In the face of fairly universal criticism, HMRC announced late last week that they were putting the brakes on their controversial Business Record Checks programme, and suspending all new investigations until their revamped approach is detailed at the beginning of the 2012/13 financial year.
Jon Norris | Getting a Job,News
The economic climate may be stormy and the weather chilly, but there was great news for freelancers last week when PeoplePerHour’s Small Business Survey revealed that the UK’s SMEs are turning to freelancers in droves to fill their skills gap as full-time employees continue to be a costly and compliance-laden burden.
Jon Norris | Getting a Job,News
It would seem the continuing economic malaise is starting to get better of the UK’s freelancers, contractors and small business owners. A survey by Aviva of 500 small and micro-business owners in December has found that a full 25% of entrepreneurs are considering putting their business out to pasture and re-entering the general workforce as an employee of a larger entity.
With the ongoing shift towards employers using freelancers / contractors instead of employing PAYE workers and employees in the current uncertain climate, we look at how small business owners can get the best out of their relationship with freelancers, for the benefit of both parties.
One of the keys to securing some of that lucrative repeat business is to make sure your clients remember you. If you design their website, you want them to leap from their chairs and yell “let’s call Geoff!” when it comes time to make some alterations, rather than “who was that web guy? George something?”
With the self-assessment tax return deadline looming, HMRC is facing embarrassment as thousands of their call centre staff are poised to stage a walkout on January 31st.
There was a ray of hope for premises-seeking freelancers yesterday when David Cameron announced that the Government would be offering up its vast inventory of vacant office buildings to small businesses and entrepreneurs at subsidised rates, making a dedicated office space suddenly a more realistic proposition.
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.
HMRC is not having a good start to 2012. The Independent has published a piece highlighting HMRC’s late filing penalties, which were deemed illegal by Geraint Jones, QC in a Tax Tribunal last September.
We’ve been keeping abreast of the Agency Workers Regulations since they came into force on 1st October. Despite proclamations of the world ending, the legislation hasn’t had as drastic an impact on the UK’s freelancer and contractor community as was expected.
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.
HMRC yesterday launched a pilot of an Alternative Dispute Resolution service for SMEs, which aims to reduce to need for tribunals during HMRC’s compliance checks. The scheme, which was trialled last year and saw 60% of disputes either fully or partially resolved, involves independent facilitators who work with both HMRC and business owners to ensure a quick and fair outcomes for both parties.
The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has reported that last month permanent job vacancies fell at their fastest rate since July 2009, suggesting that companies large and small are continuing to put recruitment on hold, either by choice or as a financial necessity.
Rachel Soothill | News,Technology
Good news for all you retailing freelancers out there plying your trade through Etsy or your own online store – recent research has shown that online shoppers choose to buy from smaller retailers with personality rather than larger online stores.
HMRC has been taken to task today by Conservative MPs and business leaders for their preferential treatment of large corporates, while attacking small and micro businesses through their Business Record Checks. The scheme will result in fines of up to £3,000 for freelancers, contractors and small businesses who cannot provide paperwork to back up the claims made in their tax returns.
I’m not much of a political commentator, but I think most people in the west agree the government of Iran are something of an irresponsible and oppressive bunch. After cracking down on anti-Government protests at the beginning of the year, Iran has now “gone Nuclear” on its freelancers, and has blocked popular outsourcing website Freelancer.com.
The Government has confirmed this week their plans to ‘overhaul’ key areas of employment legislation following several months of consultation and the Red Tape project. Will any of these make life easier for Employers by reducing red tape, or be fair to Employees?
New Research by Creditsafe, friend of Freelance Advisor and producers of our quite excellent credit control guide, has revealed that the number of start-up businesses has increased and will continue to accelerate by nearly 20% each year.
Last week Chancellor and plasticine man-child George Osborne delivered his Autumn Statement to Parliament, laying out how the Government would be tweaking their budget for the coming months in order to drag the UK out of the economic doldrums and back to healthy growth.
The Forum of Private Business (FPB) are urging small businesses to plan ahead and get prepared for a harsh winter as weather forecasters predict that temperatures will plummet soon. According to forecasters, there is likely to be widespread frost across the UK for the coming weeks, with the chance of sleet or snow in the north – terrifying stuff.
New research conducted by Simply Business has found that a surprising 27% of small businesses are planning to increase their staffing in the next twelve months.
As you have probably heard, mass public sector strikes are occurring today in protest of the Government’s pension reforms. Around three million public sector employees are walking out (many of them protesting in London) in an attempt to throw out reforms that would see their pension contributions rise dramatically, as well as push back their retirement age.
Jon Norris | Getting a Job,Technology
Every so often a new invention or technology pops up that fundamentally changes the way people interact. Whether it be the Gutenberg press or Facebook, both have had a profound impact on the way information is shared and how easy it is to access. Along with any new technology also comes a healthy dose of new business opportunities and hype – and the hype comes no bigger than that surrounding social media.
As you probably know, we’re throwing a big party in Brighton tonight to celebrate National Freelancers Day. If you didn’t know, you do now (and what have you been doing with yourself? Pay attention, for gods sake!).
Hooray! As you have hopefully realised by now, today (November 23rd) is National Freelancers Day! The event, dreamt up and orchestrated by the Professional Contractors Group, is now in its third year. In 2009 the focus was “the future of work”, and in 2010 “freeing up potential” was the theme. This year the main event, The Freelance Lecture, being held at St. Lukes on Old Street in London on the topic “Flexibility, capability, agility, compatibility”.
Prime Minister David Cameron has once again praised the UK’s freelancers on the eve of National Freelancers Day 2011. In the latest issue of Freelance Matters, the industry magazine from the PCG, the Prime Minister reflected on the impact on the freelance sector.
We’ve covered coworking plenty on Freelance Advisor. Be it at dedicated coworking spaces or weekly Jelly meetings, we think coworking is a fantastic way for freelancers and contractors to get out there, enjoy the company of like-minded individuals, get some work done, and do some no-pressure networking. It would seem out enthusiasm is shared by many coworkers, as evidenced by the results of a survey by Deskmag.
