A new survey by chartered accountants has revealed how SME’s are struggling to get loans due to the strict criteria laid down by the banks.
This might not reveal anything we don’t already know, but with small businesses – including freelancers and contractors – being a key driving force behind the UK economy, surely credit terms could be a little more friendly?
Michael Rose | Marketing Yourself
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 | Financial & Insurance,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.
Michael Rose | Financial & Insurance
“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.
Mel Dixon | Accountancy & Tax,Technology
Despite hopes of its upcoming demise, IR35 is still alive and dangerous and remains a major concern for many UK contractors.
That’s why it’s great to hear that a new online tool has been created which gives contractors an opportunity to discover whether or not they are IR35 compliant.
Here on FreelanceAdvisor we make numerous references to freelancers, contractors and small businesses – after all that’s who we’re here for!
But what are the defining characters of each? What follows is a no-nonsense guide to who’s who and why. Beware: stereotypes abound.
For the UK’s freelancers and contractors these are uncertain times. With fears rife of a double dip recession and the scrutinous IR35 legislation coming under intense scrutiny, it’s difficult for micro-businesses to know exactly where they stand.
The latest tax planning seminar for freelancers and contractors, hosted by financial planners Wealth Matters, will offer a timely, in-depth insight into all the big issues facing your business. But be quick, it’s coming up very soon.
Toby Buckle | Managing Business,Training
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.
Clare Evans | Guides,Managing Business
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) [26:42m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Michael Rose | Editor's Blog,Technology
74 unread emails! Since last night? Are you kidding! We all know what email overload feels like, especially if we’ve been away on holiday or if our American cousins don’t realise that Bank Holidays are sacred. It’s hard enough working out what work has priority but even worse when client email are hidden within an inbox cluttered with newsletters, calendar reminders and “special offers”.
If you use Gmail you might be interested to know that Google are working on the problem.
Gmail is great at filtering out spam but today the Google gmail team announced that they will use similar technology to automatically sort your emails by importance.
Well that’s the question being asked after it was announced that HMRC would adopt a new strategy in dealing with tax disputes.
Instead of taking a ‘black and white’ approach, resulting in court proceedings or no action at all, they will look to be more pragmatic in seeking agreements with individuals.
Leif Kendall | Lifestyle & Time out,Managing Business
As part of our Freelance Stories series Leif Kendall talks with former Freelancer of the Year winner and founder of Callender Creates, Jim Callender. We find out how Jim juggles work in London and Brighton and hear how he found a work/life balance that works for him and his family.
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.
Mel Dixon | Accountancy & Tax,News
Over the last month the coalition government has been taking suggestions from the public on how they can save money quickly and effectively. Some have argued for the scrapping of the digital switchover while others have suggested making MP’s use hostels rather than a have a second home.
A number of people have also taken the opportunity to argue for the repeal of IR35…
Ian Ozsvald | Resources,Training
Building a visible profile is essential if you want to receive a steady stream of readers and referred clients. Demonstrating your knowledge with screencasts is easy and is a very effective way of showing visitors that you’re on top of your game.
Professional Screencaster Ian Ozsvald shows us how short online tutorial and demonstration videos are a powerful way to raise your profile. This post follows the earlier tutorial on (Communicating more effectively with screencasts)
Michael Rose | Editor's Blog,Lifestyle & Time out
At Freelance Advisor we’ve spent a lot of time sharing advice on how you can effectively use Twitter and social. As a tool for finding more friends, colleagues clients and work. We’ve discussed how to use it for Marketing your personal brand and for PR for your own company.
This cheeky little site has a different view…
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
In a previous article, I talked about the importance of a good nights sleep for freelancers and contractors, and the most effective way to achieve that.
One important aspect I neglected to mention was the importance of a good bed. What follows is a list of the most ergonomic and practical beds currently on the market.
I’ve existed on social networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn for a long time now. My participation however has been somewhat minimal. My idea of social networking usually involves pubs and actually meeting people.
Nonetheless, I was intrigued by the idea of websites which enable you to build your own social network. So, I decided to try one out.
For a long time now there’s been much talk of the drawbacks and benefits of IR35. Well, mainly the drawbacks. But what of the measures that could potentially replace the complex and largely ineffective legislation?
One option which has been spoken about recently, involves the creation of a new General Anti-Avoidance Rule known by its acronym GAAR.
Michael Rose | Lifestyle & Time out,Managing Business
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 | Accountancy & Tax,Starting Out
Continuing our Freelance Stories series we talk to artworker and print production pro Bill Greenwood.
After 20-years working for top design studios Bill has decided to go it alone and tells us what it is like to start your own Limited Company.
Jon Aizlewood | Managing Business,Marketing Yourself
The Longtail rule, the Zipf law, the Power law or (easily the most dramatic) ‘The law of the vital few’. It might have many names, but ultimately all forms of the 80/20 rule amount to the same thing – that 80% of effects come from 20% of causes.
