Working from home is one of the great joys of being self-employed. Gone are the days of rush-hour traffic and races against the clock - now you can just roll out of bed, brush your teeth, and welcome the day at your own pace.

In 2015, we teamed up with Crunch to write a piece on the impact the general election might have on freelancers. Looking back at the article today is remarkable. Labour lost it's identity, the Conservatives chose to shun the self-employed and there has been little to no movement on the key points that were raised, namely late payments and equal rights for the self-employed. As we shuffle into a post Brexit Britain 5 years later, we look back at the promises that were made to the self-employed in the UK and ask 'has anything changed?'. 

The war between creativity and business has raged for generations and rarely is it more evident than in the passion-sectors. Fashion, art, film, music… can feel almost vocational, as if an invisible force is driving us forward to do the one thing we are meant to be doing whilst at the same time, we're often forced to make commercial decisions. Continuing our Inspirational Freelancer series, we sent our Founder, Matt Dowling, to meet with freelance singer/songwriter LEIO for a coffee and a chat. They discussed the essence of creativity, striking a balance between art and commerce and the importance of naivety.  

Finance and doing your accounts is arguably the least exciting part of running your own freelance business. Unfortunately, it is one of the most important - getting savvy with your business finance will not only save you considerable stress when it comes to filing your taxes but could also be the key to your business growth and success.

January is often a time of reflection. You may be looking back at an amazing year just gone or questioning whether freelancing is right for you. It can also be a dark time for some and, although it can be difficult to admit, we could all do with a little help from time to time. Freelancing is one of the most rewarding and fulfilling career paths you can take but finding stability and success doesn't come easily. So, we've compiled a few tips to get you on the right track and thinking positively for 2020. 

We don’t need to tell you, but being freelance is great: the freedom it gives you, the control you have over your time and – hopefully – the money it brings in. But for those times when the cash isn’t forthcoming and you’re wondering how on earth you’re going to pay next month’s bills, here are some ways you can earn more in 2020.

Unfortunately, the tedious tax system that has taken many of us years to understand is now completely changing. You may or may not have heard that the way we calculate and file our taxes in the UK is transforming. Making Tax Digital (MTD) aims to make it a lot easier for individuals and businesses to keep track of their tax - and get it right!

IR35. You might have heard it mentioned, you might have been warned about it; IR35 has become a four letter word lately. It sounds like a dry subject and a bit of a headache, but it’s really worth knowing your stuff around IR35 as it may impact your freelance business greatly. If you’re not sure what IR35 is, don’t worry – you’re not the only one. Let’s take a look at the IR35 essentials and what you need to be aware of.