Just six weeks after passing into law, the controversial Agency Workers Regulations are facing more and more vocal opposition. Despite audible industry protestations, the new legislation went ahead unchanged on October 1st, and now both the Association of Recruitment Consultancies (ARC) and The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) have renewed calls for an early review.
According to research carried out by energy supplier E.ON, just one in five small businesses in the UK are using energy-efficient equipment in the workplace. These new figures are based on a survey of 1,167 small businesses across the UK.
Rachel Soothill | News,Technology
According a new US study, it has been revealed that consumers who follow brands on the popular social network Twitter are much more likely to purchase from that brand or recommend their products to others. The social media marketing study which was carried out by Constant Contact and research firm Chadwick Martin Bailey, analysed the behaviour of 1,491 consumers aged 18 and older.
We recently highlighted how red tape is putting off small businesses taking on staff. Another area of huge concern and confusion is what paperwork you need to give your staff to ensure your working relationship is clear and unambiguous. We give you the low-down here!
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.
The Bank of England (BoE) governor Sir Mervyn King has stated that banks should be offered financial incentives to encourage more lending to struggling small businesses. Speaking at the Treasury Select Committee about the BoE’s decision to inject £75 billion back into the economy, Sir Mervyn King urged MPs to address the lack of lending to small businesses in the UK.
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.
Recent research has claimed that a full third of small- and medium-sized business that have to close down due to data loss can be chalked up to human error. The problem has been highlighted by an IT specialist, who also found that almost two thirds (64%) of employees had received no IT security training
As we reported a few months ago, payments to small businesses are taking longer than ever. Research by payment infrastructure behemoth BACS found that the average payment period was a rather lengthy 52 days.
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has just launched a new service which allows small businesses to check their patent applications online for free. The Online Patent Information and Documentation Inspection Service (Ipsum) has been set up to allow users to keep track of the progress of their patent application and its status.
National Freelancers Day is drawing near. We’re preparing by baking cakes in the shapes of our favourite freelancers, recording mixtapes of the best songs to freelance to and ritualistically burning effigies of our least favourite clients.
A recent report that explores the pressures on workers during the current deteriorating market conditions has revealed that worries about job loss have contributed to stress becoming the most common cause of long-term absence in the UK for the first time in 12 years.
One of the most attractive aspects of freelancing is that despite working from home, working online offers you many opportunities to land projects from clients across the globe. With English serving as the global business language of choice, for the native English speaking freelancer there should be no barriers to attracting a diverse and international clientèle.
Jon Norris | Getting a Job,News
As they do every quarter, outsourcing site Freelancer.com has released their latest figures mapping trends in the demand for freelance workers across sectors. Thousands of jobs are posted up on their site every month, so their data can be a good barometer of the direction of freelance work.
As mumpreneurs get recognition in the latest edition of the Collins English Dictionary, it has also emerged that the number of mums starting their own business has doubled in the last year. According to a survey carried out by online freelance marketplace PeoplePerHour, there has been a 110% increase in the number of entrepreneurial mothers signing up to the website over the past 12 months.
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.
Worried about how your relationship might change with your agency now Agency Worker Regulations (AWR) has come into play? The PCG have compiled a set of letter templates for members to help maintain those agency relationships while providing assurance that that they are out of scope of the troublesome new legislation.
A recent survey carried out on 500 office workers has revealed that nearly two thirds of employees would rather sacrifice part of their pay rather than see a colleague lose their job. The poll highlighted just how strong team camaraderie can be within the workplace with 62% of respondents declaring that they would take a pay cut in order to keep their colleagues in employment.
You may think this is a crazy notion; you’re fresh out of Uni, your CV is sparse, your bank account decidedly mothball-ridden, but jumping into the world of being self-employed could be a very wise move given the current climate. As recent figures have shown, more young people and recent graduates are out of work than ever before.
It’s no secret we love a good party. In fact, the only thing we love more than a good party is throwing a good party. Luckily for all those based in or around Brighton, we’re doing just that!
New research has found that more than a third of small businesses would consider relocating in order to help cut costs. The study was carried out by Make It Cheaper, a price comparison site for businesses, and the Centre for Economic and Business Research who identified the cheapest and costliest regions in the UK to run a business.
The Chancellor, George Osborne, at the Conservative Party conference last weekend confirmed that the Government would double the qualification period needed for employees to be able to claim unfair dismissal – from 1 year (which it is now) to 2 years – from April 2012.
Although the general mood of the UK’s small businesses has been cautiously optimistic in the past few months, the continued fallout from the Eurozone crisis looks to be having a negative impact on the nation’s recovery.
Rachel Soothill | News,Technology
Last week the world was in mourning after Steve Jobs, the founder and visionary behind the Apple computer, iPod and iPhone, died from an eight-year battle with cancer, aged just 56. I for one cannot live without my iPhone, especially since I’ve become a full-time freelancer and so here, I would like to pay a small tribute to the man who helped revolutionise the way we communicate.
Jen Stakes Roberts | Resources
Risk management. Sounds terrifying. It also sounds like something that only big business does, or maybe people who plan really big events, like the Olympics, wars or taking a class of 9-year-olds on a school trip. Surely it’s not something that freelancers need to worry about, is it?
With more than 21,000 regulations currently active in the UK, earlier this year the government made a welcome pledge to reduce this amount and so reducing the overall burden regulation places on businesses and employers. The Better Regulation Executive (BRE) has played a major part in helping the coalition government’s strategy to reduce regulations.
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%.
While there may be mixed messages surrounding the profitability of commercial activity on Facebook, the social network’s primary source of income – targeted advertising – is still a sound option for those looking to purchase banner ads to promote their business. Facebook is now planning to give away free adverts to small businesses in the US.
We’re in the midst of a fairly pronounced period of economic strife, in case you didn’t notice. Markets are collapsing, Greece is almost broke, and widespread redundancies are happening in the public and private sector alike.