The same applies to freelancers: you can gain new business simply by offering great service to your clients.
National Freelancers Day may still be a few months away, but this year’s event already looks set to reflect the growing recognition of flexible-working as an increasingly important part of the UK’s economy.
Last year’s event was the first of its kind and was successful in further promoting the virtues of freelance working. But the PCG has already got some heavyweight backing for the event when it returns on November 23…
Mel Dixon | Accountancy & Tax,News
Last week the Government announced a 52% cut in the amount spent on advertising and marketing, leading to 287 redundancies.
One of the few Government campaigns to escape the axe was the HMRC’s ‘paying business taxes’ series of adverts which surely reveals a determination to ensure that businesses don’t escape their tax paying responsibilities. Freelancers and contractors should be on their guard.
For most freelancers and contractors, getting a good nights sleep is pretty crucial. Yes, you do get those strange types who seem to get by with just a few hours kip. But they’re not normal.
And surely being reliant on huge vats of coffee to get through the day doesn’t do anyone any good?
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
Are you the contractor or freelancer who likes to be the cool, quirky guy (or girl) in the office?
Well if you feel you’re failing in your mission to stand out from the humdrum crowd, these following desktop gadgets are sure to make you the envy of your bespectacled bald-pated colleagues…
IR35 has been the bane of many of a contractor since it was introduced back in April 2000. Recently the controversial legislation has been garnering much media attention after the coalition government promised to review it as part of their plans to simplify the tax system for businesses.
This makes it a good time to ask: what exactly is IR35?
VAT is defined by HMRC as “a tax that’s charged on most goods and services that VAT-registered businesses provide in the UK.”
The question is: when should you be VAT registered? And why? It’s time for a no-nonsense overview to provide some answers…
Michael Rose | Resources,Training
Getting your message across to customers and clients is vital and, as a freelancer, communicating clearly and effectively with can make a big difference to the success or failure of a project or product.
Professional Screencaster Ian Ozsvald shows us how short online videos are a powerful way to get communicate clearly.
Michael Rose | Working From Home
Great to see the Guardian covering the Rise of Homeworking:
The rise of home working | Money | The Guardian
Of course, we’ve know about the steady rise of home-working and the joys of working from home for some time now. For more on home-working don’t forget our Working-From-Home section is where to find all the latest posts.
Portfolio To Go is a fantastic iPad app for artists and photographers who use Flickr.com to showcase their photographs online.
Lovingly created by Brighton-based freelance developer Nick Kuh, easily allows freelance photographers, graphic designers and artists to present their portfolio offline to clients — perfect for use with a wifi iPad.
Just sync and go.
The Federation of Small Businesses has recently predicted that over 300,000 new small firms will be set up over the next year.
Many of these will be people leaving corporate companies to go it alone as a freelancer, some by choice, others by necessity. It’s further evidence that for many people freelancing is the way forward.
Ofcom has recently revealed the results of its latest broadband speed tests and it makes interesting reading for any freelancers looking to achieve the swiftest possible broadband connection in their home office.
Mel Dixon | Managing Business,Starting Out
For some people forming a business plan may seem a rather intimidating prospect because ultimately it will reveal whether your business idea is a realistic proposition. And if it turns out it’s not? Well, you’ve just wasted your time haven’t you? Err… not really.
Based on what you’ve discovered you can then either alter your plan or come away from the experience wiser for it. It’s a ‘win-win thing!’
New government proposals to dramatically cut tax free pensions allowance could have an impact on freelancers and contractors looking to save money for the future.
I’ll be honest, I’d never set up a VoIP phone before. So I decided to try out a Cloud Net telephonic solution which enables you to make calls via a broadband connection. The good news is, it was pretty simple to set up and provides an effective service for small businesses.
There was, however, one small problem which every prospective purchaser of a VoIP needs to keep in mind before they make the leap…
If you’re like me – a freelancer who occasionally works from home and who happens to live in an old, listed or converted flat – you’re no stranger to fluctuating wireless signals, and the headache they can cause when you’re trying to work.
Thick concrete walls, organic (horsehair) insulation and poor telephone infrastructure make working from home in these types of flats something of a struggle. It makes matters worse when the one room in your flat where you get the most work done just happens to be out of range from your wireless router. So, when you run a business that relies heavily on a stable internet connection, what’s a freelancer to do?
Michael Rose | Lifestyle & Time out
We’re big fans of Jason Fried, creator of Basecamp and co-author of Rework. His Get Real column for Inc.com is a must-read for freelancers interested in freelancing, small business advice, for stories of struggle and success.
His first column for Inc.com, Driven to Distraction, is Fried’s fascinating tale of how he built 37Signals from his solo freelancing business.
