer you give may depend on a number of things.
When raising your invoices, create a template with prompts so that you can ensure you provide as much information as possible on the invoice. Do not assume that the Accounts department will know what your invoice is for, who it is from, what your payment terms are or how to pay you if you don’t tell them.
Lets face it, everybody wants to sound fancy. One of the fun things about being a freelancer is choosing your own job title. No longer are you stuck with a corporation-mandated title such as “Phone Operator #4237″, you can let your imagination soar and appoint yourself Captain of the World if you want. However, at what point does a fancy job title stop making you sound exciting, and start confusing your potential clients?
What is the difference between a freelancer and a contractor? Does anyone really know? The lines are sometimes so blurred that they seem to scarcely exist at all – but they exist nonetheless. If you’re a freelancer, then you’re a freelancer, and if you’re a contractor, then you’re a contractor.
Remember 2010? Seems like aeons ago, doesn’t it? Well, it was actually only about a week and a half ago. Way back in 2010 we brought you the fantastic news that we, along with our friends Crunch Accountants, were sponsoring the Xchangeteam Freelance of the Year awards. Well, guess what? We still are!
There is an ongoing debate about the benefits of contracting as a sole trader or working as a limited company owner. The typical scenario is for someone to start contracting or freelancing as a sole trader for its ease of set-up and small administrative burden. After increasing their earnings, they may then consider forming a limited company to lower their tax paying responsibilities and increase their attractiveness to potential clients.
This raises the question: when is a good time to form a limited company? And how substantial is the culture shift as you move from one business structure to another?
A little while ago the UK’s incumbent Franken-government announced the introduction of the New Enterprise Allowance (or NEA for acronym fans), a scheme to provide a £2,000 grant, small business loan and expert guidance to unemployed people looking to start their own businesses.
As we ease towards the end of 2010, now might be a good time for freelancers and contractors to start thinking about their business goals and objectives for next year. Setting goals is an effective way of ensuring that you are headed in the right direction, and places the work that you do within a wider context.
By using goals and objectives in the right way, you can establish a roadmap for freelance success!
Freelancing in the 21st century offers a limitless number of opportunities for helping you become more efficient and finding more work. Technology really is a freelancers best friend.
So, what are these opportunities and how does the 21st freelancer make the most of them. Read on…
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
At this time of year the cold air bites, and people tend to be more vulnerable to colds and viruses. As a freelancer or contractor you can’t exactly pull a sickie, and besides, nobody wants to feel as though they’ve swallowed a cheese grater or experienced the River Use streaming out of their nostrils.
There are simple actions you can take to ensure you’re not the one who everyone would like to see placed in quarantine.
I’ve recently been trying out a new tool which enables you to scrawl all over fully functioning websites and store the results.
‘MarkUp’ is aimed at anyone who wishes to present suggestions as to how a website could be done differently. The service is still rather basic, but its simplicity is impressive.
What fortuitous timing! We’re currently in the process of making a Copyright Guide for freelancers, and what should come across our desk this morning but a perfect example of copyright being used entirely incorrectly – a cautionary tale, if you will.
Networking. Many people preach about the benefits of attending networking events, but until recently I hadn’t actually been to one myself.
The fear is that such events may turn out to be stilted, formal and full of cliques. Nobody wants to be at a soul-sapping snoorfest. Thankfully, my first experience of ‘formal’ networking was no such occasion.
Many of you may already be familiar with Desk Space Genie, the website that helps freelancers find workspace in the UK. It’s a useful site which allows you to easily find a co-working space in your area.
The bad news is: it is no more. The good news is: it’s transformed into Office Genie!
Freelancers and contractors spend a lot of time sitting at desks. The good thing is that if you work from home, you can choose the desk you work at and pity those who are stuck at a clients office making do with grotty, coffee stained desks laced with the residue of previous incumbents.
So, why not take advantage of your situation and get a truly awe-inspiring desk? Here’s a selection of six of the best on the market…
A new report the how the internet is transforming the UK economy has been published by the Boston Consulting Group.
The research illustrates how small businesses actively using the internet are reporting sales growth more than four times bigger than that of companies less active online.
The UK’s freelancers and contractors will be unsurprised to hear that money is not the key motivational factor for many workers.
According to a study by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), the ability to work flexibly and have the opportunity to develop within a business are more important.
These are two of the key reasons why people tend to go it alone and start up their own business in the first place – so perhaps even more people are on the precipice of joining the freelance revolution!
Microsoft has unveiled a brand new cloud-based product which they hope will win over the business community.
Office 365 will bring together Microsoft Officer, SharePoint Online, Exchange Online and Lync Online. Instead of having to install it on your computer, you can simply pay for and access the service online. Or, ‘in the cloud.’
If you’re a freelancer or contractor who gives free advice to friends or other casual contacts, you’d better make sure it’s well-placed.
Otherwise, if your advice turns out to be misplaced, you may find a solicitors letter on your doormat detailing how you’re being sued for negligent advice and guidance!
Chancellor George Osbourne’s Spending Review marks the UK’s biggest spending cuts since World War II.
The cuts are set to change the country’s economic and social landscape, and freelancer’s trade body PCG has given their reaction…
The proliferation of online accountancy services aimed at small businesses has opened up a debate about the benefits and drawbacks of these new fangled operations in comparison to more traditional accountancy practices.
Here we look at the rise of these services, and what impact they’ve had on the freelance workforce.
Well, at least that is the deadline for the paper versions. Alternatively, if you’re doing your self-assessment returns online then you have a bit more leeway. Up until January 31 in fact.
Self-assessment returns need to be done if you’re self-employed or running your own limited company.
New research reveals that many small business leaders have reservations about employing people over the age of 60.
Does that mean the older generation are being discriminated against?
We’ve started, so we’ll finish. If your specialist subject is freelancing we have a chair just waiting for you.
