Fear not, though, as business management platform Tide has published its latest Global Freelancer Report, revealing the freelance roles that are most in demand in the UK and around the world.

We’ll look at some of the top ones to give you an idea of which areas to focus on going into 2026, and we’ll also touch on the issue of freelancing abroad, which can have major implications for how you pay tax.

Let’s jump in.

Most in-demand freelance roles in the UK

According to the report, the top freelance role in the UK is that of SEO (search engine optimisation) specialist, which is all about leveraging digital analytics to boost a company’s online presence. It also helps to have a bit of marketing know-how.

Other roles on the list include graphic/web designer, copywriter, and accountant, with there being a clear emphasis on web-based skills.

Most in-demand freelance roles globally

While there is some overlap between the two lists, SEO specialist doesn’t take the top spot globally.

Rather, the report indicates that self-employed filmmakers are actually the most sought-after freelancers around the globe, and this is really no surprise when you consider just how ubiquitous video content is in today’s digital world.

Also on the global list are SEO specialist, graphic designer, copywriter, and photographer.

Can I freelance abroad?

This is a good question, and one you’ve no doubt asked yourself if you’re a freelance professional. After all, one of the big attractions of freelancing is the freedom to decide your own schedule, as well as where and when you work.

George Schmidt, UK/Europe CEO at Tide, describes freelancing as the “natural next step for many people that have worked in an industry for an extended period of time,” noting “the flexibility to fit it in around your life”.

When it comes to freelancing abroad, however, the reality isn’t quite as simple as you might think, or hope! For example, if you’re considered a UK tax resident, you most likely need to pay tax on all your income – even if some of it comes from a foreign client.

Living and working in a different country

What if you’re also based overseas, living and working in a different country? Well, this is where things get really complicated, as things like tax residency and double taxation agreements come into play.

These sort of arrangements basically ensure you don’t pay tax on the same income twice, but you’ll normally need to check for any agreements in place between the countries in question.

The good thing is you don’t have to go it alone. A qualified accountant can walk you through the whole process and make sure you’re operating in the most tax-efficient way possible.

Recording international income

Good record keeping will help you stay on track of what income was earned where. It can make a huge difference to your tax bill. The best way to keep good records is by using online bookkeeping software.

What freelance roles are on the up?

Currently, the fastest growing freelance profession is web analytics specialist, followed closely by content marketer.

As is evident from Tide’s findings, the fact that AI is being relied upon more and more doesn’t mean there aren’t still jobs available for freelancers in certain areas.

It’s simply about knowing where to look (and what to focus on). While there are many good arguments for specialising as a freelancer, meaning you home in on one specific niche, it also pays to stay more generalised, as this gives you access to a greater number of opportunities.

A more general freelancer is able to stay nimble and adapt to their changing environment, and right now there appears to be a growing demand in the digital space, with web analytics, SEO and the like all becoming increasingly important to different kinds of companies. It all depends on your needs and skills!

Head over to our information hub for more guides, news and advice on navigating life as a professional freelancer, from finance to tech and more.

The post What Freelance Roles Are in Highest Demand? appeared first on Freelancer News.

Before you know it, you’re folding and ironing, and your work is no closer to getting finished.

Relatable?

Procrastination is something everyone deals with, as we convince ourselves we still have plenty of time left – until we don’t.

Thankfully, there are ways to avoid the mad scramble before a deadline, but it starts with you holding yourself accountable and being willing to make a change.

Here are five things you can try.

Set your own deadlines

You might not always get a say when a piece of work is due, but you can still try and negotiate if what’s being asked is unreasonable or unrealistic.

Work backwards from when the client needs the work and determine whether or not it’s actually doable based on your own habits.

If you reach the conclusion that it can’t be done, then say so – or at least ask for a higher pay rate to make up for any potential overtime.

You obviously want to try and be as accommodating as possible, but it still has to be worth your while at the end of the day.

If you’re pitching for work, be sure to pitch deadlines as well. This allows you to space them out according to your schedule (and ultimately work on your terms).

Don’t forget to give yourself a bit of a buffer for potential delays!

Manage your time

Perhaps the most obvious way to improve your overall productivity is by breaking large projects up into more manageable (or “bitesize”) chunks, which you can then tackle one at a time.

Another strategy is to plan your schedule on a weekly basis, as this leaves room for the odd off day where you don’t get a whole lot done for whatever reason. Days like this are perfectly normal every now and then; you just need to account for them.

Establish a method

First of all, you’ll want to decide how many hours you’d like to work in a given day.

It’s worth noting that some people are more productive at certain times, so pay attention to your own habits.

Not having set work hours means you could be working at all hours without realising it!