It’s been a long time coming, but this Saturday – despite worries and protestations from many in the recruitment, contracting and HR sectors – the implementation of the Agency Workers Regulations looks set to go ahead as planned with little change to the rules handed down from the EU.
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.
Europe’s largest credit management organisation, the Institute of Credit Management (ICM), has launched a petition in conjunction with the commercial credit referencing agency Graydon UK, to prompt a Government rethink on plans to exempt micro-businesses from having to file accounts at Companies House.
There are any number of reasons a fledgling business can fail – and the sad truth is that the majority do within the first year. Be it financial mismanagement, lacklustre marketing or just poor products, the reasons for failure are almost as numerous as the failed businesses themselves. Now a study from the Startup Genome, a research group assembled to investigate what makes a successful business, has revealed that the top killer of startups is in fact premature scaling.
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.
It has been reported that David Cameron has sought last minute legal advice to find out what the possibilities are of making changes to the new Agency Worker Regulations (AWR) that are set to come into force on the 1st October.
If you are thinking about joining the world of freelancers or perhaps you have recently started your own freelance business – good for you!
It is less than 8 weeks to go until National Freelancers Day, which takes place for the third year running on the 23rd November 2011, and if the promoters of the event are to be believed it is set to be the best one yet!
As we discussed recently, the sales pitch is one of the hardest challenges a freelancer will face, so it is essential to get to grips with some basic sales techniques and tools in order to continue finding new work.
Although some freelancers may find it more difficult to obtain a good credit card than a full-time employee, there’s a lot of disinformation flying around about freelancers and credit cards. Here we’ll bust three common myths.
The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has vowed to take forward the recruitment industry’s concerns over current regulatory burdens in upcoming meetings with the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS).
Lesley Furber | Lifestyle & Time out
Anyone can volunteer, Freelancers and Contractors too. All types of organisations regularly need volunteers and Freelancers can often offer specialised skills that ‘traditional’ volunteers cannot.
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.
In the same way that most people will pay close attention to the way they dress, how you ‘dress up’ your business deserves just as much attention. The visual identity you apply to your business will shape external perceptions and attitudes, playing a key role in the long-term success of your business.
There are potentially a couple of small but noteworthy changes heading the way of small businesses in the not-too-distant future, both announced last week. Firstly, HMRC is mulling over a proposal which would make online submission of VAT returns compulsory for firms with turnovers less than £100,000.
Many new freelancers and contractors may be vaguely aware of IR35, but not know when and where it applies. Before getting too intimate with the ins and outs of the IR35 legislation, the first step is to know if IR35 is even relevant to your situation.
We’ve been covering the upcoming Agency Workers Regulations with some interest. The legislation, due to come into force in October, has the potential to fundamentally alter the relationship some freelancers and contractors have with their Umbrella Companies.
A survey carried out by Sedo, a global domain marketplace, has revealed that small businesses are paying 5% more for their domain names than they were this time last year.
Back in February, as part of their penance for almost bankrupting us all, the UK’s five biggest banks entered into Project Merlin, a scheme by the Government to allow better access to credit and loan facilities to UK businesses.
Outsourcing has long been used by larger firms looking to minimise the cost and impact of certain operations and procedures on their company. At a time when the UK business market is uncertain, it is a service now being explored by many smaller businesses and SMEs who are looking to offset costs or seek expansion during a high-risk period.
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
It has been revealed that business secretary Vince Cable and Green Party leader Caroline Lucas are the latest MPs to sign up to the Business Buddy scheme, along with 102 other MPs.
A study by the Forum of Private Business has found that small firms are spending more time and money complying with Government legislation than ever before, with a massive 84% of businesses saying they have increased compliance activities since 2009.
HMRC staff are to begin calling new businesses to offer advice on how to correctly take care of their bookkeeping and tax obligations. HMRC is referring to this new practise as “telephone education”, and businesses will be contacted “at key stages in their lifecycles”.
Jon Norris | News,Working From Home
British Gas has been fined £2.5 million by Ofgem for failing to deal with customer complaints – especially those of small businesses – correctly. The utilities company, which supplies around half of UK homes, was deemed to have prematurely closed cases when customers still said they were unresolved.
Rachel Soothill | News,Technology
Research into online marketing has revealed that two thirds of marketing managers still rely on email to deliver their online campaigns. The survey, which was carried out by eCircle, is part of a larger study on European Social Media and Email Marketing.
The decision by the Payments Council to not abolish cheques has been welcomed by small businesses who were concerned that no alternative viable payment system has been proposed.
As outsourcing becomes an increasingly used solution by businesses that lack the workforce, abilities or budgets to carry out certain services themselves, more outsourcing options are becoming available. The most common of which has been offshoring, which involves using services that are based outside of the UK.
It has been revealed in a recent survey that some small businesses are so desperate to cut costs they are considering reducing their staff holiday allowances. The survey, which was carried out by insurance company MetLife and involved 400 small businesses, found that 27% of firms felt that holiday allowance was too generous.
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.
Jon Norris | Getting a Job,News
The latest figures released by Freelancer.com, who use their gigantic repository of freelance jobs to track which the ebb and flow of different sectors, have shown that demand for mobile experts continues to grow at an exponential rate.
A new survey by financial group Investec has found that confidence amongst entrepreneurs across the UK is the highest it has been in years, with a mammoth 96% predicting their revenues will increase in the next year.
The self-employed are being urged to plan ahead in the event of being off work due to illness. The advice comes following a recent report that revealed that the self employed are among the worst effected when it comes to the financial impact of being in hospital.
HM Revenue and Customs have released a new action plan designed – not the same as committed – to significantly opening up the public sector marketplace to small businesses. The actions outlined in the document range from increasing the amount of information available and holding ‘product surgeries’, to piloting new procurement methods and increasing SME access to sub-contracting opportunities.
A survey carried out by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) has uncovered some very interesting results relating to how British workers perceive their managers. It was revealed that over 50% of the 2,000 respondents’ don’t feel that their manager is up to the job. If that wasn’t enough to raise your eyebrows in concern, it was also revealed that those managers are completely oblivious to the fact.