The PCG special Mastermind sessions are to be held throughout the UK and while there might not be an imposing leather chair, you can make yourself comfortable in Manchester, Aberdeen, Brighton, Edinburgh, Bristol or Watford for stimulating sessions that will help us celebrate the PCG’s National Freelancers Day on November 23rd.
I’m always on the lookout for new online tools which are user-friendly and hopefully fun and maybe, just maybe, practical for my needs.
So, I randomly googled ‘lovely online tools’ and lo and behold came across Lovely Charts which promises to enable you to ‘create professional looking diagrams of all kinds’ that will ‘impress, convince and seduce – even if you don’t have the slightest design skill.’
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
When your working day involves working at a computer, it also involves sitting on a chair. The wrong chair could lead to a bad back and a foul mood. The right chair will result in physical well-being and a healthy freelancer mindset.
Here are six of the best home office chairs: some weird, some wonderful, others barely fathomable.
For the freelancer who works from a home office there are a whole range of legitimate business expenses which can be claimed.
This poses the question: what are they? And how do you calculate the amount you can claim? What follows is a simple guide.
In our day-to-day lives we read a lot. And some of us would like to read a lot more. Often it’s time that restricts us, or perhaps the strain on our eyes.
For many freelancers and contractors the ability to read quickly and efficiently can be vital. It can be the difference between gleaning an important piece of information and remaining in a soon-to-be unblissful state of ignorance.
Come along we haven’t got all day!!
Brighton-based journalist and communications consultant Sally Shore has launched a new service to help the increasing numbers of entrepreneurs and freelancers generate media coverage on a budget.
As a freelance copywriter I often need to add images to the articles I’ve written. For a while now I’ve been using Skitch – a free picture editing tool for Mac users.
It’s a tool I’d recommend to any freelancer who regularly needs to play around with images.
For the home office worker distractions are rife. With no clients looking over your shoulder and only your own discretion between you and an unwarranted break, discipline is key.
Are you the freelancer with an unfathomable desire to watch daytime television? Are you having trouble keeping your eye on the task in hand?
Michael Rose | Lifestyle & Time out,Working From Home
If you’re interested in starting your own business, working from home or building a business empire from scratch then Enterprise Nation is a great source of information and inspiration.
I’ve recently stumbled across their TV channel on Vimeo and it’s fantastic. EN founder Emma Jones have been a Freelance Advisor contributor for a couple of years now and it’s great to see her ‘live’ in front of the camera talking about the stuff she loves.
One to watch!
The UK’s freelancers and contractors are continuing to thrive during difficult economic times. But why? And how?
It’s time for a quick-fire round up.
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
Some may call it a horribly and painfully strung out metaphor, others may accept it as genuine business wisdom: “Successful small businesses have a lot in common with water.”
Let’s run with this stream of thought.
So, you’re running your own business and feel ready to plunge into the world of blogging in order to relay your expertise to a global audience.
Blogging can be a very effective tool for self-marketing, but what kind of blogging service should you choose to host your ramblings?
National Freelancers Day is all set for 23rd November 2010.
On this day, and during the week, the PCG and Freelance Advisor will be trumpeting (and rejoicing in) the vital contribution that freelancers and contractors make to the UKs economic well-being.
After the success of last year’s event many freelancers were asking what they could do to get involved with National Freelancers Day 2010.
Here are 6 ways to get connected…
Michael Rose | Working From Home
Virgin Media recently announced that it would start publishing its average broadband speeds for all of its internet packages. This is great news for home-workers and hopefully the beginning of a trend towards greater honesty among Internet Service Providers.
What is your IPS ‘up to?’ – follow our quick guide to checking your connection and comparing what you pay vs what you currently get.
Michael Rose | Lifestyle & Time out
After last week’s illuminating How to Start a Design Business videos we got sent this brilliant tongue-in-cheek take on the life of a freelancer. Completely hilarious it’s full of some nice tips for convincing clients you’ve got a secretary while answering calls from bed, how to claim almost anything on expenses and how to fool clients you work for a big agency while working in your pants.
A must see for a miserable Monday morning…
The coalition government has said that they hope to bring in billions of pounds over the next few years after announcing that more resources will be made available to HMRC.
And how are they going to do this? By targeting those pesky businesses avoiding tax through offshore accounts.
Michael Rose | Getting a Job,Resources
The Design Council has uploaded a couple of very interesting expert advice videos.
Part of their excellent resources section the videos feature interviews with top UK design talent and their advice on starting up a design business and how to deal with client relationships. Mostly relevant to newbie designers but a lot of the advice is relevant to anyone creative thinking of starting up in business.
Freelancers and contractors will be glad to hear that a consortium of City financiers are planning to open a bank that only lends to small businesses.
And they’re planning to launch early next year…
Michael Rose | Getting a Job,Resources
From organising and getting prepared to polishing your product and your pitch, here is a list of tools that will help you make your move to freelancing as as efficient and seamless as possible.
Freelancers in the North West might be interested to hear about the Wirral and Liverpool Enterprise Freelance Fair. This unique event aims to help agencies, small businesses and freelancers looking for new contracts and solid advice and even promises to get you useful business leads!
In the run up to National Freelancers Day the PCG are asking freelancers to share their top tips with their fellow freelancers.
What do you do to make your work more profitable, productive, worthwhile and enjoyable?
If you’ve got freelance pizzazz, why don’t you shout about it?
This talk by web-hero and Basecamp creator Jason Fried underlines almost everything that Freelance Advisor is about.
Advertising your skills can be expensive and inefficient but writing a short blog post that catches the imagination of thousands of people in your field is much easier. In this talk Fried talks about the huge difference between blogging about your product and blogging about your techniques, how being open with your clients AND competitors works to generate new business for those willing to share their secret sauce.
Michael Rose | Lifestyle & Time out
We hear a lot about “Inbox Zero”, whether you’ve practiced Getting Things Done, got yourself a set of 43 Folders or just have good Zen Habits, you are probably aware that it’s a good idea to have an Inbox that you treat as sacred and some rules and patterns to govern it; Rule one being get ‘In to Empty’ regularly.