For example, you might find yourself trying to finish something late at night because you didn’t get it boxed off during the day.

If this works for you, then great, but it’s all about planning work around what’s sustainable long-term.

You might consider implementing something like the Pomodoro method, which involves 25 minutes of focus with a 5-minute break. Whatever method you ultimately choose, hold yourself accountable to it.

Communicate with your client

Communication is key. If you think you might need to move the deadline, just ask politely.

That’s not to say you should move a deadline for the sake of it, but your client is human too. They’ll most likely understand if you have a legitimate reason. Just try to avoid leaving them in the lurch!

More generally, you can also ask for further clarification if you’re unsure about what they’re asking of you.

Block out the noise

We all know there’s no better way to waste a couple of hours than by going down a YouTube rabbit hole, so don’t tempt yourself and close all non-work-related tabs.

For some people this will also mean you go dark during your most productive hours of the day, although some freelancers will need to balance this with the need for good client communications.

This might mean turning off your phone and silencing your emails.

If you’re not totally comfortable with this, you could consider using a filter for urgent communications such as from family members, or create dedicated work comms channels which you can silence as needed.

It’s not just about setting boundaries between work and life; it’s about giving your full focus to the task at hand and not getting distracted.

This is likely to result in higher quality work, thus increasing the likelihood of you receiving more work in the future.

Head over to our information hub for more guides, news and advice on navigating life as a professional freelancer, from finance to tech and more.

The post A Freelancer’s Guide to Handing Projects in on Time appeared first on Freelancer News.

Not only is this not what you signed up for, but it can actually get you in trouble with HMRC! This is because of legislation called IR35, which was introduced by the government to help tackle the issue of tax avoidance.

What actually is it, though? And how does it affect you if you’re a freelancer? Let’s take a look.
 

What is IR35?

The primary motive of the IR35 rules is to determine an individual’s employment status for tax purposes. It was introduced in an effort to clamp down on ‘disguised employees’ slipping through the tax-paying net.
 

What would be the benefit of disguised employment?

A disguised employee is someone working for a client on a supposedly self-employed basis, when in reality the working relationship is more like an employer and employee.

Before IR35 was introduced, a business could take on a contractor rather than hiring the same person as an employee. They wouldn’t need to pay National Insurance or other contributions, and wouldn’t have the responsibility of looking after staff.

For the freelancer, it was an opportunity to pay themselves in a more tactical way through their own limited company. This usually resulted in a lower tax bill than they would pay as the client’s employee.

Of course, not all disguised employees come about as a result of dishonesty. Sometimes, it’s because business owners and contractors aren’t sure where the boundaries lie.
 

How do I know if I’m inside IR35?

Being ‘inside’ IR35 means the way you’re working with a client falls within the remit of IR35 rules. A basic rule of thumb is that if you’re being asked to work the same hours as a regular employee, at the same location, and without the power to decide, you’re almost certainly inside IR35.

There’s also the question of Mutuality of Obligation, where there is any kind of obligation to give or accept work (on either side), rather than having the freedom to accept contracts as you wish. Freelancing is, of course, supposed to be flexible, allowing you to pick and choose the projects you want to work on, so it’s something to look out for!
 

What happens if a freelancer is inside IR35?

If you’re ‘within IR35’ for a particular project or job, then this has implications on how you pay tax. You’ll be considered an employee for tax purposes, and the ‘client’ must therefore deduct Income Tax and National Insurance contributions in the same way they would for an employee paid through their payroll.

If you’re outside IR35 and therefore not considered to be an employee for tax purposes, your bill will be paid to you in full without deductions. Whether your client makes deductions or not, you must report your income in your tax return!
 

Who decides if a freelancer is within IR35?

It’s up to the client to decide, but only if they’re a medium to large-sized private company which has either:

• More than 50 members of staff on its workforce
• Annual sales in excess of £10.2 million

 
If the client doesn’t meet the criteria, then you’re responsible for determining your own IR35 status. If you think you might need help determining your status (or just to be on the safe side), you can make use of HMRC’s online CEST (Check Employment Status for Tax) tool.
 

Contesting IR35 decisions

It’s worth knowing that you can contest a client’s verdict on whether you’re operating within or outside IR35. HMRC’s Alternative Dispute Service enables you to escalate the issue and contest the decision.

When starting work on a new contract or with a new client, make sure you have agreements down in writing to refer back to if necessary. It’s also worth doing this for any ongoing existing contracts.
 

Can I freelance for an old employer?

This is where things get a little complicated. If a previous employer gets back in touch with you to try and enlist your services as a freelancer, what’s the correct response?

