Author: Stephanie Whalley

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.…

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.

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 thing – it has always been able…

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…

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…

According to data collected by The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE), there are now almost 2 million freelancers in the UK alone. In fact, the Self-Employed Landscape Report revealed that freelancers make up nearly half (46%) of the country’s overall solo self-employed population. The same research found that: A significant proportion of freelancers live in London (24%) and the Southeast (22%) Northern Ireland and Wales experienced the most notable decline in freelancers last year London, Scotland and the Northwest saw the largest increase in freelancer numbers during the same time period The West Midlands now comprises 7%…

Whether it’s to pursue a passion, expand a skillset or support themselves financially through their studies, some students turn to freelancing. If you’re a UK resident attending a UK university, part-time freelancing is accepted as a great way to earn extra money and gain experience in a particular area. But freelancing is not permitted if you’re an international student attending a UK university on a student visa. This is because of restrictions about the number of hours and type of work you’re allowed to do on this type of visa. Benefits of freelancing while studying for a degree The…

Goals are a crucial part of any project, including running a freelance business. Without aims, objectives, or a clear purpose, running and growing your business can become a real challenge. No matter what you set out to do with your business, setting realistic goals will help you steer the way when it comes to strategy, planning, and decision-making.

Going through the process of securing a mortgage and buying a home is hard enough when you have a regular salary from permanent employment. For freelancers it can be even trickier thanks to fluctuating income and having to provide evidence of your earnings.

For some people, retirement plans include travelling to bucket list destinations, investing time into new hobbies, or home renovation projects that have been neglected for many years. It’s a chance to leave behind the world of work altogether and turn their attention to other things entirely. For others, retirement is the perfect time to focus on a post-employment freelance venture. This could be continuing a freelance side hustle that is already up and running, or it could mean venturing into the world of freelancing afresh. There’s absolutely nothing to stop you freelancing once you reach retirement age, or even if…