Author: Tom Goodwin

It can sometimes pay to have as many strings to your freelancing bow as possible in today’s increasingly competitive and technological world, enabling you to diversify when needed. That’s a nice (and perfectly sensible) idea in theory, but what if it means branching out into areas so varied you end up running multiple freelance businesses, rather than extending your existing service? In which case, how on earth are you supposed to promote all of them at the same time? It’s a question we regularly encounter, so in this article we share our favourite tips for promoting multiple freelance businesses at…

This is an age-old debate for freelancers, with the answer not being immediately obvious. You might think it’s better to have as many strings to your bow as possible, but what if someone is looking for specialised knowledge in a particular area? In that instance, it would actually be better to be something of an expert in said area – as opposed to a jack of all trades who knows a little about everything. But is it always better to be a specialist? And how do you choose what to specialise in? What is a freelance niche? It’s basically…

As a freelancer, you kind of are your business, and so any negative review is going to feel like a personal attack. This is totally normal, so it’s not unreasonable if your emotions temporarily get the better of you. That said, while lashing out might feel good in the moment, it won’t help you attract prospective clients in the future. Reframing a “bad” review is an opportunity to improve and demonstrate your commitment to client satisfaction. To help you out, let’s go through some of the things you can do to make sure you’re dealing with negative reviews in the…

There are numerous benefits to being a freelancer, the most obvious one being increased freedom and flexibility in all areas – from where and when you work, to who you work with and what kinds of projects you choose to work on. As a freelancer, your destiny is in your own hands, and this is the main reason so many people have made the switch and gone out on their own. But the road less travelled is often precarious, with freelancing bringing its own set of challenges. When it comes to securing a mortgage, for example, you may discover that…

You don’t want to get in trouble. So, what exactly are you supposed to do when a previous employer reaches out looking to enlist your services on a “freelance” basis? Does it matter that you used to work for them? Would you fall inside IR35 if you were to say yes? You probably have a lot of questions (including, “What’s IR35?”), but that’s ok because we have a lot of answers. What is IR35 for freelancers? In a nutshell, the IR35 rules were brought in to make it more difficult for employees to avoid tax by working for former…

In today’s increasingly digital and tech-savvy world, more and more companies are choosing to hire freelancers on an ad hoc basis instead of employing additional full-time staff to carry out the same tasks. The nature of freelance work is that it’s flexible, meaning it affords businesses a certain level of freedom when it comes to making new hires. If it doesn’t quite work out with a particular freelancer, then the company simply won’t hire them again in the future. It’s also useful if you only need someone temporarily. More broadly, hiring freelancers gives you access to a large range of…

It’s one thing to get a customer through the door. It’s another thing entirely to keep them inside – or coming back regularly. Yes, customer retention really is the name of the game in a lot of ways, with it being more profitable than customer acquisition in the long run. It ensures your income is stable and predictable, which obviously helps with things like paying bills on time. As a freelancer, this is huge. What’s the secret, then? Why are you struggling to keep clients on board? Here are five possible reasons: Quality issues You won’t like to admit…

As a self-employed freelancer, being paid on time is imperative if you’re to pay your bills when you’re supposed to. Of course, this doesn’t always happen – which can be frustrating to say the least. How do you respond to a late payment, though? Is it just par for the course, or do you have the right to be annoyed? Well, the government’s stance is pretty clear, with the Fair Payment Code having been introduced to try and combat this exact issue. What is the Fair Payment Code? Quite simply, it’s a new voluntary payment code introduced to replace…

It’s no secret that freelance work can be unpredictable, and especially if there are certain times of the year when your business tends to grind to a halt – like during the sleepy summer months. Thankfully, seasonal work can be a great option, affording you the opportunity to earn additional income and gain experience during this dreaded ‘summer slowdown.’ What is seasonal work? Before we get into it, what even is seasonal work? I’m glad you asked. Seasonal employees are basically short-term workers who come in and fulfil additional staffing needs during an organisation’s busiest months. The main selling…

We all know freelance work can be unpredictable in nature (to say the least), so it’s fair to assume there’ll be times when there isn’t a whole lot of work to go around. Most notably during the summer months, when your clients are burning on a beach somewhere and you’re left waiting by the phone. Fear not, though, as there are a number of things you can do to survive – and even thrive – during this so-called ‘summer slowdown’. Run an expense forecast Being financially prepared for an income drop is key. Start by making a list of…