While this all makes a whole lot of sense and has done for years, important bills to pay tucked behind the clock on the mantlepiece was my late Uncle’s preferred ‘productivity tool’, I’ve always thought there should be some discussion of Outbox behaviours.
Are you a freelance mastermind? Freelance Advisor is teaming up with online accountants Crunch to host a special event in the run-up to National Freelancer’s Day which aims to wrack the brains of the freelance community.
The Freelance Mastermind Group gives freelancers the opportunity to exchange ideas and share knowledge in a rather nice bar in lovely Brighton.
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
When you’re working as a freelancer or contractor, it’s not just your business you have to manage. You also have to manage your own stress levels. After all, a taut freelancer may soon become unhappy and unmotivated leading to a professional and personal downward spiral.
What follows is a guide to reducing stress levels on the job.
PCG, the voice of freelancing, is pleased to announce that booking has officially opened for PCG’s inaugural Freelance Lecture taking place at the magnificent Stationer’s Hall to mark National Freelancers Day 2010 — an event supported by Telegraph Media Group.
‘Freeing up Potential’ will provide a theme for the lecture, which will be delivered by Dr James Bellini, leading futurologist, broadcaster and, of course, freelancer.
Michael Rose | Lifestyle & Time out,Working From Home
The Skiff 2.0 has recently moved to a new space for creative co-working.
In partnership with Wired Sussex the new co-working and events space is a bigger, better, brighter place at 6 Gloucester Street, right in the heart of Brighton’s North Laine .
Freelancing has many advantages including the flexibility to decide when and where you work.
You will also have a wider variation of work with a number of contracts and clients as well as usually being paid higher rates of pay.
However, there can also be disadvantages, especially as you are responsible for all aspects of your business including finances, sourcing work and compliance with relevant regulations such as IR35.
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
There are infinite numbers of ways in which freelancers and contractors can relieve work-related stress. Managing your time better, moving a chest of drawers to the other side of the room, or meditating to whale music are just a few that might work.
But sometimes you just want a quick fix for those moments when you feel a bit overwrought. Here we’ve compiled seven of the best stress-busting tools on the market.
Blogging offers freelancers and contractors the opportunity to market themselves for free whilst providing valued content to a targeted audience.
Perhaps you want to positition yourself as an industry expert, or simply provide some enlightening prose because you truly love what you do.
The following is a list of useful tips to get you started.
New research has shown that over a third of SMEs use social media on a daily basis to promote their businesses.
For many freelancers and contractors, utilizing free networking tools is clearly a no-brainer, but which is the most popular?
So, Google has released it’s latest update which claims to make online searches quicker and easier than ever before. A useful update? Yes. A search engine revolution? Not quite.
In fact, a lesser known alternative has been around for almost two years and it does pretty much the same thing. And more.
Time to hit the keyboardr!
Clare Evans | Working From Home
You’ve decided to go down the freelance route and now you’re working from home. Balancing work within the home environment can often be difficult. You may be working around children and family while focusing on your business. There are all the distractions of being at home but needing to be in work mode.
Freelance productivity expert Clare Evans explains how to create a balance between ensuring work gets done and enjoying the flexibility of working from home.
For freelancers and contractors who work via their own limited company, dividends can provide a very tax efficient method of self-payment.
But what exactly are they? And how do they work in practice? The following guide will give you a good idea.
It is essential to ensure your workplace is deemed temporary when determining whether you have the right to claim travel and subsistence expenses. If you are a contractor, assessing your workplace status is extremely important. There are a number of rules set by HMRC which will determine whether you have the right to claim travel and subsistence expenses whilst you work. The rules heavily focus on whether your place of work can be classified as temporary or permanent.
Michael Rose | Resources,Technology
I can’t count the number of times I’ve needed to know the exact dimensions of a piece of A4 paper. It’s not something I need all the time, so it’s not in long-term memory, and it’s certainly not worth printing out and keeping by my monitor.
If I’m at my laptop I usually Google for the answer it but its always frustrated me that I can’t just have everything I need in one place.
International Paper Sizes is an ideal resource for looking up a variety of paper standards. It’s ideal for anyone working in graphic design, illustration, printing, export and packaging. And me.
Michael Rose | Events,Technology
If you like geeky events, conferences and meetups (for work or play) then the brilliant new social conference directory Lanyrd.com is doing absolutely everything it can to connect you, and your friends, to the events that really matter.
As a freelance writer, I often browse the internet for useful websites which relate to the art of putting one letter in front of another.
One of my favourites is Explore Writing which is aimed at aspiring writers whilst also being useful for any writer at any level.
Working job-to-job and contract-to-contract is all well and good. But if you want to build a business you’ll need to find some cash.
Christian Nellemann, founder of XLN Telecom, shares some of his experience on how you could get your business off the ground financially.
I’ve recently discovered a handy online tool that allows you to create an email address which then self-destructs in ten minutes.
It’s just what you need for those services which make it Mission Impossible to unsubscribe from their constant dribble of updates.
For many freelancers and contractors finding a good accountant can be an arduous task. As a result, some small business owners end up employing the services of an accountant who turns out to be a poor fit for their needs.
That’s when you know it’s time to make a change.
I recently stumbled across a simple online tool called Wridea. It’s a tool which could be particularly useful for freelancers or start-ups who have ideas which they want to arrange simply and effectively on an online interface.
The idea behind the site is to ensure that people don’t forget the ideas they’ve previously come up with. Unless they want to of course.
You probably dread coming back from holiday to hundreds or thousands of emails.
The thought of spending the first week dealing with them all and feeling that you’re having to catch up all the time. Here are a few quick steps to help you deal with the backlog.
For freelancers and contractors communication is vital. Whether it’s general face-to-face conversations in the workplace, email correspondence or phone-based verbal exchanges, it’s important to ensure that we get the best out of each one of them.
It’s also important to maintain good levels of etiquette.
A new survey by chartered accountants has revealed how SME’s are struggling to get loans due to the strict criteria laid down by the banks.