A survey carried out by recruitment website, Monster, has revealed that more than a quarter of employees spend three hours a week searching for a new job while in work time.
Jon Norris | Getting a Job,News
This week the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development released a report that found highly skilled workers such as engineers, consultants and developers are in woefully short supply in the UK. Around three quarters (73%) of employers said that the high levels of unemployment have resulted in many unqualified applicants for skilled positions.
With widespread public sector strikes on the horizon there is concern from business groups that there could be severe financial consequences for small businesses, including freelancers and contractors. It has been revealed that various unions are planning coordinated strikes in protest to Government cuts, pension reforms and wage freezes within the public sector.
Going freelance is a big step for anyone. It takes a not insignificant amount of confidence to leave the cosy 9-to-5 world and step out on your own, but landing that first client is a feeling like no other. However, a common problem for first-time freelancers is Invoice Anxiety. When should you invoice? What should you do if your client doesn’t pay straight away?
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 | Guides,Technology
Now we have established what a powerful communication tool social media has become, the next step is to learn how to harness that power and use it for getting your business and key messages out there. Social media is rapidly becoming the chosen channel for businesses to communicate and share ideas, and should form a strong part of your online marketing strategy.
Jon Norris | Lifestyle & Time out,Resources
If you follow us on Twitter (and really, why don’t you?) you may have noticed us chatting with Freelance Five. This new site, set up by freelance designer Mark Bowley aims to take all it is to be a freelancer – all the lost weekends, invoice chasing, personal successes and wonderful freedom, and boil it down into five concise questions.
There was good news for micro-businesses last week as the EU decided it was time to unburden them from the heavy weight of small business accounting. Business Minister and aged Wayne Rooney lookalike Ed Davey announced that by reducing the accounting responsibilities of businesses with fewer than ten employees and turnover less than £434,000 the EU could save these small enterprises around £300 million per year.
Following the OTS report on small business tax simplification and the Chancellor’s subsequent lack of action, HMRC has formed the IR35 Forum – an expert group of employment and tax specialists – to look into potential reforms to the much-reviled legislation. Following the Forum’s first meeting in early May, the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo) has now been invited to join.
Rachel Soothill | Getting a Job,News
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has revealed that the number of start-up businesses in the UK has increased by nearly 50,000 from 2009-2010. The government statistics show that there are now 4.5 million private sector firms operating in the UK, despite the difficult economic climate.
According to research by payment behemoth Bacs, Britain’s small and medium businesses are being bent over the proverbial barrel by large corporates, who continue to be the worst offenders in terms of prompt payments. According to Bacs, half of the UK’s SMEs have suffered late payments – the average payment period being a staggering 52 days.
From 1st October 2011, Agency Workers in Great Britain (Northern Ireland will publish their own separate regulations) will have the right to ‘equal treatment’ in certain areas of their employment. We summarise what you need to know!
New research has revealed the spending habits of the men and women of the UK, and the results make for interesting reading. The study revealed that millions around Britain are squireling money away without the knowledge of their partner, but for very different reasons.
If you decide to form a Limited Company, your next question will probably be “How do I do that?” Many people imagine that forming a Limited Company is an exercise in endless bureaucracy, involving mountains of paperwork and astronomical costs. This couldn’t be further from the truth. According to Companies House 362,000 companies were incorporated in the financial year 2009/10 – over 1,000 every day day!
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?
David Sumner | Working From Home
It’s not hard to see why the freelancing bug has caught on for so many. Being able to work from home and work to your own schedule (with no boss telling you what to do) sounds like heaven to most of us. However, if you are going to succeed in the world of freelancing then you must be able to balance the freedom and flexibility with discipline and ground rules.
Although this does not relate to you, our honest and straight-laced freelance readers, we thought we would just fill you in on the latest HMRC initiative designed to bust the tax dodgers. Following their “amnesty for all” announcement HM Revenue & Customs have now unveiled a new tax evasion unit that offers reduced penalties for those who come clean on undeclared income.
The hot topic recently has been about the recession and its continued impact on the freelance job market. Only last week we revealed the results from a survey carried out by CIPD and now more research from PeoplePerHour.com has confirmed the same.
Rachel Soothill | Lifestyle & Time out
As the summer holidays approach our minds start to wander to lazy days on the beach, chilled Pimms and time with the family. However, we all know that holidays for freelancers are never quite so easy and stress free. Holidays represent all that is positive and all that is negative about being a freelancer.
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 | Lifestyle & Time out,Resources
While most freelancers and contractors offer personal services – consultancies and suchlike – there are still a large amount of self-employed people out there who make and sell physical things. If you’re going to be selling things, these days you’ll be nowhere without an online store!
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out,Working From Home
When you’re working from home, you need strong self-discipline and an ability to manage time effectively. One of the best time management devices comes courtesy of an old-fashioned clock. Sure, we all have the time on our computers, but it’s not the same as having a proper clock face hanging high up on the wall above your desk.
Jon Norris | Events,Lifestyle & Time out
For all the full-time employees out there the next few weeks are a good time to be alive. Two four-day weekends in a row? Sounds ok to me. But, as many of us know all too well, Bank Holidays aren’t always quite so relaxing for freelancers on a deadline.
Jon Norris | Getting a Job,Lifestyle & Time out
Last week we conducted another very unscientific Twitter straw poll to see what freelancers’ favourite perks of the job are. Is it the variety afforded by a self-employed lifestyle? Perhaps its the flexibility or the networking opportunities? The results are in, and there was one very clear consensus
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
The job of a freelance writer or copywriter is to write stuff for people and businesses. This isn’t creative writing in the purest sense, it is about writing what needs to be written for a client. There is no room for writer’s block and therefore it doesn’t normally apply, unlike when an author pens his or her own novel. However, there still comes a time when writing for a client seems like a laborious teeth-pulling process. And that’s enough to make any writer’s fingers freeze above the keyboard.
