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.
Last week software developer Serif released a new piece of research showing that some small businesses are spending over £1,000 on developing their company websites. The motives for this survey were obviously self serving, however the press release raised some interesting questions.
Lesley Furber | Legal,Resources
A recent survey by the British Chambers of Commerce of 1,000 sole traders looked into their attitudes to hiring staff. Here we disect the report and see if there are any solutions to encourage sole-traders to take on staff.
On 1st July 2011 the Bribery Act (2010) comes into force across the UK, making it a criminal offence for an individual or organisation to offer or receive a bribe – and carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years if convicted.
Selina Murray | Getting a Job,Resources
It may sound like something Victorian mothers used to advise their daughters about, but these days managing your reputation – or at least your online reputation – applies to us all. Reputation management these days refers to the practice of monitoring the internet reputation or online presence of a person, brand or business.
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.
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.
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.
As a freelancer there is an opportunity to create a working lifestyle to suit you, but without enough work or clients you may not achieve this, or end up always trying to. Some freelancers are lucky enough not to need to market themselves in the beginning, but at some point they will need to in order to find more work.
Mark Bowley of Creative Agency Freelancing shares his advice on gettings started and finding work.
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.
Are you wondering how to grow your business and develop it in a way so it’s not wholly reliant on you? Have you considered outsourcing/franchising/productising as a way to achieve that growth? Emma Jones outlines the options with tips for each strategy.
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.”
Do you have content you would like to share with an interested audience of existing and potential customers? It’s never been so easy to package your content in a stylish way, and distribute it in a cost-effective way.
Enter the age of home publishing with Emma Jones.
While the effects of the recession on cash flow and business profitability are on the minds of most at present, the pending year end of April 5th 2010 provides an opportunity to ensure that your liability for the 2009/10 tax year is no greater than necessary.
In this year end tax guide, Paul Cleworth of Wealth Matters considers some of the ways you might act now to help you achieve a more tax efficient and secure future for you, your family and you business.
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.
Successful long term investment is not just about buying low and selling high. Stock markets rise and fall, and share prices are vulnerable to everything from political news to the weather. Trying to find your way around – particularly during times of high volatility and uncertainty – can feel like negotiating a minefield.
So how can we make sense of such a confusing world? It is probably time to go back to basics – stock markets may rise and fall, but the rules of sensible investment remain constant. Wealth Matters’ Paul Cleworth gives us the low down.
Steven Hearsum, change consultant and chairman for our National Freelancers Day event has written a blogpost about one of the key issues that arose during the debate: ‘How to Build Trust as a Freelancer’.
Dianne Bown-Wilson | Getting a Job
Isolation and winning new clients are two of the biggest problems for freelancers. Marketing consultant and freelance advisor Dianne Bown-Wilson offers some simple tips for what to do when you – and your business – need to get out more.
Setting up a Limited Company is one of the smartest way to get paid for your work. With a Ltd you get to define your brand, own everything you do, run your business in the most tax-efficient way and pitch for work you wouldn’t be able to get as a sole-trader.
Some people, usually the folks at Umbrella companies, will tell you that setting up a company is costly and complicated but with low-cost solutions out there it’s a no-brainer.
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.
What would freelance sustainability look like? How can you take your personal business and brand beyond the bottom line into an ethical and sustainable business.
We talk to Carl Jeffrey, creative midwife and joiner of dots at FellowCreative, and Paul Anderson of Sustaina.
Read on for links to some of the great resources mentioned in the podcast.
Freelance Advisor Podcast 18: The sustainable freelancer [ 23:41 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Freelance journalist and author of ‘How to Grow Your Business For Entrepreneurs’ Alex Blyth writes about entrepreneurs and how they achieve success.
In this post Alex takes a look at a fundamental skill that all entrepreneurs need, the ability to plan and make progress towards long-term goals.
Leo Babauta | Lifestyle & Time out
There’s a concept in programming called “feature creep” — when a software developer continually adds one feature after another because “wouldn’t it be nice” and “why not” and “isn’t it cool” and “some users asked for it”. The end result is a bloated program that tries to do everything but ends up being not very good at any of it.