Michael Rose | Financial & Insurance
Getting sign-off, in writing, is a vital part of best practice when sending designs, copy or code to clients. If changes need to be made later then, with sign-off completed, it is the client’s responsibility — not yours. If, for example, there is a typo in a design for a flyer (perhaps the date is wrong!) and the client spots the mistake after printing 1000s of copies the responsibility for the cost of re-printing is the clients… not yours.
Find out how Professional Indemnity Insurance will defend you in cases where clients refuse to pay, or make a claim against you.
It’s a question which every prospective freelancer and contractor asks themselves before making the leap towards a more self-sufficient way of working. Should I trade as a limited company or work via an umbrella company?
Both methods have their supporters, but in this article I will bring the debate back to basics.
A recent survey has explored the attitudes of mid-life women in the workplace. Despite having confidence in their own ability, it seems these women feel their age goes against them as far other people’s perceptions are concerned.
The results make interesting reading which suggests freelancing could be the way forward…
Mel Dixon | Financial & Insurance
So, the job’s been a nightmare and the client has been excruciatingly awkward – and then when you reach the end of the project, they refuse to pay up. What do you do?
Insurance specialists Blyth Valley offer the following advice on how a Professional Indemnity policy can help…
Emma Jones | Managing Business
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 | Marketing Yourself,Training
If you’ve not yet joined the 75 million strong Twitterati, Sandy Dempsey founder of The Dreaming Cafe gives us five great tips on how to get started, why you should use Twitter and other social networking tools, and how to make it work for you and your business.
So far, so good. That seems to be the business community’s general view regarding the coalition government.
In a recent newspaper article, award-winning entrepreneur and freelancer’s friend, Darren Fell, gave his views on why he thinks now is a great time to start a business in light of recent tax changes.
Michael Rose | Lifestyle & Time out,Technology
Teux Deux is a super-simple, sleek and stylish to-do list manager. If you like great design with a tiny pinch of minimalism then this might be for you.
Built entirely for the web you just sign up for a free account and start typing in your to-dos. To add a task you just type and hit return. That’s it.
Ed Hopson | Managing Business,Starting Out
I have always been interested in running a project/small business outside of my 9 to 5 full-time job. Something that I can grow in my spare time and that has the potential to grow and then become my main source of income! Talking with friends, I was given a copy of Emma Jone‘s Working 5 to 9 – How to start a successful business in your spare time — Great timing!
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.
Mel Dixon | Financial & Insurance,Guides
Debt collection. It’s a term which often invokes the notion of a murky underworld where burly henchman terrorise blameless innocent types, usually of a slender frame; they are often grabbed by the collar and thrown against the nearest wall.
However, if you’re a contractor or freelancer who’s owed money which is not forthcoming, how do you go about collecting it in the most civil manner possible?
It’s good news for UK contractors after the coalition government’s launch of the new Office of Tax Simplification. The body will be tasked with making the tax system in the UK less complex, which will include a review of IR35.
The swift launch suggests that the government is looking to change the tax system sooner rather than later.
Emma Jones | Starting Out,Working From Home
A recent feature in The Guardian ran with the headline: ‘Graduates warned of record 70 applicants for every job’ The next line went: ‘Class of 2010 told to consider flipping burgers or shelf stacking to build skills’.
Was I the only one thinking flipping burgers and shelf stacking is a flippin’ great way to earn part-time income whilst building a business? For all graduates considering self-employment, here are five tips along with stories of those who’ve been there and done it.
Over the last few days I’ve been fiddling about with a new online tool which could provide a fun new way of presenting information on your website, or alternatively, help you with some online brainstorming.
The interactive service offers a range of potential uses, but can it really be more than a fun diversion for freelancers and contractors?
Michael Rose | News,Starting Out
Despite cuts across the board, overall, UK business is seeing a positive change thanks to the new Government. Tax breaks, including extended relief on the increase in Capital Gains Tax and National Insurance have been introduced and support for SMEs has been very positive.
To mark the importance of SMEs, The Startups Awards 2010 have added a Home Business of the Year category to their annual awards.
Freelancers and Entrepreneurs with innovative ideas can get in-depth business advice in a course which teaches the process of enterprise and will give you a great grounding in business planning skills.
The CommercialiSE Programme has been created to give freelancers and SME owners the tools to help turn a great small business idea into a well-planned, well-structured and profitable reality.
When you spend the majority of your working day staring at a computer screen, or reading pages of hard-copy text, your eyes can start to feel the strain. Is this just a drawback of desk-based work? Or is there something that can be done about it?
Here’s some handy advice for tackling eye strain…
Michael Rose | Employment,Starting Out
An inspiring case study in the Guardian this week telling how Chris Clarke, a former financial controller, used Freelance jobs site PeoplePerHour.com to get back into business as a book-keeper.