After all, you don’t want to get in trouble, and wouldn’t you automatically fall inside IR35 if you were to say yes? Well, not necessarily.

It really boils down to whether or not you operate in a way that contravenes the IR35 rules, based on the criteria outlined above. Again, the basic rule of thumb is that if you feel as if you’re being treated like a regular employee, you might have something to worry about.

Failing to comply with IR35 can result in financial penalties.

 
Head over to our information hub for more guides, news and advice on navigating life as a professional freelancer, from finance to tech and more.

The post How Does IR35 Affect Freelancers? appeared first on Freelancer News.

However, because of the casual nature of the work, some freelancers are in danger of ignoring the legal implications of working on the side. You might not think your side venture counts as a business but it does, and you have certain responsibilities as a result.

Whether you’re planning on setting up a full blown business or are just thinking of an occasional casual thing alongside your job, the rules are the same and you still need to register as self-employed with HMRC if you plan to make any money from your ventures.

The good news is that it’s fairly easy to do.

What does being a sole trader actually mean?

As a freelancer, you’re going to have to register as self-employed and more specifically as a sole trader.

Despite how it sounds, it doesn’t actually apply to people who just work alone. So you can take on staff if you want. It just means that you’re solely responsible for the business.

How to register

You should register as soon as you can after starting your business and can through the government’s website here.

You have until 5^th October in your business’s second tax year in order to do so. If you don’t register in time you won’t face a penalty as long as you send your tax return and pay your bill on time.

How you register will depend on whether you’ve ever sent tax returns before.

Never sent one?

If you’re a sole trader who has never sent a tax return, you need to tell HMRC you want to be a sole trader by registering as a new business.

You will then register for Self-Assessment tax returns which you’ll use to report your income at the end of every tax year, and National Insurance at the same time. For more information about the different types of National Insurance you need to know about, click here.

Sent a tax return in the past?

If you’re a new sole trader who has sent a tax return before as an individual for things like investment or rental income, you will need to register as self-employed.

You will also need to register for Class 2 National Insurance using a CWF1 form. This will allow you to continue using your Self-Assessment account.

In order to do this, you will need your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) so that HMRC can link your accounts. You can find this on your previous tax returns, online account or from documents from HMRC. Contact HMRC is you can’t find your UTR.

Starting up again?

If you’ve ever registered or done business as a sole trader, then you will need to reregister in order to set up trading again. You will need to reregister using the CWF1 form and your UTR so that you can use your existing account.

The process of registering as a sole trader will take around 10 working days, or up to 21 if you’re registering from abroad. This is because HMRC will post you an activation code which you will need when you sign into your online account for the first time.

Once you’ve registered and set up a system for managing your finances you can then go about growing your business. You may even want to hire an accountant who can take care of your bookkeeping and taxes so that you’re free of the stress and the time that you could be spending elsewhere on working on your business.

Your responsibilities

The work’s not over once you’ve registered. As a business owner, you have certain legal responsibilities in order to comply with HMRC’s rules to avoid getting penalised.

It’s important to make sure you’re always running your business by the books and aware of how much tax you’re going to owe so you don’t get hit either with a nasty surprise or even a fine if you don’t pay your taxes on time.

In order to keep your business above board, you will need to do the following:

• Keep records of sales and expenses, including bills for expenses
• Send a Self-Assessment tax return each year
• Pay income tax on your profits and Class 2 or 4 National Insurance
• Settle debts
• Register for VAT if your turnover reaches the threshold of £83,000

Hiring an accountant will make this process easier as they will be able to give you the best advice regarding things like expenses and tax efficiency as well as making sure that your business is doing everything the right way.

Hiring an online accountant and using a free accounting software like Pandle will help you save money.

Head over to our information hub for more guides, news and advice on navigating life as a professional freelancer, from finance to tech and more.

The post How to Register as Self-Employed as a Freelancer appeared first on Freelancer News.

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 right way.
 

Find the feedback

It might seem obvious, but you can’t deal with a review you’re not even aware of! How do you make sure you don’t miss anything, though? After all, it’s not called the world-wide web for nothing.

Well, the first thing you can do is make a habit of regularly checking the relevant review sites and social pages. This should ensure nothing escapes your notice.

Alternatively, you could consider using some kind of social listening tool to automate the process and help you find feedback you’re not tagged in.
 

Assess the situation

It’s important not to react right away. Before you do anything, verify that the review is in fact legitimate (and not someone trolling).

You should then conduct an internal investigation into whatever the complaint is about, making sure to be as thorough as possible so you can determine exactly what happened and whether or not the person is justified in feeling aggrieved.
 