Leo Babauta suggests a few ideas for overcoming feature-creep in your life.
When you’re a freelancer, stupidity can be expensive. It’s better to learn from the mistakes of others in order to avoid common pitfalls. Leif shares a few of the stupid things he’s done (or seen others do) so that you might avoid the same fate.
According to retail experts, the health & beauty sector is in rude health; thriving, they say. So if you’re wondering which sectors present good options for a new business start-up, this could be the sector for you. Emma Jones offers facts & figures and some business ideas you might like to try.
Emma Jones | Getting a Job,Training
Without a sale we’re not in business and ongoing sales will spur the business to grow.
Emma Jones offers five steps on how to make a sale and keep the cash flowing.
Are You Giving Your Clients Squid Eyes? (The Second Secret of an Awesomitised Freelance Life)
Bad-ass kung-fu copywriter Leif Kendall continues to reveal the secrets of an awesomitised freelance career.. Awesomitisation Part 2 explores the importance of understanding clients’ briefs.
Freelancing and contracting is becoming a normal work practice within our society but many people continue to work as a sole trader rather than through a limited company. Freelance Coach Daryl Close takes a look at how a limited company setup can help you
Finding freelance work and getting more clients is vital for your success as a freelancer. Killer copywriter Leif Kendall outlines his bold new marketing method.
Join the revolution!
If Hollywood sensationalism is to be believed, then every man and his dog are advanced cyber-terrorists who want nothing more than to drain your bank account, max your credit card, and maybe initiate nuclear war with an unspecified superpower. The truth is that the world of computers isn’t actually as dangerous as many people think, as long as you take a few simple precautions against potential threats.
Dianne Bown-Wilson | Getting a Job
Choosing to switch from full-time to freelancing can be a tough decision and the change will go a lot smoother if you have the help and support of those closest to you. Freelance Advisor, Coach and Consultant Dianne Bown-Wilson continues her series of articles on freelance career development issues for freelancers and contractors. Nearest and [...]
Freelance writer, editor and blogger, Laura Spencer shares her experience of going into freelancing and some of the mistakes and failures she’s seen along the way. Freelance FAIL: 8 common mistakes As someone who has worked as a freelance writer for nearly six years now, I’ve observed (and sadly made) many freelance failures. Mistakes can [...]
Look who’s talking: Monitoring buzz on the web As a freelance community builder and co-director of TheWerks web-socialite Rosie Sherry offers advice on monitoring your brand and filtering out the noise. Five sites for monitoring your brand online There’s no denying that the web holds huge amount of information. Most of it irrelevant to you [...]
In Part 2 of the ‘Information for Employers’ read about – What Employment Policies you need; Trade Unions and Consulting your staff; Problems at work including handling Disciplinaries, Dismissals and Grievances, Sickness Management; Giving References to previous Employees; Your Insurance needs and obligations. Updated for 2011.
In these two ‘Employers Information’ sections we give you additional information to help you run your small business, as of course employing staff can be complicated! In Section 1 we give you information about Employing different types of staff; Making a Job offer and Employment checks; The Employment Forms you need to use and Personnel records to keep; your Pay and Pension obligations. Updated for 2011.
In Part One of this series, Bill Faust talks about how important it is to understand basic marketing principles in learning how to Pitch Yourself. The question he asks now is do we know why we are employed? Deciphering the needs of the buyer Most of us think it is because of our experience, this [...]
What’s personal branding all about? Is it important? What does it mean? Where do I start? Do I really need a strong identity or even a logo for my freelancing business? Is it really necessary to make ME stand out from the competition? Expert, Al Welsh, has had years of experience within some of London’s [...]
You can think of your website as the modern-day equivalent of the Victorian calling card. Before your prospective client decides whether you’re worth talking to, they’ll have a good nose around your site. And they might be asking themselves: How professional is this organisation? Do they have the products or expertise I’m looking for? Will [...]