Chris, a victim of the recession, was made redundant when his employer had to cut-costs so he went it alone and setup his own business. To find more clients, he has been attending events at his local chamber of commerce and using websites like PeoplePerHour.com where he can advertise his services.
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.
Mel Dixon | Financial & Insurance
For freelancers and contractors, being able to supply a client with a simple T’s and C’s document is a sure-fire way of maintaining an aura of professionalism. It’s also pretty handy in the event of a dispute.
So, what else are they good for? And how should you go about drawing them up? Insurance specialists Blyth Valley have the answers…
Emma Jones | Managing Business
A good business partnership is like a good marriage. You meet the right person, work well together and combine talents to create something wonderful. Emma Jones offers the secret to ensuring a business partnership doesn’t turn sour.
Michael Rose | Technology,Working From Home
If you occasionally work from home then getting a decent broadband connection can really help you get your work done effectively.
Thanks to modern-day technology, working from home is no longer a second-rate way of staying in touch with clients and colleagues and broadband has become a vital lifeline for many home workers, allowing them to email or browse the web in comfort while also being able to send and receive large files with ease.
If you’re not up to speed with Broadband at home Chris Marling of Broadband Genie gives you a a few things to consider.
Emma Jones | Managing Business,Starting Out
Emma Jones believes in starting a business and then finding and focusing on your niche.
But what happens when you feel the niche audience you’ve chosen could be restricting in view of its size? Then it’s time to expand your product range, as opposed to extending your niche.
Emma explains how…
Mel Dixon | Financial & Insurance
If you’re a designer or freelancer who is in the business of recommending materials or services to others, are you aware of the dangers you may face in doing so?
Insurance specialists Blyth Valley reveal how you can reduce the likelihood of a disgruntled customer heading straight for you with an inclination to sue…
Toby Buckle | Managing Business,Training
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.
Although it feels as if the worst of the economic crisis is over, and the outlook for freelancers and contractors is relatively positive, the emergency ‘austerity’ Budget is a stark reminder that the recovery is still fragile.
Should unemployment strike, it’s important to ensure that your self-esteem doesn’t go through the floor.
Jocellyn Akuffo is the founder of a website for working mums, and has some timely advice…
Would you like to take a Pomodoro? In this instance I’m not asking you to accept a tomato, but instead enquiring as to whether you’d like to try a technique designed to improve your powers of concentration and increase the efficiency of your work.
As part of our Freelance Focus series, application designer Cesare Rocchi advises any freelancer who’s struggling to maintain their discipline and productivity to try out the Pomodoro technique…
Leif Kendall | Starting Out,Training
John Williams believes that work doesn’t have be a chore. After itching for something more than the corporate 9 to 5, John went independent and discovered the joys of being paid for things he would happily do for free. John’s interests and work eventually led him to coach other aspiring players.
Freelance copywriter Leif Kendall takes a look at the advice on offer.
For those who are trying to find ‘the killer concept,’ perhaps the following will be of interest…
Concept Feedback is a handy resource for freelance designers and anyone who’s in the business of creating a logo, website or brand concept. The idea of the site is to create a professional online community where designers and visual creatives offer feedback on the design projects of others. It’s particularly useful for freelancers who are not in a position to gather feedback from their own personal sources.
Online security is a pain. If you have more than one bank account, multiple email addresses and numerous subscriptions to online services like Amazon, eBay and the rest, keeping track of your passwords becomes a real chore. We’re told not to write them down, and we’re told not to have anything too obvious that can be found in a dictionary.
Security experts recommend we have unique, strong, passwords of at least 12 characters including lowercase, uppercase and numbers. Generating random complicated passwords isn’t too hard… but remembering them is.
Mel Dixon | Financial & Insurance
There are many different types of insurance available for freelancers and contractors, many of which are advisable only for specific fields of work. One form of insurance which is almost universally recommended is Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance.
After all, if you make a costly mistake at work – who ya gonna call?
Freelancers and contractors in the UK are well-versed in the business benefits of social networking sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. But one service they may not be so familiar with is Ecademy – a business network which in many aspects is similar to LinkedIn.
So what can it offer the freelancing community?
PROBLEM: You have limited, often fragmented time to meet clients and contacts. You might have a free spot for two hours this afternoon, time between finishing one project and starting the next, and it’d be great to generate some new business in that slot — if only people knew you were free to talk.
Setster solves this problem beautifully — perfect for consultants or small businesses.
For freelancers and contractors working in office environments the issue of safety at work will not be forefront in most people’s minds. And for obvious reasons. We’re not exactly operating heavy machinery where one false move means one lost limb, or balancing on the edge of a scaffold pole while balancing a bucket of cement atop our heads.
Nonetheless, every year approximately 2000 office workers are absent from work for more than three days due to workplace accidents; and these statistics don’t take account of illnesses resulting from office work.
Mark Kirby | Lifestyle & Time out
Information overload is not a problem — we’ve been surrounded by too much information for centuries.