This might not reveal anything we don’t already know, but with small businesses – including freelancers and contractors – being a key driving force behind the UK economy, surely credit terms could be a little more friendly?
Many entrepreneurs & freelancers will be looking at their business now and thinking, I just need to get my name out there and let people know what I’m doing… and then the enquiries will start flooding in. This may lead them to start looking at options like PR and you may well be met with promises of instant results, tons of press coverage and lots more business.
Jenna Gould, Director of Media Jems asks is it too good to be true?
Michael Rose | Money,Technology
Are slow payers crippling your cash flow? Are you spending too much time chasing overdue accounts and stifling your productivity? Spending more of your valuable time chasing payments than new customers?
There’s an app for that.
“A sale is not a sale until the money is in the bank”. It’s a great rule of thumb but it’s surprising how many businesses forget this golden rule and over-extend themselves. For many freelancers the long awaited big contract is one of the main reasons to be in business. However, whether your customer is a small business or a very large one, it is critically important to ensure they can and will pay you.
Creditsafe’s 16-page guide is crammed full of top tips for making sure you will get paid.
Despite hopes of its upcoming demise, IR35 is still alive and dangerous and remains a major concern for many UK contractors.
That’s why it’s great to hear that a new online tool has been created which gives contractors an opportunity to discover whether or not they are IR35 compliant.
Here on FreelanceAdvisor we make numerous references to freelancers, contractors and small businesses – after all that’s who we’re here for!
But what are the defining characters of each? What follows is a no-nonsense guide to who’s who and why. Beware: stereotypes abound.
For the UK’s freelancers and contractors these are uncertain times. With fears rife of a double dip recession and the scrutinous IR35 legislation coming under intense scrutiny, it’s difficult for micro-businesses to know exactly where they stand.
The latest tax planning seminar for freelancers and contractors, hosted by financial planners Wealth Matters, will offer a timely, in-depth insight into all the big issues facing your business. But be quick, it’s coming up very soon.
Poor customer service can kill a business and it is absolutely vital to get client and customer service right, particularly when handling complaints. If you don't handle complaints well then not only are you likely to lose the customer who is dissatisfied, but they are more likely to tell others about bad service than they are good service, so you stand to lose many more customers by getting it wrong.
Business Mentor Toby Buckle shares his top ten tips for crushing your customer’s quibbles.
We all need good time management skills but if you are feeling that there is too much to do and not enough time then it is especially important to take a good look at your time-management and productivity habits.
Most freelancers could do with a little more time in their day, so we’ve asked Clare Evans author of Time Management for Dummies for her top ten tips to help you get back on track and stay in control.
Andy continues his talk with credit control experts Rob Warlow and Adam Home and Darren Fell of Crunch about credit control and debt collection. In today’s show we ask: What should we do if it all starts to go wrong?
Podcast 26: Credit Control and Debt Collection (part 2) [ 26:42 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
74 unread emails! Since last night? Are you kidding! We all know what email overload feels like, especially if we’ve been away on holiday or if our American cousins don’t realise that Bank Holidays are sacred. It’s hard enough working out what work has priority but even worse when client email are hidden within an inbox cluttered with newsletters, calendar reminders and “special offers”.
If you use Gmail you might be interested to know that Google are working on the problem.
Gmail is great at filtering out spam but today the Google gmail team announced that they will use similar technology to automatically sort your emails by importance.
Well that’s the question being asked after it was announced that HMRC would adopt a new strategy in dealing with tax disputes.
Instead of taking a ‘black and white’ approach, resulting in court proceedings or no action at all, they will look to be more pragmatic in seeking agreements with individuals.
Ian Ozsvald | Guides,Resources
Monetising your knowledge is a core skill for freelancers – making money whilst you sleep is a necessary step forwards as you build your freelancing career.
Professional Screencaster Ian Ozsvald shows us ways of making money by screencasting. This post follows the earlier tutorials on Communicating more effectively and raising your profile through screencasts.
Over the last month the coalition government has been taking suggestions from the public on how they can save money quickly and effectively. Some have argued for the scrapping of the digital switchover while others have suggested making MP’s use hostels rather than a have a second home.
A number of people have also taken the opportunity to argue for the repeal of IR35…
Ian Ozsvald | Resources,Training
Building a visible profile is essential if you want to receive a steady stream of readers and referred clients. Demonstrating your knowledge with screencasts is easy and is a very effective way of showing visitors that you’re on top of your game.
Professional Screencaster Ian Ozsvald shows us how short online tutorial and demonstration videos are a powerful way to raise your profile. This post follows the earlier tutorial on (Communicating more effectively with screencasts)
Michael Rose | Lifestyle & Time out
At Freelance Advisor we’ve spent a lot of time sharing advice on how you can effectively use Twitter and social. As a tool for finding more friends, colleagues clients and work. We’ve discussed how to use it for Marketing your personal brand and for PR for your own company.
This cheeky little site has a different view…
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
In a previous article, I talked about the importance of a good nights sleep for freelancers and contractors, and the most effective way to achieve that.
One important aspect I neglected to mention was the importance of a good bed. What follows is a list of the most ergonomic and practical beds currently on the market.
I’ve existed on social networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn for a long time now. My participation however has been somewhat minimal. My idea of social networking usually involves pubs and actually meeting people.
Nonetheless, I was intrigued by the idea of websites which enable you to build your own social network. So, I decided to try one out.
For a long time now there’s been much talk of the drawbacks and benefits of IR35. Well, mainly the drawbacks. But what of the measures that could potentially replace the complex and largely ineffective legislation?
One option which has been spoken about recently, involves the creation of a new General Anti-Avoidance Rule known by its acronym GAAR.
Michael Rose | Lifestyle & Time out
Freelancers need focus; without a boss to keep you in line and being outside a traditional workflow it can be hard to know where to focus your efforts. Combine this with the pace of modern life and it’s easy to get swamped and to feel that there just aren’t enough hours in the day. Not only is there a lot of work there are constant distractions, tweets, bleeps and pings pulling us away from our true goals and aspirations.