A new fiscal year always means more fun legislation changes. This year is no different and, as well as the tax changes which we’ve already detailed, there are a raft of changes to employment law. Effective from 6th April 2011 are the following changes -
Mel Dixon | Getting a Job,News
With a sharp rise in the number of people going part time self-employed, now’s a good time to ponder why this might be the case and whether or not it is a good thing. Is it a case of people being forced to create their own jobs after being laid-off, or are there more people tentatively realising their business dreams?
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out,Technology
At this time of year, fans become an essential item in any home office. No-one works well when they’re overheating on the job, so ensuring you keep cool in the summer months is crucial. So, which fans are the best? I don’t know, but these are pretty cool.
And it looks very scary indeed. It’s yet another one of those online portals where small businesses and freelancers provide the Government with ideas. This time it’s about finding business solutions which will help the Government provide services more efficiently.
A while ago we published a piece asking if AOL’s questionable new content strategy would be good news for freelancers, as their demand for more copy went up. It would seem yesterday those questions were answered with a resounding “No.”
Last week, the coalition Government launched a number of enterprising initiatives as part of ‘Start Up Britain.’ The main thrust of it all was to inspire the younger generation to think entrepreneurially. There are a number of ways in which they will seek to do this, but will they work?
National Insurance is great. It builds up your state pension entitlement and helps pay for the NHS and other welfare services. Us freelancers pay National Insurance on a quarterly basis with the amount we pay dependent on how much we earn. Read on for a jargon-smashing guide…
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out,Technology
Many of us have read theories about what constitutes best practice when it comes to social media, but what is the reality for UK freelancers? From my own experience I’ve identified five main ways that freelancers use social media.
During these austere times, it should come as no surprise that HMRC is increasing the penalties for late tax returns and payments. The new rules apply to the tax year 2010-11 so for UK freelancers it’s even more crucial that returns are filed correctly and on time.
During last week’s Budget, the chancellor announced that a total of 21 new enterprise zones will be created across the UK in areas in need of economic revitalisation. The idea behind an enterprise zone is to encourage investment and economic growth within a particular geographical area. Will it encourage freelancers to relocate?
Freelancers are increasingly being called upon to fill the void left by the huge reduction in permanent workers in the public sector. That’s the observation of a major online business marketplace anyway. And when you consider that 490,000 public sector jobs are due to go by 2014-15, the demand for flexible workers to complete specified projects can only increase.
The degree of activity in social media depends on an individual freelancers personal requirements. Freelancers who have a steady stream of work, for the present and forseeable future, may not see social media as a priority. However, those freelancers who are struggling for work, will, or at least should, see social media as an opportunity to engage with potential clients and source work.
Mel Dixon | Resources,Technology
A new report by SEO specialists Clickscene, has revealed that 40 per cent of commercial businesses in the UK are ignored by search engines. Further to this, 91 per cent are not using pay per click services and a third don’t get any traffic from search engines.
Virtual businesses are brilliant because they employ freelancers and stuff. A virtual business can be defined as any business that is online and doesn’t have a permanent physical base – and they can be maintained from any location with an internet connection.
Mel Dixon | Guides,Lifestyle & Time out
The office is one of the safest places you could possibly work. You come in, you sit down, and you run your fingers over a keyboard for a few hours. What’s the worst that can happen? Electrocution by the office toaster? Well, as far-fetched as that may seem, it could happen. And that’s not the only hidden danger in the office.
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
For the freelancer who works at a client’s office, it can sometimes be difficult to find a spare coffee mug. Perhaps the boss is so stingy that they only have enough for one per employee. That’s why it’s advisable to bring in your own mug. But, don’t just make it any old ceramic drinking device, make sure that yours stands out from the crowd. In essence the coffee cup you use should be a celebration of your freelance status.
Here’s a guide to nine of the best…
Capital gains tax is a tax on possessions, or more specifically the increase in value of your possessions. This can apply to shares, property or antiques. The tax comes into action at the moment that you dispose of them – whether that’s by selling, or in certain cases, giving them away as a gift.
The Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) has published a report on how to simplify UK tax reliefs. It’s a long document which takes a while to rifle through, which is surely a good thing (or not, depending on how much you like reading about complex financial and legal issues).
Everyone knows it’s okay to evade tax but completely wrong to avoid it, right? Wrong. What I meant to say is that it’s okay to avoid tax but illegal to evade it. Confused? You’re not the only one. I recently saw an interview on BBC News where tax polemicist Richard Murphy had to repeatedly correct a muddled newsreader over definitions of avoidance and evasion.
While people are increasingly being refused the option to defer tax payments via the Time to Pay scheme, one professional service provider predicts that the year ahead will see the highest levels of personal insolvency on record. RSM Tenon offer the stark warning after the last quarter of 2010 saw a 24% drop in insolvencies compared to the same period in 2009.
Of course we’re not talking about you. We know the Freelance Advisor readership are bastions of honesty, purity and fiscal responsibility. We just thought we’d let you know anyway, so you can warn your less-scrupulous friends about HMRC’s latest clampdown.
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out,Technology
Presentation tools are pretty handy, whether that’s for live physical presentations or online demonstrations. On the whole they’re versatile pieces of software, and can be used for both professional and hobbyist purposes. Recently, I’ve been trying out some of the best on the market…
Mel Dixon | Getting a Job,News
Nothing was happening, I thought. There is no industry news, and all golden nuggets of advice had long been mined dry. Is this the beginning of a nasty case of writers block I wondered? I could no longer put pen to paper, or for that matter, fingers to keyboard. The future before me was a bleak barren landscape. Then over the ridge I spotted a galloping mass. “Is that..?” Yes it was! Office Cavalry had come to the rescue wielding another freelance survey!
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
It seems difficult to believe but according to a survey by Nectar Business almost 10 per cent of female homeworkers get through a full working day in their pyjamas. It’s one of the perks of the job, surely?