Respond promptly

This initial response is really just about acknowledging the review and letting the person know that you’re looking into the matter. In that sense, you can think of it as a kind of placeholder.

Still, though, it’s a good idea to apologise and express your sympathy up front, as this shows you care about your clients’ feelings – regardless of why they feel the way they do.

Again, try and refrain from going on the offensive (we know it’s tempting). It tends not to be very constructive and only serves to make you appear as if you don’t care, or are above taking criticism.

Also bear in mind that any response you post online or on social media will be visible to prospective clients, and it may be a deciding factor in whether or not they ultimately choose to enlist your services.
 

Take the matter offline

After posting your initial response, you should contact the client directly (by email, telephone, or even direct message) as a way of following up. This once again demonstrates your commitment to rectifying the situation.

You should do your best to explain what (if anything) went wrong, based on the results of your internal investigation.
 

Knowing what to do next

If you are actually at fault, then simply own up to your mistake and hope the person appreciates your honesty. If not, you should still apologise for the fact they aren’t happy, but there’s no real point going into any kind of detail.

It’s also advisable to ask the unhappy client open-ended questions, as the answers to these might provide you with more clarity on what steps you can take to fix the situation and prevent it from happening again in the future.
 

Rise above it if you have to!

Of course, it’s impossible to please everyone, and you will sometimes have to accept letting a situation remain unresolved (as annoying as this is).

Even when dealing with a difficult or unreasonable client, though, you should conduct yourself with grace and try to find the silver linings (e.g. feedback which can be used to help you improve moving forwards).

People will be people at the end of the day, and sometimes there’s just nothing you can do.
 

Update your public response

The final thing you should do is revisit your initial response and update it to reflect the fact that you’ve spoken with the client and (hopefully) resolved the matter.

Your final response should confirm that you carried out an investigation and contacted the client directly to follow up.

In addition, it should state whether the outcome was positive or negative, and it wouldn’t hurt to chuck in one last apology for good measure!

Now, if you fancy pushing your luck, you can test the waters and see if the client would be willing to either change their original review or write a separate testimonial speaking to the way in which you reached out to sort their issue.

 
Head over to our information hub for more guides, news and advice on navigating life as a professional freelancer, from finance to tech and more.

The post Handling Negative Reviews as a Freelancer appeared first on Freelancer News.

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 have your work cut out for you.

Why, though? And what, if anything, can you do about it? Let’s take a look.
 

Is it harder to get a mortgage as a freelancer?

Generally speaking, yes – it can be. From the perspective of a potential lender, freelance income is typically considered to be far more unpredictable than a salaried income. Someone who undertakes freelance work simply can’t provide the same level of certainty or reassurance as someone who is a PAYE employee on a fixed annual salary.

The reality is that not all loans are created equal, and so it’s reasonable to assume that, as a freelancer, you will be judged more harshly than someone in full-time employment.

On top of the fluctuation typical of freelance cash flow (which can be a red flag to mortgage lenders), there are also business expenses to consider on top of your personal costs, and these can further affect your ability to pay back what you owe.
 

What can freelancers do to help secure a mortgage?

So, where does that leave you? Is it all doom and gloom? Thankfully not, as there are some steps you can take to try and improve your overall attractiveness to potential lenders when you’re getting ready to buy a house as a freelancer.
 

Put down a bigger deposit

In most cases, the bigger the deposit, the more reliable (and therefore attractive) you’ll appear to a lender.

You’re essentially putting your money where your mouth is and demonstrating your commitment to repaying the loan in full, which of course makes the lender feel better about the whole thing.

It ultimately comes down to your own unique situation and financial circumstances, meaning it’s a good idea to seek advice from a specialist in the field. A mortgage broker or lender will be able to go over your options, and a good accountant will be able to get into more detail about affordability.
 

Gain experience as a freelancer

As we’ve established, mortgage lenders can be wary of freelance applicants due to the unpredictable nature of freelance work, which can result in missed payments.

It’s smart to try and log at least two to three years’ worth of freelancing financial records before you approach any potential lenders, as this way you’ll have something to point to which demonstrates your reliability.

You’ll still need to show that you have plans for the future, but, more than anything else, historical information serves to reassure lenders that you actually know what you’re doing (no small thing).

Also, you can use the extra time to increase the size of your deposit!
 

Maintain a good client list

Like the financial records, a good client list will go a long way towards convincing a potential lender that you can be trusted to deliver.

The best way to attract clients is by putting a marketing plan into effect, and this should include such things as an online presence and pitching. If you’re just starting out, you’ll want to start relatively small and build up to taking on more work (and from a wider variety of clients).