The real problem is ‘filter failure’.
Here Wordpress & Mobile Developer Mark Kirby outlines a very simple method for filtering website feeds and making the most of your time online.
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.
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
When your working day becomes a stultifying bore sometimes you need a form of respite. A brief sojourn can be provided by playing online games, but what if you’re working in an office with potential snitchers peering over your shoulder ready to cry wolf to their favourite boss?
Cant You See I’m Busy.com to the rescue!
A genuinely enlightening tax planning seminar for freelancers and contractors will be taking place on July 20 at the Cumberland Hotel in London.
An impressive roster of guest speakers will break down the recent Budget and offer expert insight into how it affects you, as well as looking in detail at the day-to-day financial trials and tribulations of being a flexi-worker.
Mel Dixon | Managing Business,Marketing Yourself
The economic downturn has played a big part in accelerating the importance of social media in the marketing minds of freelancers and small businesses. For that reason, the idea of employing the services of a social media consultant can appear to be a no-brainer. After all, for many small operations, social media has become integral to their online presence.
Failing to utilise social media to its fullest extent could prove costly.
But is formal training really necessary?
Daryl Close | Managing Business
What do freelancers need to do in order to thrive and develop their businesses in today’s economic climate?
Business performance coach Daryl Close says the old business revenue models are dead and new competencies are needed to effectively compete.
Sitting down and working from behind a desk should be the least physically strenuous form of employment, but all too often office-based work can lead to a pain in the neck, and an ache in the back. Posture expert Jo Blood guides us through the most ergonomically viable way of working at your computer…
Paul Cleworth | Accountancy & Tax
As the dust settles after the June Budget Financial Planning Expert Paul Cleworth give us some good news for contractors.
TODO: Is a review of salary levels with your accountant requried?
A new interactive guide has been produced by the PCG which offers information and advice on how clients can source freelancers and make the most of their talents. The guide works as a handy reference tool which will ultimately help potential employers better understand freelancers and contractors, and ensure a smoother working relationship.
But it’s also pretty darn useful from a freelancer’s perspective…
What would you do if someone out of the blue gave you £100 to spend on your business?
A competition from Enterprise Nation & PayPal asks you to come up with the best way of spending £100 on your respective businesses. The top 100 ideas will win the money, giving you the opportunity to put your plans into action.
Michael Rose | Marketing Yourself
If you care about your personal brand, how you are showing up online and what people are saying about you and your business then this new app from award-winning filmmaker and iPhone app developer Garrett Murray is just what you need.
Check your referrers in Mint and Google Analytics, browse your Tumblr Dashboard, reply to mentions on Twitter, all from within Ego!
What advice can you act on when starting out as a freelancer?
Internet Consultant and Developer Alick Mighall shares his advice on the circumstances, principles and practices you’ll need to help you manage big clients.
Michael Rose | Editor's Blog,Technology
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.
In May, the newly formed coalition government wasted no time in making all the right noises regarding the stress inducing IR35 ‘disguised employment’ legislation. Through a combination of squawks, growls and shrill cries they promised to “review IR35, as part of a wholesale review of all small business taxation, and seek to replace it with simpler measures…”
The question is: can we expect any statements of substance regarding the legislation in the upcoming emergency budget?
Mel Dixon | Marketing Yourself
Social media has quickly risen from an online tool for building and maintaining social relations to one which can assist in expanding a brand’s online presence, and provide an opportunity to communicate with relevant publics. Sam Malpass show us how to make the most of its potential in a freelance business.
If you’re a razor-sharp freelancing PR professional then you may want to take advantage of a recent partnership between the Professional Contractors Group (the ‘Voice of Freelancing’) and the Public Relations Consultants Association.
In our continuing quest to offer a helping hand to freelancers and contractors, we’re offering you the chance to get a special discount on membership to the PCG (the Professional Contractors Group) thanks to an exclusive promotional code.
A report by PeoplePerHour.com – the online marketplace for freelancers and contractors – has uncovered some interesting data about how much money local councils spend on web services.
Judy Heminsley | Lifestyle & Time out
Co-working offers freelancers both flexibility of where to work and also the chance to meet with like-minded co-workers and collaborators. Working from home expert Judy Heminsley recommends the Jelly approach.
The freelance economy is going through a phase of radical growth and transformation.
We explore some of the more fundamental trends and shifts utilizing data and survey results published by PeoplePerHour.com – the largest marketplace for freelancers and small businesses in Europe.
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 [29:46m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Janette Whitney | Managing Business
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…
Leif Kendall | Marketing Yourself
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.
Anthony Hewson | Managing Business
Relationships are more important for a freelancer than for any other individual.