Much is written about the art of engaging consumers via social media and what constitutes best practice. For freelancers, communication via social media arguably comes more easily than it does for sizeable business entities. Though there are fewer pitfalls for the flexi-worker, who for the most part just needs to bathe in a flattering light in front of current and future clients, for those a little more demanding of their social media results it’s important to understand why people disengage.
Mel Dixon | News,Working From Home
Areas in which women are superior to men: they are better at reproducing, can carry out multiple tasks and have a greater understanding of the offside rule. Now, you can add coworking to that short list…
One month on from the 2.5% VAT increase, it seems that SMEs have managed the switch rather comfortably. Well, for the most part at least according to a poll of 1,400 SMEs by finance management software firm, Intuit.
If you’re fortunate enough to be in the South East and have a business which you think is both innovative and with the potential for considerable growth, then you might like to try your luck at landing an ‘Innovation Voucher.’ Up to 55 of these vouchers are available, at a combined total of £220,000, in random packets of Walker’s crisps.
The government has been talking BIG regarding a five year drive to create new economic growth in the UK through a renewed spirit of entrepreneurialism and hi-tech innovation. It was a BIG launch in more than one way. BIG actually stands for British Innovation Gateway, the name they’ve given to this plan for growth which sits neatly alongside plans for an East London Tech City.
Although the importance of social media is well established in the UK, we still trail a long way behind the US. However, that is all set to change in 2011 according to a new report by freelance work portal Office Cavalry. In fact, the findings are particularly positive for those freelancers specialising, or hoping to specialise, in social media marketing.
Here’s a breakdown…
It’s been a troubling week for the coalition Government and UK economy: The week started with the outgoing head of the CBI criticising the Government for hindering business and job creation. This was swiftly followed by the news that the UK economy suffered ‘negative growth’ in the last three months of 2010.
What does it all mean for freelancers?
It’s Friday, January 28th, which can only mean one thing: it’s international Data Privacy Day! Cue ticker tape and hastily draped bunting in the town square. Or perhaps not. This is, after all, a private affair.
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
I have a long history with energy drinks. I once went through a phase of being far too reliant on the things, including some of those Red Bull-style energy drinks packed with caffeine, taurine and other obscure chemicals and substances which were supposed to increase your alertness and energy levels. Also let me add that I was particularly sporty at this time, so felt fully justified
Starting a business is a time-consuming and difficult task, which generally means getting down and dirty in all areas of the business. With so much to do every day, developing an optimised workflow becomes more than a just a ‘nice thing to have’ – it is essential to your business’s success.
As a freelancer it’s crucial to remain relevant and to be ready for change in any given industry. Of course, nobody likes change in the world of business. Most of us would like to stick with the same processess and skills which have got us so far, without having to worry about the future. Freelancers are effectively on a treadmill, we can’t stay still without going backwards.
Many freelancers and contractors have their own website which is either a fun hobby-horse or an online space for promoting their expertise and getting work. In such instances you probably don’t want to spend much time, let alone money, on attracting web traffic. The most effective way of achieving this is to promote it socially. This can be done online and in the physical world – social networking shouldn’t just happen in the online space.
What follows are a few simple tips on utilising key social tools to help increase web hits.
When you’re surfing the net and only want the bare bones of a new story or article, wouldn’t it be nice to press a button marked ‘summarise’ and have that content neatly displayed in a compact form. Well that’s effectively what tldr.it (an acronym for Too Long Didn’t Read) does.
How it operates is pretty simple.
The iPad has been a hugely popular way for people to get online, consume information and play Angry Birds. For freelancers and contractors, its strength has been in enabling the user to find out stuff, fire off quick emails and generally perform online tasks without having to boot up a computer or be restricted by a miniature screen. It has created a happy medium between mobility and functionality.
Mel Dixon | Getting a Job,Money
Despite a sense of restrained optimism from business leaders the year ahead is likely to be a testing one for the UK economy. For example, the impact of the VAT rise on SMEs is uncertain – the Shadow Chancellor believes that it will lead to 250,000 job losses. While this could work in favour of a freelance workforce called upon to fill the gaps, it may also have an adverse effect if whole businesses go bust – particularly if they happen to be your clients.
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out,Working From Home
Recently, I read about a concept called “social jetlag”. Scientists coined the term as a way of describing the effects of returning to work after Christmas. Personally, I haven’t experienced traditional jetlag because I refuse to board a plane, but it seemed to me an exaggeration to twin post-Christmas blues with the physical effects of flying to the other side of the world and adapting to a completely different body clock.
In his characteristically blunt manner, Lord Alan Sugar has been lending his opinions on a range of issues affecting the small business community. In a column written in The Daily Telegraph, Lord Sugar discusses how small businesses can plan for a tough 2011, why it’s foolish to rely on anyone to help your business – especially banks, and why networking events are a waste of time. As you would probably expect from Sugar, it’s a combination of shrewd business advice, personal anecdote (some might say self-glorification) and the occasional expletive. In all seriousness, his advice is genuinely insightful.
If you’re a UX freelancer (one of those front page web interface design types) you may be interested in a new survey which reveals how much you can expect to get paid in the industry. By detailing the pay of UX freelancers across varying experience levels, location and gender – this is probably the most exhaustive study of its kind.
The results offer a really useful guide for industry freelancers unsure of what rates to charge.
Freelance trade body, the Professional Contractors Group (PCG), has warned of a tough year ahead in the labour market. However, managing director John Brazier, believes that the UKs contracting workforce is well placed to weather the storm.
As Billy Ocean once explained: “When the going gets tough…”
2010 has been a memorable year which has seen recognition of the freelance community rise to unprecented levels. A few things spring to mind. We’ve seen the forming of a coalition government which has seemingly set in motion a chain of events that will eventually see an overhaul of IR35. And the second ever National Freelancers Day was a huge success with freelancers across the UK going weak at the knees when Prime Minister David Cameron addressed them directly.
