A common problem for those who take the leap from employment into being their own boss is wondering how to describe themselves. Am I suddenly a CEO of something? The MD? A freelancer? Something else? They all exist in the same professional realm, so the terms do overlap but there are nuances between them which are important to note for legal and financial reasons. Some of the terms we use to describe self-employment actually describe the legal structure of your business, and these have an impact on how you register your business as well as for tax compliance. It can be quite confusing, so we e ..read more

Working from home is great. Coffee just the way you like it and without the queue. Whatever playlist you want on Spotify. Staying in your slippers all day. Nobody steals your breakfast from the fridge. Saving money and hassle on the daily work commute. Working from home and avoiding the commute gives you some precious time back too. This can be used to spend time with your loved ones, do some exercise, indulge in a hobby, or simply get some more sleep. Government data found that 78% of those who work from home in some capacity agreed that being able to ‘WFH’ gave them an improved work-life bal ..read more

Once upon a time, our devices and phones served just a handful of purposes. These days, they’re more like an extension of ourselves. Our smartphones (and other devices) are now our calendars, online banks, health trackers, nutrition guides, maps, the key to instant communication with contacts all around the world, and so much more. Professionally, apps can drive productivity, boost organisation, automate some of your most arduous tasks and help you set up and maintain robust processes and systems. That’s why, as a freelancer, staying up to date with the latest apps is such an effective way to ..read more

Freelancing is exciting and liberating for so many different reasons, but being self-employed does mean you miss out on some of the statutory benefits of working for an employer – such as maternity or paternity pay. Unfortunately, there isn’t much support available for freelancers in the UK taking paternity leave so there’s extra pressure to think about what your options are.   How do I plan paternity leave as a freelancer? Preparing for parental leave as a freelancer is no mean feat, and sadly can be tougher than it is for employees who have statutory rules in place to protect them. Plan ..read more

Whether you freelance full-time or do it as a side hustle, the money you earn from self-employment won’t be included in contributions to a workplace pension scheme like it would be if you were an employee. So where does that leave freelancers when it comes to pension planning? In this article we’ll go over what your options are, and how to prepare for retirement.   The State Pension A private or workplace pension scheme is different to the State Pension provided by the government. As a freelancer you’re entitled to the State Pension just like everybody else, as long as you make qualifying ..read more

In the context of the Digital Platform Reporting Rules, a digital platform includes any website, software, app, or online marketplace that connects businesses (vendors) to users (customers) in order to sell goods or services. Etsy, Uber, and Airbnb are popular examples you will almost certainly have heard of. These digital platforms are now responsible for providing information to HMRC about what their sellers are earning annually – a measure taken to clamp down on tax avoidance amongst freelancers, digital sellers, and gig economy workers. HMRC having access to this information isn’t a new th ..read more

Earning a living comes in all shapes and sizes these days, with a massive array of options for generating income, such as creating content for OnlyFans. We explore what OnlyFans is, why it qualifies as a legal job, and what your tax liabilities are whether it’s your full-time job or a self-employed side hustle.   What is OnlyFans? OnlyFans is an app created in 2016 which has since grown into a large online community of content creators and subscribers, with more than 120 million registered users worldwide. OnlyFans creators share their content with subscribing members for a monthly subscr ..read more

Understanding what works and what doesn’t will help you grow your freelance career more efficiently. That way you can invest more in what supports this growth and less in what doesn’t. Keeping a close eye on what’s happening in your business will help you identify areas to focus on, and adapt your freelancing accordingly.   What is more profitable for you? Analyse your offering and dig into the details of what clients are buying and what they aren’t. If a particular service simply isn’t in demand or costs too much to provide, then maybe it’s time to move on from it – at least in its curre ..read more

Lots of freelancers work from home, often finding it to be cheaper and more convenient than finding workspace elsewhere. Working from home means you don’t need to take on the cost of a separate location, whilst making it simpler to work the hours that suit you in an environment you have control over. But is it as great as it sounds? It can be, but it all depends on what sort of room your freelancing needs. We share our favourite tips on how to set up your home-working space, and answer some of your most frequently asked questions – including what it means for your tax bill.   Can anyone w ..read more

You don’t need us to tell you that in order to succeed as a business owner, you can’t stand still for too long. Evaluation and evolution are critical, so there may come a time when the best way forward involves offering a wider range of freelance services. Expanding your offering can be a smart way to encourage business growth, get ahead of the competition, and stay relevant in your market. That said, it’s vital to be strategic about it. We look at times when adding to your services could be a great idea, versus when you should probably hold off and address other areas first.   Reasons no ..read more