Focus: The Power of Targeted Thinking attempts to give the solution to all these feelings of confusion and distraction.
Michael Rose | Getting a Job,Money
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.
The Longtail rule, the Zipf law, the Power law or (easily the most dramatic) ‘The law of the vital few’. It might have many names, but ultimately all forms of the 80/20 rule amount to the same thing – that 80% of effects come from 20% of causes.
The same applies to freelancers: you can gain new business simply by offering great service to your clients.
National Freelancers Day may still be a few months away, but this year’s event already looks set to reflect the growing recognition of flexible-working as an increasingly important part of the UK’s economy.
Last year’s event was the first of its kind and was successful in further promoting the virtues of freelance working. But the PCG has already got some heavyweight backing for the event when it returns on November 23…
Last week the Government announced a 52% cut in the amount spent on advertising and marketing, leading to 287 redundancies.
One of the few Government campaigns to escape the axe was the HMRC’s ‘paying business taxes’ series of adverts which surely reveals a determination to ensure that businesses don’t escape their tax paying responsibilities. Freelancers and contractors should be on their guard.
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
For most freelancers and contractors, getting a good nights sleep is pretty crucial. Yes, you do get those strange types who seem to get by with just a few hours kip. But they’re not normal.
And surely being reliant on huge vats of coffee to get through the day doesn’t do anyone any good?
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
Are you the contractor or freelancer who likes to be the cool, quirky guy (or girl) in the office?
Well if you feel you’re failing in your mission to stand out from the humdrum crowd, these following desktop gadgets are sure to make you the envy of your bespectacled bald-pated colleagues…
IR35 has been the bane of many of a contractor since it was introduced back in April 2000. Recently the controversial legislation has been garnering much media attention after the coalition government promised to review it as part of their plans to simplify the tax system for businesses.
This makes it a good time to ask: what exactly is IR35?
VAT is defined by HMRC as “a tax that’s charged on most goods and services that VAT-registered businesses provide in the UK.”
The question is: when should you be VAT registered? And why? It’s time for a no-nonsense overview to provide some answers…
Ian Ozsvald | Resources,Training
Getting your message across to customers and clients is vital and, as a freelancer, communicating clearly and effectively with can make a big difference to the success or failure of a project or product.
Professional Screencaster Ian Ozsvald shows us how short online videos are a powerful way to get communicate clearly.
Michael Rose | Working From Home
Great to see the Guardian covering the Rise of Homeworking:
The rise of home working | Money | The Guardian
Of course, we’ve know about the steady rise of home-working and the joys of working from home for some time now. For more on home-working don’t forget our Working-From-Home section is where to find all the latest posts.
Portfolio To Go is a fantastic iPad app for artists and photographers who use Flickr.com to showcase their photographs online.
Lovingly created by Brighton-based freelance developer Nick Kuh, easily allows freelance photographers, graphic designers and artists to present their portfolio offline to clients — perfect for use with a wifi iPad.
Just sync and go.
The Federation of Small Businesses has recently predicted that over 300,000 new small firms will be set up over the next year.
Many of these will be people leaving corporate companies to go it alone as a freelancer, some by choice, others by necessity. It’s further evidence that for many people freelancing is the way forward.
Ofcom has recently revealed the results of its latest broadband speed tests and it makes interesting reading for any freelancers looking to achieve the swiftest possible broadband connection in their home office.
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!’
New government proposals to dramatically cut tax free pensions allowance could have an impact on freelancers and contractors looking to save money for the future.
I’ll be honest, I’d never set up a VoIP phone before. So I decided to try out a Cloud Net telephonic solution which enables you to make calls via a broadband connection. The good news is, it was pretty simple to set up and provides an effective service for small businesses.
There was, however, one small problem which every prospective purchaser of a VoIP needs to keep in mind before they make the leap…
If you’re like me – a freelancer who occasionally works from home and who happens to live in an old, listed or converted flat – you’re no stranger to fluctuating wireless signals, and the headache they can cause when you’re trying to work.
Thick concrete walls, organic (horsehair) insulation and poor telephone infrastructure make working from home in these types of flats something of a struggle. It makes matters worse when the one room in your flat where you get the most work done just happens to be out of range from your wireless router. So, when you run a business that relies heavily on a stable internet connection, what’s a freelancer to do?
Michael Rose | Lifestyle & Time out
We’re big fans of Jason Fried, creator of Basecamp and co-author of Rework. His Get Real column for Inc.com is a must-read for freelancers interested in freelancing, small business advice, for stories of struggle and success.
His first column for Inc.com, Driven to Distraction, is Fried’s fascinating tale of how he built 37Signals from his solo freelancing business.
Getting sign-off, in writing, is a vital part of best practice when sending designs, copy or code to clients. If changes need to be made later then, with sign-off completed, it is the client’s responsibility — not yours. If, for example, there is a typo in a design for a flyer (perhaps the date is wrong!) and the client spots the mistake after printing 1000s of copies the responsibility for the cost of re-printing is the clients… not yours.
Find out how Professional Indemnity Insurance will defend you in cases where clients refuse to pay, or make a claim against you.
It’s a question which every prospective freelancer and contractor asks themselves before making the leap towards a more self-sufficient way of working. Should I trade as a limited company or work via an umbrella company?
Both methods have their supporters, but in this article I will bring the debate back to basics.
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
A recent survey has explored the attitudes of mid-life women in the workplace. Despite having confidence in their own ability, it seems these women feel their age goes against them as far other people’s perceptions are concerned.
The results make interesting reading which suggests freelancing could be the way forward…
So, the job’s been a nightmare and the client has been excruciatingly awkward – and then when you reach the end of the project, they refuse to pay up. What do you do?
Insurance specialists Blyth Valley offer the following advice on how a Professional Indemnity policy can help…
When you start and grow a business, you’re involved each day in the detail of running the business; perfecting customer service, ensuring positive cashflow, making new products, and so on.
