Waking up in the morning and being your own boss sometimes seems almost too good to be true, doesn’t it? Nobody to answer to, organising your day at your own pace, working on projects as and when you see fit, not having to deal with office politics... there are many perks to living the sole trader dream. Here are a few of the benefits and limitations you may want to consider.

It’s almost here! London Fashion Week will soon be upon us and we have the ultimate freelancer's guide for you to make the most out of LFW. We’ve put together the best places to be; whether you're here to mingle with the big players, network with the pros or looking for inspiration to kick-start that new project. See our three categories below and find out where the best places are for you during the most exciting week in fashion!

This week, we’re hosting the next in our series of Freelancer Breakfast Club discussion meetups. These groups are intimate forums for members to discuss the real challenges that face them in their freelance lives. This time the topic on the table is ‘Money Talk’. 

What expenses can i claim as a freelancer?  If you're new to freelancing, the concept of freelancer expenses might be a little confusing and possibly a bit daunting - but they don't need to be. If you think expenses sound like a fancy word that’s only swung about in big businesses, you’re wrong. As a freelancer (sole-trader or limited company), no matter the size of your business, you’re eligible to claim expenses too.  Expenses are a purchase related to your business that is often made using your personal money or business bank account. The rules for claiming expenses depend on whether you’re a sole trader or limited company.

We speak with 100s of clients and businesses every week at Freelancer Club and we are constantly exploring why one freelancer gets the job and the others don't. We've also noticed how some freelancers are harming their chances of landing the job with their application. To help improve your odds, we've put together a list of pro tips on how to apply for freelance jobs. Enjoy

What does your portfolio say about you as a freelancer? Is it a visual CV, a trophy cabinet or something else? Does the work remind you of a particular time in your career, a certain client, a moment of pride or realisation – perhaps the project that changed everything? 

We love a good podcast at Freelancer Club. They are the perfect way to learn something new, get inspired or just zone-out when when you're on the move or have an hour to kill. For freelancers who need to know a little about a lot, podcasts can help you develop key skills in no time. To compile our list, we asked the team (all freelancers) what's on their playlist and came up with a few podcasts that have added value to our freelancing lives.

Corporate headshots… boring, right? Those endless rows of half-smiling, suited people in your LinkedIn connections are so similar, they might as well be the same person. I know a lot of my network  on LinkedIn personally and they are complicated, diverse, multifaceted characters - not cyborgs with an awkward grin.