One thing to remember is not to put all your eggs in one basket, so to speak. For example, by relying on one big client who could up and leave at any time. At the beginning, you want to focus on baking muffins, not cakes!
 

Keep good credit and business records

This should really go without saying, but any potential lender will more than likely conduct a credit check on your business, and so it’s a good idea to deal with any outstanding loans in advance.

More generally, you should also ensure your records are in good shape (accurate/up-to-date) and keep an eye on your cash flow.

If you think you might need help with this but you don’t want to hire an accountant or bookkeeper, good bookkeeping software will automate the whole process, meaning you don’t have to rely solely on your own judgment.

It’s also worth noting that if you operate as a sole trader, then legally speaking there’s no difference between you and the business. It makes it even more important that you can show a separation between freelancing finances, and your personal transactions.
 

Find an accountant

Working with a good accountant can be another marker of stability in the eyes of a mortgage lender. They’ll help you keep your finances in order and minimise mistakes, while an exceptional accountant will also advise you on how to be more tax efficient in the process.

Of course, they can also assist you with a mortgage application, making sure you’re giving yourself the best possible chance.
 

How much can a freelancer borrow?

Unhelpfully, there’s no cut and dried answer to this, as borrowing is based on an individual’s annual income and unique circumstances. This means the amount you can borrow is different for everyone.

Generally speaking, though, the higher your annual income, the more you will be able to borrow, and an accountant can help you get the best deal possible.

 
Head over to our information hub for more guides, news and advice on navigating life as a professional freelancer, from finance to tech and more.

The post Can Freelancers Get a Mortgage? appeared first on Freelancer News.

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, but this is the most likely reason you’re unable to retain clients – especially if you’re someone who already has a roster of regulars.

This is because complacency can start to set in (whether you realise it or not).

It’s important to always remember that your current work’s quality determines whether you’ll get work in the future. For example, even if a particular project is a one-off, the client who commissioned it could end up recommending you to others in the future, provided the work meets a certain standard.

Now, this isn’t to say you have to burn yourself out or take on extra work free of charge, but do your utmost to ensure the service you provide is more than just passable. If you truly go above and beyond, clients will remember you – and will be much more likely to enlist your services again in the future.
 

Communication

The fact of the matter is that in today’s increasingly digital world, clients expect to be able to get hold of you quickly and easily, and there’s really no excuse if they can’t.

If you’re always unavailable or take an age to respond, it could leave clients feeling uncomfortable as they (understandably) want to know their money is being put to good use.

Make sure to reply to things like emails in a timely manner, as doing so demonstrates reliability and care. It’s also never been easier!

To help with this, though – and to stop you from being caught off guard – you can establish the terms of your working relationship upfront, including regular check-in times. You don’t have to ‘always on’.
 

Missing deadlines

This is just generally considered bad practice, showing that you’re unreliable and careless.

Don’t forget that clients often have deadlines of their own (even just internal ones), and you don’t want to be responsible for causing delays in their schedule.

If you think a piece of work might be late, the least you can do is contact the client to let them know, and this may ultimately help you save face. Better yet, try and avoid getting into this situation in the first place.

Technology can make your life easier and streamline your business: set deadline reminders and, if you aren’t already, start utilising some form of digital calendar or software like Trello.

It’s always better to under-promise and over deliver, so with this in mind, try to submit work early in order to give yourself a bit of breathing room.
 

Refusing revisions

Generally speaking, you should be open to making changes if a client isn’t fully satisfied or wants to have some input in the final product. After all, they’re the ones paying for it.

What this doesn’t mean, though, is that you should take on additional work for free. Any revision request should be reasonable and not an excuse to get out of paying.

The thing is, if you flat out refuse to make changes, the client will probably just go and find someone who will – so try and remain somewhat adaptable. It’s worth thinking about including your terms in the contract or work agreement.

Again, you can leverage modern tech to help speed up the process, with AI being a great tool for brainstorming, almost acting as a kind of sounding board for your ideas. You have to be fully transparent about this, though, and the work should ultimately be your own.
 

No follow up

A big mistake a lot of freelancers make is not being proactive in following up with clients. Waiting for clients to reach out when they need something is by no means guaranteed.

Believe it or not, some clients may not even realise that you’re available to work on a recurring basis – not unless you tell them. If you don’t, they’ll mentally file you away as the go-to for one-off work, which is fine, but – again – it’s more beneficial in the long run for you to have a steady stream of projects.

You could also consider offering some kind of special deal or discount for regular work as a way to entice people.

 
Head over to our information hub for more guides, news and advice on navigating life as a professional freelancer, from finance to tech and more.

The post 5 Reasons You’re Not Getting Repeat Business appeared first on Freelancer News.

