Author: Tom Goodwin

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…

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…

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 point…

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 all…

We all know that freelance work can be unpredictable in nature (to say the least), and so it’s fair to assume there’ll be times when there isn’t a whole lot of work to go around. Like those long summer months when most of your clients are burning on a beach somewhere, while you wait by the phone. These dry spells can be frustrating – but there is a possible solution you might want to consider if you haven’t already: seasonal employment. As with anything in life, it’s not perfect, but it might just be the answer to your prayers. Let’s…

It might be nice to have a crystal ball sometimes, but until that particular type of tech comes around, there are more practical ways to keep an eye on the financial health of your business. In short, it’s all down to the data that you capture, and what you do with it.