This is all good and right but to plan for business growth, it’s important to step away from day-to-day affairs and take a good look at the business from a distance.
If you use Skype and have an iPhone then this week’s announcement via the Skype blog will come as very welcome news.
Thanks to the new update, available on iTunes, calls now go over 3G so you no longer need to be at home on a wireless network to make and receive calls.
Sandy Dempsey | Getting a Job,Training
If you’ve not yet joined the 75 million strong Twitterati, Sandy Dempsey founder of The Dreaming Cafe gives us five great tips on how to get started, why you should use Twitter and other social networking tools, and how to make it work for you and your business.
So far, so good. That seems to be the business community’s general view regarding the coalition government.
In a recent newspaper article, award-winning entrepreneur and freelancer’s friend, Darren Fell, gave his views on why he thinks now is a great time to start a business in light of recent tax changes.
Michael Rose | Lifestyle & Time out,Technology
Teux Deux is a super-simple, sleek and stylish to-do list manager. If you like great design with a tiny pinch of minimalism then this might be for you.
Built entirely for the web you just sign up for a free account and start typing in your to-dos. To add a task you just type and hit return. That’s it.
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!
Earlier this week we featured online presentation tool Spiceynodes as a great way to present information to clients or customers, in person, on a screen or directly embedded on your website. Today we look at a few tools for making quick website wireframes, prototypes and mockups.
From simple, free rapid drafting and prototyping tools to more complex and outright technical offerings we give you a quick overview of the options for freelancers needing to quickly create a mockup for a website or landing page.
Debt collection. It’s a term which often invokes the notion of a murky underworld where burly henchman terrorise blameless innocent types, usually of a slender frame; they are often grabbed by the collar and thrown against the nearest wall.
However, if you’re a contractor or freelancer who’s owed money which is not forthcoming, how do you go about collecting it in the most civil manner possible?
It’s good news for UK contractors after the coalition government’s launch of the new Office of Tax Simplification. The body will be tasked with making the tax system in the UK less complex, which will include a review of IR35.
The swift launch suggests that the government is looking to change the tax system sooner rather than later.
Emma Jones | Getting a Job,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.
Over the last few days I’ve been fiddling about with a new online tool which could provide a fun new way of presenting information on your website, or alternatively, help you with some online brainstorming.
The interactive service offers a range of potential uses, but can it really be more than a fun diversion for freelancers and contractors?
Michael Rose | Getting a Job,News
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.
Freelancers and Entrepreneurs with innovative ideas can get in-depth business advice in a course which teaches the process of enterprise and will give you a great grounding in business planning skills.
The CommercialiSE Programme has been created to give freelancers and SME owners the tools to help turn a great small business idea into a well-planned, well-structured and profitable reality.
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
When you spend the majority of your working day staring at a computer screen, or reading pages of hard-copy text, your eyes can start to feel the strain. Is this just a drawback of desk-based work? Or is there something that can be done about it?
Here’s some handy advice for tackling eye strain…
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.
Joycellyn Akuffo | Working From Home
Do you like bashing the snooze button as many times as you like? Do you hate those gossipy water cooler conversations? While there are lots of side-benefits from working from home there are some real benefits too. Joycellyn Akuffo editor of MothersWhoWork.co.uk lists her Top Ten reasons why working from home is so appealing to so many.
For freelancers and contractors, being able to supply a client with a simple T’s and C’s document is a sure-fire way of maintaining an aura of professionalism. It’s also pretty handy in the event of a dispute.
So, what else are they good for? And how should you go about drawing them up? Insurance specialists Blyth Valley have the answers…
A good business partnership is like a good marriage. You meet the right person, work well together and combine talents to create something wonderful. Emma Jones offers the secret to ensuring a business partnership doesn’t turn sour.
Michael Rose | Technology,Working From Home
If you occasionally work from home then getting a decent broadband connection can really help you get your work done effectively.
Thanks to modern-day technology, working from home is no longer a second-rate way of staying in touch with clients and colleagues and broadband has become a vital lifeline for many home workers, allowing them to email or browse the web in comfort while also being able to send and receive large files with ease.
If you’re not up to speed with Broadband at home Chris Marling of Broadband Genie gives you a a few things to consider.
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…
If you’re a designer or freelancer who is in the business of recommending materials or services to others, are you aware of the dangers you may face in doing so?
Insurance specialists Blyth Valley reveal how you can reduce the likelihood of a disgruntled customer heading straight for you with an inclination to sue…
Prioritising and planning how you use your time is a key skill for every great freelancer. Freelancing gives you the freedom to choose what you do and when you do it.
This freedom can have shortcomings however as it’s very easy to be distracted by emails, twitter and other interruptions — and it’s tempting to focus on doing those tasks you like instead of those which may be most useful.
Joycellyn Akuffo | Lifestyle & Time out
Although it feels as if the worst of the economic crisis is over, and the outlook for freelancers and contractors is relatively positive, the emergency ‘austerity’ Budget is a stark reminder that the recovery is still fragile.
Should unemployment strike, it’s important to ensure that your self-esteem doesn’t go through the floor.
Jocellyn Akuffo is the founder of a website for working mums, and has some timely advice…
Would you like to take a Pomodoro? In this instance I’m not asking you to accept a tomato, but instead enquiring as to whether you’d like to try a technique designed to improve your powers of concentration and increase the efficiency of your work.
As part of our Freelance Focus series, application designer Cesare Rocchi advises any freelancer who’s struggling to maintain their discipline and productivity to try out the Pomodoro technique…
Leif Kendall | Getting a Job,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.
For those who are trying to find ‘the killer concept,’ perhaps the following will be of interest…
Concept Feedback is a handy resource for freelance designers and anyone who’s in the business of creating a logo, website or brand concept. The idea of the site is to create a professional online community where designers and visual creatives offer feedback on the design projects of others. It’s particularly useful for freelancers who are not in a position to gather feedback from their own personal sources.