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 break down the pros and cons.

What is seasonal work?

Well, as the name suggests, seasonal employees are basically short-term workers who come in and fulfil additional staffing needs during an organisation’s busiest months. The specific season varies by both industry and individual operation, but that’s the general gist.

What’s the difference between full-time employment and seasonal work?

The key difference is that seasonal jobs are finite, or temporary, typically lasting for 6 months or less and have a start and end date. This is in contrast to full-time jobs, which tend to be infinite or unending (at least on paper).

Seasonal employees may work part-time or full-time hours, so this isn’t a determining factor, but most countries have specific labour laws around seasonal work to govern things like taxes, insurance, contract terms, and the deductions an employer is allowed to make.

In the UK, for example, seasonal employees are paid a National Minimum Wage according to how old they are.

Should I include my seasonal employment in my Self Assessment?

In short, yes. This is because the tax rate which applies to your earnings depends on how much you earn during a tax year, so you’re required to report all of your income.

Even if you’re primarily self-employed (e.g. a freelancer), you still need to include any PAYE (Pay As You Earn) income in your Self Assessment in addition to your freelance earnings. This doesn’t mean you’ll need to pay tax on your wages again, though.

Pros

The most obvious benefit of seasonal employment is the opportunity to earn additional income to make up for times your freelance work tends to be quiet. There are other potential plus points too:

• Seasonal work is offered on a temporary basis, meaning there’s no long-term commitment on your part, so you can try new jobs to see if you like them without diving in headfirst
• It’s an opportunity to upskill in something different, which will stand you in good stead moving forwards, depending on what sort of seasonal work you find!
• It’s an opportunity to gain experience (for you personally, but also for your CV)
• You can forge connections within a new company – or even a new industry – and these can lead to future recommendations or job tips
• In certain situations, seasonal employees may be offered full-time positions after their seasonal contracts end (for example, if they impress or perform particularly well)
• Seasonal employment also allows you to fill in any unemployment or missing income gaps you might have. This might be particularly useful if you’re worried about gaps in your National Insurance record affecting your entitlement to the State Pension in the future

If you’re asked to do freelance work for an employer, just make sure you don’t fall inside IR35. This is legislation introduced to close a loophole allowing ‘disguised employees’ to avoid paying tax on a self-employed basis, when the nature of the relationship is actually closer to permanent employment.

Cons

• Having a seasonal job could eventually get in the way of your freelance obligations, which you may want to prioritise
• In terms of the work itself, there’s likely to be a general lack of freedom or flexibility relative to freelance work (where you get to set your own schedule, for example)
• Due to the temporary nature of seasonal work, training can often be quite limited, with employees having to adopt a ‘learn-as-you-go’ mentality
• There tends to be less pay than with a full-time job – close to minimum wage in some industries – and also fewer benefits
• Under a seasonal contract, employers have very few restrictions on letting people go, so there isn’t a great deal of stability
• While it does happen, there’s no guarantee of you being offered a full-time position after your seasonal contract ends

Is seasonal work for me?

There are clear advantages to taking up a seasonal role if you’re a freelancer – most notably the fact that you might be able to keep earning at those times of year your freelance work tends to go quiet. Ultimately, like every business decision, it’ll be for you to decide for yourself, based on your own unique situation and preferences.

Head over to our information hub for more guides, news and advice on navigating life as a professional freelancer, from finance to tech and more.

The post The Pros and Cons of Seasonal Work as a Freelancer appeared first on Freelancer News.

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 stay on your A-game and make your life a whole lot easier, faster, smarter and sometimes, even cheaper.

The apps every freelancer needs in 2025 (and beyond)

The world of apps is fast-paced and quick-changing with a seemingly endless list of options. So, figure out where you would most benefit from some app-based support and focus your efforts there.

We share 10 of the best apps for freelancers in 2025, broken down into five key categories:

• Finding freelance work
• Project management
• Design and creation tools
• Social media
• Bookkeeping and accounting

So, let’s get stuck in!

Finding freelance work

Finding freelance work is no mean feat, especially when you’re also trying to focus on the active briefs and clients you already have. Apps can make sourcing and securing work far less daunting and time-consuming.

Two of the most popular apps to help find freelance work are Upwork and Fiverr.

Upwork

One of the most professional and reputable platforms for finding freelance work, the Upwork app is a must. You can search for jobs, send files and communicate with clients on the go, whenever, wherever.

Fiverr

Promote your services, set your prices, and compete against other freelancers. Build up positive reviews and remember to price yourself competitively but not too cheaply. Great for quick turnaround tasks – but watch out for spammy listings.