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
Pen and paper is underrated. Sure you can have your user-friendly word programmes and ergonomic keyboards but can any combination beat the humble ink on felled tree? Nope. Personally, I’m always at my most creative with a pen in my hand and a blank sheet of paper in front of me. But, it has to be a special pen…
As you’re probably already aware, the VAT rate will rise from 17.5% to 20% on 4 January. Accounting for the rate change will be a fairly simple process for most freelancers and contractors, however, there are special rules which apply to certain grey areas spanning the rate change.
Are you raising an invoice after 4 January but performing a service before the deadline? Or vice-versa: are you providing goods before 4 January and raising the invoicing afterwards? Well, in such situations you get special dispensation and a choice.
New small businesses have been asked about their love of outsourcing in order to trace what the future holds for the phenomenon of hiring essential business services instead of performing the same functions in-house.
According to research by OutsourceMyProject.com, the global value of outsourcing stands at $60bn and is set to grow by 20% year-on-year for the next five years. If that’s to be believed, the 2010s are set to be the decade of the outsourcing revolution!
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
What are your values? It may seem a slightly odd question to ask a fellow freelancer or contractor, and you might think it’s something more relevant to a large corporation that needs to safeguard against an existence based on pure cash-clutching greed.
However, the values that you hold as a one-man band can help guide the decisions you make and ensure that you give the highest possible level of service to customers and clients. The values you hold are the seeds from which your reputation grows.
With recent research detailing the colossal expense and burden of niggling administrative duties (apparently we spend 37 days each year on opening letters alone!), isn’t it about time we got hold of the red tape and tore it apart with Hulk-like strength?
Freelancers and contractors can help make their lives significantly easier by offloading many of the menial tasks that blight their day. First though, you need to know when’s the best time to outsource.
The nature of homeworking has been thrust into the limelight thanks to the heavy snowfall forcing many workers to perform their duties from home. The BBC recently run a piece entitled ‘Is Working from Home a Skive?’ How dare they! What do they think people like me are doing, watching Jeremy Kyle only to occasionally pull myself away to bash a sentence together?
Several weeks of planning and several hundred pounds worth of booze finally came together last night in glorious union at the first annual Freelancers Christmas Party, graciously hosted by The Werks and sponsored by ourselves and Crunch Accounting. We set out to make sure that Brighton’s huge freelancing community had a Christmas party to call their own – and we’re happy to say we seem to have succeeded in grand style.
Chancellor George Osbourne took the opportunity to do away with the Pre-Budget Report and replace it with an Autumn Statement when the Coalition Government was formed. I’m not sure which sounds the most interesting.
The idea behind the report is to give the British public the opportunity to find out the state of the economy and the pressing matters facing the treasury.
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
If you’re a freelancer or contractor who gets on famously with your clients, you may well be invited to a Christmas party this year. I, for one, have a few parties to attend. In fact, I’ve already crashed and burned at one. And that got me thinking: How am I going to handle the rest of them? Can I get through these parties without being the office bore?
These are some of the techniques I’ll be using to get through the festive knees-up…
Jon Norris | Guides,Technology
Remember the days when you could go out and leave the front door unlocked? When you could walk to the supermarket without fear of ending up buried in a bathtub full of sand? Unfortunately, those days are no more. These days if you’re going out you better take your stab-vest. Security, both off and online, are becoming increasingly important.
As you’ve probably noticed, the weather has been a bit on the chilly side for the last few days. Down here on the south coast we had about a foot of snow, and the Freelance Advisor team worked from home for a few days – that’s the official Freelance Advisor Dog enjoying himself in the picture there.
I’m a freelance writer. I’m not a web designer. Yet, I’ve always felt that an understanding of the basics of HTML would be very useful. At the moment I do a lot of my work via Wordpress which is a very easy way of publishing articles and formatting them in the desired manner without having to manually encode them <>like this</>.
A new all-party parliamentary group has been set up for the freelance sector in order to create closer ties between Westminster and the UK’s 1.4m freelancers. The group will seek to highlight the contribution that freelancers and contractors make to the UK economy and promote the flexi-working way of life.
PCG, the industry trade body, certainly seems happy about it; but what powers does an all-party group have?
I recently wrote a piece on showcasing your services online, the importance of brand identity and the minimum requirement for an online presence – and no, it really ought not be time-consuming or something you need to constantly update. Though it does have to be ‘up-to-date’.
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
Gordon Ramsay does it in the kitchen and Christian Bale does it on the film set, so why can’t a freelancer or contractor let rip with a few profanities in the workplace?
Many experts argue that swearing is an effective method of venting your pent-up frustrations, so assuming no-one raises any objections, and you get the job done as per your clients requirements, there shouldn’t be any repercussions for owning a potty mouth.
If only it were that simple.
With VAT rising from 17.5% to 20% in the new year, it’s worth asking what effect this will have on freelancers and contractors. The impact it will have on retailers is fairly obvious, they have to change all the prices in their shops to account for this change. For freelancers, the impact is not so straightforward and will vary depending on how they do their accounting.
As a freelancer or contractor, you are the brand. It’s a horrible word and nobody wants to refer to themselves as a brand – it makes you sound like a brain dead idiot from The Apprentice – but unfortunately that is what you’ve become.
And, as with any brand you need to ensure that it’s alive, easy-to-find and well maintained in the online sphere. In other words, the two PR’s are essential – public relations and personal reputation.
Many people like the idea of running their own business, but when you’re safe in the security of full-time employment it can appear as a dangerously alluring dream. After all, it’s sink or swim, right? Not necessarily.
The truth is, going freelance needn’t be a blind leap into the unknown; a freelance career should be planned out in advance thereby minimising the potential risks.
As the Government talks of plans to create an ‘entrepreneurial decade’, a new employment forecast paints a gloomy picture that suggests the private sector will struggle to fill the void left by public sector cuts whilst feeling the impact of the VAT increase.
Does the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development offer an accurate forecast? Or are they ‘less reliable than a dead octopus’ as one Conservative MP sugge
You’ll have to be quick to get your voice heard in a major survey of freelancers and contractors in the UK. It’s a good opportunity to offer your views on the state of freelancing, your hopes and fears for the future, and much more besides.