That’s a pretty bold statement and I’m bracing myself for a wave of incredulity articulated by examples of people going through any sort of emotional or physical trauma. Ok, leaving that probably overwhelming group aside… here’s why
Toby Buckle | Managing Business
I was reminded recently how I used to get frustrated by people not coming back to me if I emailed or left a message. Well, that’s an understatement. I often used to see it as a personal offence and affront and get wound up if it repeatedly happened.
Over the years I have learnt to reframe lack of response and see it from another point of view.
Reframing is a really useful NLP technique that helps prevent negative responses, such as losing motivation or creating frustration. Below are some ways to reframe a lack of response from people as well as some practical tips on getting people to respond.
Janette Whitney | Managing Business
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.
Anthony Hewson | Working From Home
You gave up working for someone else for a reason. More than one in all likelihood, but one stood bold and proud: freedom.
Such a noble word; such a bright and sparkling principle; such a statement of hope and promise.
Such a lie
Following an article on Contractor UK’s website last week “Scrapping IR35 is not the answer, say Tories,” PCG, the largest UK organisation representing freelancers and contractors, are remaining optimistic in their campaign to overturn the UK’s IR35 leglislation.
According to a PCG spokesman they have now had a series of “fruitful and productive” meetings with various political parties and they detect from all political sides “a desire for a revision of IR35 legislation”.
Michael Rose | Financial & Insurance
When you’re running your own business you are the business manager, financial director, credit controller and bookkeeper. Hopefully you’ve managed to outsource your accounting needs but you still need to look at your accounts to make informed business decisions.
This week’s podcast with Sarah Thelwall from MyCake took a look at Turning Business Data into Brilliant Business Plans this post takes us a bit deeper and looks at a few types of costs that freelancers and SME’s incur so that you can gain a better idea of what ‘normal’ is.
With the General Election fast approaching, prospective parliamentary candidates will be out and about, doggedly canvassing on the streets in your neighbourhood.
The Professional Contractor’s Group (PCG) has produced a Guide to possible questions you can ask your candidate should they appear on your doorstep, with useful background information on some of the main issues facing freelancers.
A lot has been said about the Digital Economy Bill. But it looks like too little has been said too late. Last night’s final reading, and the resultant Twitter response, has a silver-lining, more and more people are aware of parliamentary procedure, have read the bill, and have voiced their dissent.
But this bill could have a real impact on digital creatives and anyone with a shared network. We’d love to hear from any freelancers or contractors who think their work and project will be affected by the new bill. As it stands it looks like Internet Cafes and Co-working places might be most affected by the proposed changes in law — effectively any wireless hotspot owner will be liable for all content accessed via their network… and your entire network can be shut down, or given limited business threatening access, for any one possible infringement.
How this will play out in practice remains to be seen, but we’d be very interested to hear from co-working spaces and cafe owners who think they might be affected… and what steps you might be taking to get around, or comply, with the proposed law.
Judy Heminsley | Lifestyle & Time out
When freelancing or starting a small business and looking to keep costs down working from home is the obvious solution.
There’s also a downside, though, and that’s the risk of becoming lonely and isolated, with its knock-on effect on self-confidence and motivation.
Continuing our #WorkingFromHome series Judy Heminsley shares her hard-won tips for overcoming the gloom of isolation and how to get motivated in the mid-afternoon slump…
All the information you need to know about the Working Time Regulations – Rest Breaks, Weekly working hours limits, Daily working hours limits, Opt-Outs, Holiday entitlements – and Bank Holidays. Holiday entitlement and sickness during holiday information updated for 2010.
The PCG’s continued lobbying of Tory top-brass has finally paid off in a firm commitment to a review of IR35 legislation by a future Conservative government.
The Conservative Party made the landmark announcement today that IR35 will be reviewed as part of an overall review of small business taxation should they win the General Election in May.
In a letter today to Chris Bryce, PCG Chairman, the Shadow Business Minister, Mark Prisk MP said that due to PCG’s strong representations to him and to Shadow Treasury Ministers “a Conservative Government would undertake a fundamental review of small business taxation matters, including IR35.”
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?
As a freelancer or contractor, it can often feel like you have to do everything alone in terms of running your company and finding new clients. If you are working full-time for a company, you have your colleagues and all the support departments and resources available to help you do your job. When you are working on your own, it seems like there is no one out there.
However, there are many resources for freelancers — some paid and some free, which can help you both to run your freelance business as well as with business development and finding new clients. Rahul Nag investigates some of the best freelance resources.
Anthony Hewson | Lifestyle & Time out
Freelancing takes courage. No guaranteed pay cheque, no back-up team, no boss to give you guidance, no boss to take the fall.
No excuses – the buck stops with you. It took courage to take that first step into the freelance world, whether it was a bold and brazen stride with an armful of clients ready to commit, or a stomach-knotted plunge born of necessity.
Anthony Hewson gives us some inspiring advice on how to feel the fear and to use it to put some fire in your freelancing belly.