There are many different types of insurance available for freelancers and contractors, many of which are advisable only for specific fields of work. One form of insurance which is almost universally recommended is Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance.
After all, if you make a costly mistake at work – who ya gonna call?
Freelancers and contractors in the UK are well-versed in the business benefits of social networking sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. But one service they may not be so familiar with is Ecademy – a business network which in many aspects is similar to LinkedIn.
So what can it offer the freelancing community?
PROBLEM: You have limited, often fragmented time to meet clients and contacts. You might have a free spot for two hours this afternoon, time between finishing one project and starting the next, and it’d be great to generate some new business in that slot — if only people knew you were free to talk.
Setster solves this problem beautifully — perfect for consultants or small businesses.
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
For freelancers and contractors working in office environments the issue of safety at work will not be forefront in most people’s minds. And for obvious reasons. We’re not exactly operating heavy machinery where one false move means one lost limb, or balancing on the edge of a scaffold pole while balancing a bucket of cement atop our heads.
Nonetheless, every year approximately 2000 office workers are absent from work for more than three days due to workplace accidents; and these statistics don’t take account of illnesses resulting from office work.
Mark Kirby | Lifestyle & Time out
Information overload is not a problem — we’ve been surrounded by too much information for centuries.
The real problem is ‘filter failure’.
Here Wordpress & Mobile Developer Mark Kirby outlines a very simple method for filtering website feeds and making the most of your time online.
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
When your working day becomes a stultifying bore sometimes you need a form of respite. A brief sojourn can be provided by playing online games, but what if you’re working in an office with potential snitchers peering over your shoulder ready to cry wolf to their favourite boss?
Cant You See I’m Busy.com to the rescue!
A genuinely enlightening tax planning seminar for freelancers and contractors will be taking place on July 20 at the Cumberland Hotel in London.
An impressive roster of guest speakers will break down the recent Budget and offer expert insight into how it affects you, as well as looking in detail at the day-to-day financial trials and tribulations of being a flexi-worker.
The economic downturn has played a big part in accelerating the importance of social media in the marketing minds of freelancers and small businesses. For that reason, the idea of employing the services of a social media consultant can appear to be a no-brainer. After all, for many small operations, social media has become integral to their online presence.
Failing to utilise social media to its fullest extent could prove costly.
But is formal training really necessary?
What do freelancers need to do in order to thrive and develop their businesses in today’s economic climate?
Business performance coach Daryl Close says the old business revenue models are dead and new competencies are needed to effectively compete.
Jo Blood | Lifestyle & Time out
Sitting down and working from behind a desk should be the least physically strenuous form of employment, but all too often office-based work can lead to a pain in the neck, and an ache in the back. Posture expert Jo Blood guides us through the most ergonomically viable way of working at your computer…
As the dust settles after the June Budget Financial Planning Expert Paul Cleworth give us some good news for contractors.
TODO: Is a review of salary levels with your accountant requried?
A new interactive guide has been produced by the PCG which offers information and advice on how clients can source freelancers and make the most of their talents. The guide works as a handy reference tool which will ultimately help potential employers better understand freelancers and contractors, and ensure a smoother working relationship.
But it’s also pretty darn useful from a freelancer’s perspective…
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.
If you care about your personal brand, how you are showing up online and what people are saying about you and your business then this new app from award-winning filmmaker and iPhone app developer Garrett Murray is just what you need.
Check your referrers in Mint and Google Analytics, browse your Tumblr Dashboard, reply to mentions on Twitter, all from within Ego!
A few years ago getting heard on Twitter was easy. When I first joined there were less than a million users and it was easy to find friends with common interests and it was even possible for a couple of friend to create a trending topic.
Now with 70m+ users (sending 50m tweets a day) the story is a little different…
In May, the newly formed coalition government wasted no time in making all the right noises regarding the stress inducing IR35 ‘disguised employment’ legislation. Through a combination of squawks, growls and shrill cries they promised to “review IR35, as part of a wholesale review of all small business taxation, and seek to replace it with simpler measures…”
The question is: can we expect any statements of substance regarding the legislation in the upcoming emergency budget?
Social media has quickly risen from an online tool for building and maintaining social relations to one which can assist in expanding a brand’s online presence, and provide an opportunity to communicate with relevant publics. Sam Malpass show us how to make the most of its potential in a freelance business.
If you’re a razor-sharp freelancing PR professional then you may want to take advantage of a recent partnership between the Professional Contractors Group (the ‘Voice of Freelancing’) and the Public Relations Consultants Association.
In our continuing quest to offer a helping hand to freelancers and contractors, we’re offering you the chance to get a special discount on membership to the PCG (the Professional Contractors Group) thanks to an exclusive promotional code.
A report by PeoplePerHour.com – the online marketplace for freelancers and contractors – has uncovered some interesting data about how much money local councils spend on web services.
Judy Heminsley | Lifestyle & Time out
Co-working offers freelancers both flexibility of where to work and also the chance to meet with like-minded co-workers and collaborators. Working from home expert Judy Heminsley recommends the Jelly approach.
Emma Jones | Working From Home
Working from Home. If you need to work from home unexpectedly then these online tools and services will help you get the job done. Freelance Advisor Emma Jones shares her tips for staying connected with co-workers and clients.
As a contractor you may review your finances fairly often and look at your current and projected earnings to enable you to set effective budgets, for you personally and for your business moving forwards. This allows you to set future personal and financial goals, which could centre on retiring early to planning that big holiday away with your family.
These plans and your current lifestyle are supported by you continuing to work and generating a regular income. But what happens if you are unable to work due to illness? Your level of income may well fall and your financial plans for the future may be compromised.
Following an article on Contractor UK’s website last week “Scrapping IR35 is not the answer, say Tories,” PCG, the largest UK organisation representing freelancers and contractors, are remaining optimistic in their campaign to overturn the UK’s IR35 leglislation.
According to a PCG spokesman they have now had a series of “fruitful and productive” meetings with various political parties and they detect from all political sides “a desire for a revision of IR35 legislation”.