Project management apps for freelancers

As a freelancer, you’re almost always juggling a number of different projects, clients and deadlines at a time. Centralising it all into one place using a project management tool is a brilliant way to keep on top of everything, plan your capacity, manage expectations and avoid burnout.

Two go-to project management apps (for good reason) are Trello and Monday.com. As a freelancer or ‘solopreneur’, you might prefer the simplicity of Trello. If you’re interested in built-in budgeting, invoicing and marketing tools too, monday.com should tick all your boxes.

Other great options include Asana and ClickUp (which can even be added to Chrome, Alexa and Google Home).

Trello

Organise all your tasks visually into different boards and use the customisable Kanban workflow to easily manage multiple projects and deadlines.

If you’re working in a team, invite others to your Trello boards and assign tasks with the click of a button. View tasks and projects by calendar or category, depending on how you’re working.

Monday.com

This comprehensive project management platform and productivity app makes managing tasks and organising collaboration at scale a total breeze. Integrate your widgets and other favourite tools to streamline your entire workflow.

Design and creation tools

If you require creative design tools, but you don’t need the full-on power of Adobe, then Canva and Figma might be a useful starting point.

Canva

This app gives you access to millions of high-quality photos, icons, illustrations and templates so you can create things like social media images, business cards, decks, portfolios and advertising assets from your mobile.

Canva is a beginner-friendly alternative to more specialist (and costly) tools like Adobe Illustrator.

Figma

This is a fantastic collaborative tool that enables designers to co-work with clients and peers (such as copywriters and developers) to create, collect feedback and test designs in one platform. It’s a super-efficient way to share work, gather feedback and implement changes.

When it comes to copy and content, check out Grammarly to save valuable time and keep your spelling and grammar in check.

Social media

Social media can be an invaluable tool for getting your name out there, building your audience and sharing your content far and wide.

However, to get the most out of your social media channels, they require investment of time and effort, which can be significantly optimised with a scheduling and management app. Two of the most popular right now are Hootsuite and Loomly.

Hootsuite

Download the Hootsuite app to draft, schedule, and publish social media content across all of your platforms from one dashboard. You can also engage with your audience and access performance analytics directly from the app, without having to log in to separate social media accounts.

Loomly

This other popular social media management platform has recently launched a brand-new mobile app. Once all your social media accounts are connected, you can then create, optimise, schedule and analyse performance of your social media content all in one place.

The main difference between Hootsuite and Loomly is that Hootsuite has great social listening capabilities. This means you can monitor when people are talking about your chosen keywords online and what they’re saying. Loomly doesn’t yet offer this functionality.

Bookkeeping, accounting and invoicing

Keeping your accounts up to date and staying on top of invoices is critical for success as a freelancer. Doing so will help you run as tax-efficiently as possible and reduce instances of late payments to protect your cash flow.

That said, recording things like transactions and invoices and uploading expenses can feel daunting and downright painful at times. Choosing good bookkeeping software that suits your needs will make the whole thing feel easier and more efficient.

Quickbooks

The Quickbooks accounting app is one of the most popular of its kind, especially as it has a plan exclusively for self-employed freelancers. Having an app like this on your mobile, while you’re out and about, makes it quicker and easier to track miles and record transactions as and when they happen.

Pandle

This is a free accounting app that is also a bookkeeping software and invoicing platform. Manage customer and supplier invoicing, upload receipts, view reports and complete banking straight from your mobile.

The best thing about Pandle is that all the cloud-based tools are all designed “with real people in mind”, making it perfect for small business owners and freelancers just like you.

Both accounting apps have a long list of features designed to support the financial growth and stability of your freelance business.

Done here? Check out our article on free tools for running a business solo—or find more expert advice and resources in our freelancer information hub.

The post Best Apps for Freelancers 2025 appeared first on Freelancer News.

The first thing you need to do if you want to protect your IP, is get to grips with what Intellectual Property is. When you know what you’re dealing with, you’re in a better position to make the right moves for your business.
 

What is Intellectual Property?

Intellectual Property is something that has been created in the human mind, for example an invention you’ve come up with or a story you’ve written.

When something qualifies as IP, it means it has been protected by law against unauthorised use by anybody other than the person who owns it.

If the person who owns the IP wants to make money by allowing other people to use it, this legal protection makes commercialising it a whole lot easier and far more secure.
 

What counts as Intellectual Property as a Freelancer?

Based on popular freelance services, these are the kinds of things freelancers can register as their Intellectual Property.