The Farm‘s Paul Silver talks freelancing; getting started, working for clients, finding work and staying alive.
Yesterday Brighton’s Media Jobs and Skills fair was a huge success we talked to hundreds of potential freelancers from the recently redundant and looking to start a new career to students wanting to go straight into freelance — avoiding the traditional desk job altogether. It was really inspiring to see so many people interested in freelancing and we had over 100 new freelancers sign up for our ‘Go Freelance’ guide during the event.
The day was rounded off perfectly by academic, BBC filmmaker and Guardian journalist Dr Alek’s Krotoski talking to an audience of students and staff at the Sussex University Enterprise Thursday’s event — and the good Doctor was very happy to extol the virtues of Working for Yourself and Working from Home.
Read on for a video clip of Dr Krotoski and the perils of pyjamas.
Emma Jones | Managing Business,Starting Out
Home based businesses are increasingly outsourcing and partnering, as opposed to taking on staff. As a freelancer and small business owner you may want to collaborate with others to get larger projects complete and, as more people start collaborating, it’s becoming important to have agreements in place with new partners that allows for a smooth running and profitable partnership. Emma Jones explains how to go about it.
‘The ultimate guide’ to going freelance is now even bigger and better. The 2010 edition comes with 32 packed pages of advice for anyone who freelances or who is considering making a move to freelancing.
Alick Mighall | Guides,Starting Out,Technology
If you want a website for your small business or to show off your freelancing work AND know what you want then you are almost ready to contact the designers but thinking clearly, focusing on objectives and writing a good, clear brief can make a world of different when it comes to getting a quote.
You’ll not only save yourself time and money but you’ll also make developers and designers like Alick Mighall really happy.
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.
Emma Jones | Working From Home
If you’re new to home business in 2010, or considering starting out in freelancing, working for yourself or working from home, these 10 golden rules from Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones are are great place to start.
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
Joyfully Jobless! Part 2 of an interview with Barbara Winter, author of Making a Living Without a Job.
Freelance Podcast 20: Making a living without a job - part 2 [23:03m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Leif Kendall | Lifestyle & Time out
In the first of Freelance Advisor’s freelancer interviews we speak to web designer Rowan Richardson, and discover how she succeeds as a freelancer.
Leo Babauta | Lifestyle & Time out,Starting Out
As Confucius said… “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
As part of our new series on Making a Living Without a Job, productivity guru and professional blogger Leo Babauta explains that everyone can go freelance and earn a good living by doing the things they love to do.
Widely reported as having more Freelancers per capita, Brighton and Hove Freelancers have rallied together to put on an event on National Freelancers Day.
Join us for Drinks and Networking – National Freelancers Day, 23rd November – 7:30pm at The Eagle pub (Brighton)
As we approach ‘National Freelancers Day’ Freelance Advisor has created a new ‘Future of Freelancing’ section to focus on debate about the the biggest opportunities and threats to freelancing and contracting.
What does the recession mean to us? Do we get the help we deserve from the government? How important are we to the economy’s recovery? What is the role of technology in the future?
One of the things guaranteed to provoke debate is the whole question of notice periods in freelance contracts. On the face of it, an equal right for you and the client to step out of a contract looks like a good thing to have.
But are they really worth anything?
Enterprise Thursdays are back this week with the diverse Freelancers Panel chaired by Darren Fell founder of Pure, Crunch and Freelance Adviser.
The panel includes Paul Bunkham an Internet Application Specialist, Leon Trigg a Documentary and Filmmaker, Jo Moore and Artist and Illustrator, Paul Silver a Web Development and SEO Specialist and Ellen De Vries a Writer and Creative Copywriter.
I was following a discussion over the weekend about someone asking if it was OK to expense accountancy training as part of his role as a company owner. My understanding of any expenses, including training costs, is that the expense must be wholly and exclusively in the line of your work. So clearly you can’t [...]
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.
Leo Babauta | Lifestyle & Time out
Purpose Your Day: Most Important Task (MIT)
Leo Babauta, creator of the highly successful Zen Habits blog shares a few tips on prioritising your freelance tasks and streamlining your workflow.
Getting things done… zen style.
Andy White talks to freelance Art Director and Conceptual Designer, and winner of The Xchange Team Freelancer of the Year award, Anna Cowie. In this interview, Annie gives us some tips and reveals her modus operandi.
If you are just starting out in freelancing there many new things you will have to get used to. Without the support of a boss or company you will need to motivate yourself, build your business, overcome obstacles and disappointments and, most importantly, look after the needs of your clients.
This quick checklist from freelance copywriter Tom Albrighton gives us ten great tips for getting started in freelancing.
Daryl Close | Lifestyle & Time out
Do you know the critical personality and behavioural traits that you need to exhibit in order to be a successful freelancer? You might spend a lot of time and energy working on your freelancing business but achieve little because you are not focusing on the key performance drivers. I’ve decided to improve your chances of [...]
