Managing a team of freelancers is very different prospect to managing full-time employees but fast becoming an essential skill in a manager’s toolkit. According to Forbes Magazine, around 50% of Google and ASOS’s workforce is made up of freelancers and IPSE’s data shows the freelance economy in the UK has grown by 25% since 2009, generating an estimated £109 billion a year. A figure that takes on even more significance in Brexit Britain. 

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.

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.

So, you’ve been told you need a DBS check for a job, or you know your ability to get work in your field relies on getting one. There are some important things to note about how this works for freelancers. Let’s look at DBS checks and the options for when you’re self-employed.