When you’re running your own business you are the business manager, financial director, credit controller and bookkeeper. Hopefully you’ve managed to outsource your accounting needs but you still need to look at your accounts to make informed business decisions.
This week’s podcast with Sarah Thelwall from MyCake took a look at Turning Business Data into Brilliant Business Plans this post takes us a bit deeper and looks at a few types of costs that freelancers and SME’s incur so that you can gain a better idea of what ‘normal’ is.
Leif Kendall | Lifestyle & Time out
In the first of Freelance Advisor’s freelancer interviews we speak to web designer Rowan Richardson, and discover how she succeeds as a freelancer.
Leo Babauta | Lifestyle & Time out
Single-tasking: getting more done by doing less.
Developing good, simple habits and maintaining a focused mind can not only help you stay sane but is way more efficient than multitasking.
Guest blogger and productivity-pro Leo Babauta tells why multitasking is bad and how we can avoid doing it.
Tom Albrighton | Getting a Job
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.
Freelancer and contractors are unsung heroes and Xchangeteam’s Emma Brierley has made it her mission to get freelancers the recognition they deserve. This month’s Freelancer of the Year Awards are only the beginning… Why Freelancers Need To Be Celebrated At some point in their career no less than one in seven British workers will be [...]
Whether it is networking, meetings, clients or conferences, marketing yourself is an essential skill for any freelancer or contractor. Freelance Advisor and author Emma Jones offers seven quick tips to help you shine Starting on the right foot: 7 steps to creating the right impression You only get one chance to create a first impression. [...]
Freelancers benefit from online social networking MORE and more freelancers are using social networking sites to promote their services, a survey has found. The BT Tradespace survey found 15 per cent of small businesses promote themselves on sites such as Facebook, compared to just seven per cent this time last year. But the survey also [...]
Government unveils plan to help small business’ cash flow problems THE British Government will guarantee up to £20bn in loans to UK small businesses to help them manage cash flow problems in the current economic downturn. Business Secretary Lord Peter Mandelson unveiled his “real help for small to medium businesses” plan this week, saying its [...]
Dianne Bown-Wilson | Getting a Job
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 [...]
Leif Kendall | Lifestyle & Time out
Ah… the life of a freelancer… feet up, TV on, sitting around in your dressing gown and your clients are none the wiser. But is this really the best way to approach your freelance and contracting work? Freelance Advisor and Web Marketing Consultant Leif Kendall asked the freelancers on the Brighton New Media list what [...]
Look who’s talking: Monitoring buzz on the web As a freelance community builder and co-director of TheWerks web-socialite Rosie Sherry offers advice on monitoring your brand and filtering out the noise. Five sites for monitoring your brand online There’s no denying that the web holds huge amount of information. Most of it irrelevant to you [...]
The death of the CV? Are curriculum vitae a thing of the past? Guest blogger Greg Coley, Creative Director of the integrated agency VGroup, gives an insider’s view on what freelance designers can do to get noticed. Marketing yourself as a freelance designer So you’re a budding young designer straight out of university, a middleweight, [...]
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 [...]
Compelling Content – Part 2 Brainstorming: Your ideal reader or customer A two-part series from freelance copywriter Kath Burke. In part one, Kath explained how you can understand why people buy you. Part two explores how to use brainstorming as an exercise in focusing on the content that really matters before you put pen to [...]
Create compelling content your clients will crave In this 2-part series freelance copywriter and content consultant Kath Burke says the secret of writing great web marketing copy is in the preparation. Before you put pen to paper, you need to explore your clients’ deeper concerns and needs. Ah. If only you could magic up the [...]
Gorgeous gadget: the Sony VAIO AW11XU/Q Life on the road can be tough. The contents of a suitcase are certainly no match for the comforts of home, but if you pick and choose your gear with a little care it doesn’t have to be all bad. We all need cutting-edge technology for the work that [...]
Michael Rose | Lifestyle & Time out
Mark Kirby’s piece on Time-Boxing for Freelancers this week got me thinking about all the time I could waste trying to find the perfect tools for the job. The irony of this is not lost on anyone I’m sure so, rather than waste unnecessary time on “productivity p0rn”, I thought I’d take Mark’s advice to [...]
“I’m busy earning as a freelancer, but what about all those Pension plans?” It’s a common freelance problem. You’re hard at work earning money from contracts, but you also know you need to keep an eye out for when you’ll be less busy earning. In this new Financial Management series, Senior Pensions & Retirement Consultant [...]
If you’re a freelance designer or programmer then attending the i-design 08 Portfolio Clinic Wednesday 17 September in London is a no brainer. First it’s FREE and secondly if you’re currently looking for work or to expand your future client base then you’ll be able to meet 15 of the capital’s most respected and successful [...]
Accounts and Audit Manager Michael Riazi helps freelancers and contractors find the advice they need. Last month Michael gave some great advice on how to find an accountant that is right for our freelance business – this month he gives us ten things we should ask on our first meeting. Before you choose an accountant… [...]
today’s current climate it is essential to choose every aspect of your freelance business dealings carefully. This applies not just to your clients and suppliers but also to your professional advisors – especially a good accountant.
The right accountant will meet all your business accountancy needs, from the preparation of accounts and dealing with tax matters, but also helping your company or business grow in the future.
In this series, Bill Faust, author of Pitch Yourself, shares insights gained from over 30-years of industry experience. He discusses key factors for effective self-marketing, understanding what self-marketing means, reading your future employers’ desires and defining clearly what you, the product, have to offer.
One of the joys of freelancing is that you get to do everything. But this omnipotence means you can’t hate the sales team for not bringing in new clients, because you are the sales team. Become CEO of YouCorp You can’t have a spat with Maureen in accounts because she hasn’t sorted your expenses, because [...]
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.
Helen Wilkinson | Lifestyle & Time out
Freelance Health: Using exercise to unwind. Taking time out from a busy work schedule to relax and unwind.