The survey should only take ten minutes and closes this Friday (5th November).
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.
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.
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!
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…
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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.
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.
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!’
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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.
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.
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.
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.
Depressing news from the BBC today shows that graduate unemployment is up 2% on last year with the worst news for Computer Science graduates — with unemployment rates at 17%.
While we’d hope that Computer Science students are going for Freelance or Contracting jobs the data shows a worrying trend in ex-students signing on and remaining unemployed for six months or more.
I’ve long advocated Dropbox as the absolute best file-sharing tool for Freelancers, Contractors and just about anyone who needs to backup their important work files and share content across multiple machines or locations.
But the best of the best has just added a killer new feature.
Freelancers and Contractors unhappy with the Labour government’s IR35 leglislation may now be able to see light at the end of the taxation tunnel.
Before the election the Tory team were hinting that they’d “review” IR35 if they got into power, but yesterday saw the first strong commitment from small business minister Mark Prisk.
“We want to make sure that we could undertake a comprehensive review of small business taxation in a way that makes the need for the current IR35 legislation redundant” said Prisk in an interview with The Telegraph.
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…
Chancellor George Osborne delivers his Emergency Budget on the 22nd June. But what will it mean for freelancers? Join the PCG for comprehensive and insightful analysis. What will the red box contain this time for freelancers, in an era of austerity and cuts?
PCG will be providing live coverage at http://twitter.com/insidepcg from noon.
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.
A wonderful talk on Surviving as a Freelancer from Brighton-based freelancer Anna Debenham
Well worth a watch if you’re starting out in freelancing.
Andy talks to Web and Social Media Developer John O’Nolan and Darren Fell of Crunch about the power of personal branding. Choosing your brand Using Twitter to create a conversation Facebook, following and fans Social media as customer service Social media strategy and setup Listen to the podcast:
Podcast 24: Personal Branding for Freelancers & Contractors [ 29:46 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
As the saying goes ‘it’s not what you know but who you know’ so how can you widen your network of contacts to create the network that is important to your freelance business?
Business Growth Strategist Janette Whitney shows us how…
July 20, 2010
A free event is being held at the Cumberland Hotel in London to help freelancers and contractors get informed about the financial issues that affect them. This will include a discussion of pensions, tax-planning, mortgages and investment among other things
Think networking is where people go because they want to sell more stuff?
You’re a little bit right, and a big bit wrong.
Freelance Advisor and copywriter Leif Kendall shares four reasons why getting to know your peers will make you a better, happier freelancer.
One of the biggest sales and marketing problems that small businesses can face is getting people whom seem interested in buying something to actually take the plunge and hand over their money.
Because let’s be honest, it’s actually pretty easy to attract attention to your business and meet prospective customers these days. The internet has made it simple to give your business a marketing presence (your website) and drive people to it (online advertising and search engine optimisation).
The key then to a successful business is not just one which attracts prospects, but one which has fail-safe systems to convert them into revenue.
MyCake founder Sarah Thelwall talks to Andy and Darren about business benchmarking for freelancers, how to discover business opportunities in your own data and how to compare your rates and outgoing with others in your field.
Podcast 23: Turning boring business data into brilliant business plans [ 17:46 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
The PCG’s John Brazier and Brookson’s Martin Hesketh respond to Alistair Darling’s budget.
How will the changes affect you and your business?
HMRC Start Up Diaries
The latest installment of HMRC’s [Start Up Diaries][] is now available to view online, offering freelancers, contractors and small business owners a unique insider’s view into setting up and running a new business.
A national advertising campaign highlighting Britain’s Brain Gain has been launched, spotlighting the rich talent pool amongst the UK’s 1.4 million freelance workers and highlighting their £82 billion contribution to our economic output.
The newspaper campaign and the Britain’s Brain Gain website reflects on the ability, imagination and effectiveness of freelance workers throughout the UK.
Daryl Close, a business performance coach, discusses why freelancing success is not directly related to your specific freelancing talent. Whilst personal branding is not a new term, it is a term that has come back to the forefront of success as a professional freelancer. He explains that your actual talent is only a small part of the overall personal branding concept and freelancers need to refine and develop their professional brands in order to thrive in an ever increasingly competitive world.
As electioneering and policy pledges seem to have started in earnest the PCG, the representative body for freelancers, contractors and consultants in the UK, is marking the New Year by calling on Government and policy framers to take a fresh approach to freelancing at the start of a new decade.
Download the Freelancers Manifesto
Freelance Advisor and financial planning expert Paul Cleworth has been analyzing this month’s Pre-Budget report to see if there are any gems for us freelancers and contractors.
We focus on how it affects contractors, the good and bad news as well as what opportunities there are for freelancers and contractors.
Linda Jones | Lifestyle & Time out
Agency director and mum of twins Linda Jones shares some expert tips on how to successfully balance the demands of a freelance career with those of a growing family.
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.
November 23rd, a date for your diary. Why? Because it is a day of recognition for the contribution that freelancers and contractors make to UK economy, a day to be proud of who you are and what you do. To help mark the day the PCG have launched a dedicated National Freelancers Day website.
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.
Jo Blood | Lifestyle & Time out
When working in a client’s office why is it the freelancers and contractors who always get the bum deal? Are you fed up with always being allocated the worst chair in the office? Our ergonomic expert Jo Blood gives us a practical guide to promoting good posture and making the most of your office chair. [...]
With gloomy forecasts and images of screens full of flashing red numbers dominating the newspages we’ve been keeping a eye on what the state of the economy means to freelancers and contractors. And it’s not all bad news! Today Freelance Advisor and Web Marketing Consultant Leif Kendal gives us three reasons why freelancing might actually be a very good option during a recession.
Are the streets of San Francisco paved with exciting projects, paying excellent rates? Is it full of perfect customers with realistic expectations? Freelance Advisor founder and serial entrepreneur Darren Fell took a trip to the epicentre of Internet start-ups in the hope of finding out what we can learn from our colleagues on the west [...]
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.
