Author: Tom Goodwin

Yes – it’s absolutely fine to start freelancing without a niche, and many successful freelancers do exactly that. While having a specialism can help you stand out and command higher rates, starting out as a generalist gives you the flexibility to explore different types of work, discover what you enjoy, and build a broader client base. This article looks at the pros and cons of both approaches to help you decide what’s right for you. What is a freelance niche? A freelance niche is basically your go-to area of expertise – the thing you’re known for and that people start…

With the continued rise of AI, it’s understandable that many freelancers are becoming increasingly concerned about losing out on work in both the short and long term.

Picture the scene: you sit down at your desk to finally tackle that all-important piece of work you need to get done, when suddenly the pile of washing in the corner starts calling your name…

Most freelance job sites do charge a fee, though the amount and structure varies depending on the platform. Some take a percentage of your earnings per project – Fiverr charges 20%, for example, while Upwork’s fee ranges from 0% to 15% – while others offer free sign-up with optional paid membership tiers. This article breaks down how the fees work on some of the most popular platforms, and what you need to know before signing up. What is a freelance job site? Quite simply, it’s a platform that helps you find freelance projects and jobs, and connect with clients. There…

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 just…

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…

Yes, freelancers can get a mortgage – but it’s generally more challenging than it is for employees with a fixed salary. Lenders tend to view freelance income as less predictable, which means you may face greater scrutiny and need to provide more evidence of financial stability. The good news is that with the right preparation, it’s absolutely achievable. This article explains why it can be trickier, and what steps you can take to give yourself the best possible chance. Is it harder to get a mortgage as a freelancer? Generally speaking, yes – it can be. From the perspective of…

Yes – there’s nothing to stop you freelancing for a former employer, and it’s actually a common way for new freelancers to get started. But it does come with an important consideration: IR35. Because you’ve previously been employed by the same organisation, HMRC may scrutinise the arrangement closely to determine whether you’re genuinely self-employed or effectively a disguised employee. Getting this wrong can result in financial penalties, so it’s worth understanding the rules before you say yes. This article explains what to look out for. What is IR35 for freelancers? In a nutshell, the IR35 rules were brought in to…

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…