• Designs (e.g. logos, graphics, symbols, prints and websites)
• Photography
• Video content
• Artwork
• Written content like blog posts, guides and video scripts
• Code for things like games, apps and software
• Processes (e.g. templates and workflows)
• Inventions, machines, mechanisms, hardware
• Names (e.g. product names and brand names)

Different types of Intellectual Property

There are different types of IP that something can be registered as and protected under. The main ones being:

• Patent
• Copyright
• Trademark

You can get some types of protection automatically, but others you’ll need to apply for.
 

Patent

Patents are designed to protect IP related to inventions. In the UK, a patent allows you to take legal action against anyone that uses your invention without permission.

If you’re a freelance developer, for example, and you’ve created new photo editing software, you can patent this process and/or technology so only you can use it.
 

Copyright

Copyright is specifically targeted at protecting IP related to literature, art, music and dramatic work. So, things like books, songs, films, paintings, textiles and sculptures can be copyrighted, for example.

Copyrighting is also often used to protect software IP, including things like databases, programmes and technical drawings.

Let’s say you’re a freelance interior designer, and you generate a 3D render of a design scheme you have created. You’ll be able to register this as IP and protect it by copyright.

This stops anybody else using your 3D drawings, or the 3D files, technical drawings and models used to create them.
 

Trademark

Trademarks are used to protect things like business names, product names, logos, sounds, designs and symbols that distinguish one brand from another. This type of IP protection actually dates back centuries to when artisans would put their “mark” on their products to distinguish them from others.

One of the most common ways a freelancer might use a trademark is to protect their brand identity (name, logo, colours, design, etc.) from being used by any other business.
 

What other types of Intellectual Property are there?

There are other types of Intellectual Property you may not have come across yet. We haven’t detailed them above but they’re still just as important, so we’ll give a brief overview below.
 

Trade secret

This type of IP protection covers confidential company information relating to something that competitors don’t have, such as formulas or specific processes. McDonald’s Big Mac sauce, the formula of WD-40 and KFC’s recipes are all examples of trade secrets registered as IP.
 

Industrial design

This type of IP protects a visual design element of something, such as its shape, colour or pattern. The Volkswagen Beetle, the iPhone and the Coca-Cola bottle are all examples of industrial designs covered by IP rights.
 

Geographical indication

This type of IP protects something from a specific place and which has some form of distinguishable factors related to that location. Champagne from France, Darjeeling tea from India, Swiss watches and Scotch whisky are all examples of GIs protected by IP rights.
 

Who owns Intellectual Property?

In short, you own intellectual property if you’ve created or invented something, and it meets the necessary requirements for copyright, a patent or design. You can also buy intellectual property rights and sell or transfer your own if you wish.

Unfortunately, if you’re employed, your employer owns the IP of anything you’ve created or invented within their business.

As a freelancer, you own the rights to your own creations, for example things like your logo etc. But, if you’re asked to create or invent something for a client, it’s important to put a contract in place to understand who has the legal rights.

How can I transfer intellectual property rights?

If you want to transfer intellectual property rights, it must be done through a legal process, but which one depends on the circumstances.

The most common ways IP is transferred are:
 

Purchase

If a business is sold or liquidated, ownership of IP is often reassigned as part of this process. IP can also be sold to a new owner even if the whole business isn’t being sold.
 

Licensing

Licensing enables the original owner to permit others to use their IP within agreed legal terms. It means they retain ownership but can still commercialise all or part of the creation or invention they own.

Licensing can be exclusive, whereby only specific people are allowed to use the IP, or it can be non-exclusive so the IP is available publicly.
 

Assignment

This is where all or some IP is reassigned from the original owner to a new one through a legal written document. It’s a permanent change and normally needs to be made official by registering the new ownership with the specific IP authority (e.g. copyright, trademark, etc.).
 

Mergers and acquisitions

If two companies merge or one acquires the other, ownership of IP will typically be transferred in this process unless otherwise stated in a written agreement.
 

Inheritance

If the person who owns the IP dies, they may leave it as part of their estate to a beneficiary. In this scenario, the transfer of IP ownership happens through inheritance.
 

Top IP protection tips

Before you go, here are three top tips to keep your Intellectual Property safe and sound:

• Use watermarks on your work – If you’re sharing things like photos, videos or design previews, add a branded watermark on top so nobody can use the original versions.
• Always use written contracts – As we covered earlier, contracts are super important when dealing with IP protection, so make sure you’re using them. Make sure you’re both in agreement about who owns what in advance and have it documented in writing.
• Consult an IP expert – There are dedicated legal professionals who specialise in Intellectual Property, so speaking to one of those will help ensure everything is watertight.

 
Looking for more freelancing advice? Head to our hub, where we’ve got a whole host of resources waiting for you.

The post How Do I Protect My Intellectual Property as a Freelancer? appeared first on Freelancer News.