The number of freelancers is steadily increasing across the UK and I have no doubt that freelancing is going to continue growing at a strong rate. If you work as a freelancer or are considering going freelance then you need to know where freelancing is heading. Unless you live on another planet it is impossible [...]
Regulations and legislation are part and parcel of any business and trading online is no exception. Healys solicitors have extensive experience in IT, e-commerce law and software development agreement. Here they sketch out some of the key factors you need to consider when trading online. Legal considerations when setting up an online business The remote [...]
Michael Rose | Managing Business
Freelancer and contractors are unsung heroes and Xchangeteam’s Emma Brierley has made it her mission to get freelancers the recognition they deserve. This month’s Freelancer of the Year Awards are only the beginning… Why Freelancers Need To Be Celebrated At some point in their career no less than one in seven British workers will be [...]
Small businesses go green Small businesses are ‘going green’ in a bid to save costs, an expert says. Erica Russell, a sustainable business advisor from Business Link, said many small companies were adopting recycling methods and using low-energy applications in an effort to cut down on costs. “When switching off your lights could save you [...]
Jim Hatley | Technology,Working From Home
If you’re freelancing from home on a regular basis a well-lit, well kitted-out office is essential – not just a luxury. Freelance Advisor’s resident gadget guru Jim Hatley takes a look at some home office must-haves. Home office heaven: Screens, scanners, DAB and desk-lamps Last year I have covered a few bits of kit to [...]
Kasey Brunt | Accountancy & Tax
Tax burden hurts small business HIGH taxes are hitting UK small businesses hard, new research has found. About 16 per cent of small business’ outgoings is spent on tax, according to financial business information firm Creditsafe. This means tax is the third biggest expense for most small businesses, freelancers and contractors, behind wages and investment [...]
Emma Jones | Managing Business
Whether it is networking, meetings, clients or conferences, marketing yourself is an essential skill for any freelancer or contractor. Freelance Advisor and author Emma Jones offers seven quick tips to help you shine Starting on the right foot: 7 steps to creating the right impression You only get one chance to create a first impression. [...]
Martyn Reding, Creative Director at Preview, examines the realities of working as a professional designer. Working as a freelance designer: the things I never knew I didn’t know If you’ve been through the rigours of your design course and your now out in the world learning your craft then the last thing you need is [...]
Kasey Brunt | Managing Business
Freelancers benefit from online social networking MORE and more freelancers are using social networking sites to promote their services, a survey has found. The BT Tradespace survey found 15 per cent of small businesses promote themselves on sites such as Facebook, compared to just seven per cent this time last year. But the survey also [...]
Government unveils plan to help small business’ cash flow problems THE British Government will guarantee up to £20bn in loans to UK small businesses to help them manage cash flow problems in the current economic downturn. Business Secretary Lord Peter Mandelson unveiled his “real help for small to medium businesses” plan this week, saying its [...]
Freelancers need all the advice they can get and when it comes down to leglistlation not knowing your liabilities can be a painful and costly lesson. Our new legal blogger David Gordon is an expert in giving legal support and advice for freelance, contracting and small-businesses. Six things you need to know (but might be [...]
FEMALE business owners remain optimistic despite the economic crisis, a survey has revealed. The business risk survey, undertaken by the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, found 58 per cent of female business owners believe their business will grow in 2009. And 13 per cent said they would take their business to an international level in [...]
Dianne Bown-Wilson | Starting Out
Choosing to switch from full-time to freelancing can be a tough decision and the change will go a lot smoother if you have the help and support of those closest to you. Freelance Advisor, Coach and Consultant Dianne Bown-Wilson continues her series of articles on freelance career development issues for freelancers and contractors. Nearest and [...]
The top 5 home-business occupations in 2009 Whether it is a second income to make ends meet, a result of reduncancy or a decision to make a fresh start as a freelancer, the home business and startup sector looks like it will continue to grow in 2009. Freelance Advisor and home business startup supremo Emma [...]
Freelancer News: by freelance news journalist Kasey Brunt Help needed for small software contractors, says report A GOVERNMENT system should be simplified to help out smaller businesses, a report has found. The joint Intellect and the British Computer Society report has recommended the government procurement system allowing software firms to apply for public-sector contracts be [...]
Freelance Advisor and author of ‘Spare Room Start Up’ Emma Jones gives us her review of the best applications for freelancers. Top 5 technology apps of 2008 As we enter the month of December, I can’t help but look back at the year that was. The thousands of new businesses started, the people we’ve profiled, [...]
Emma Jones | Managing Business
Freelance Advisor and author of ‘Spare Room Start Up’ Emma Jones give us a timely reminder of the things we could be doing in the run up to Christmas. What can freelancers do when things get quiet over the holiday season and what plans can we make for 2009. When the phones hush and emails [...]
