CV and portfolio building

Your curriculum vitae and portfolio are both valuable ongoing resources showing what you’ve done, and therefore what you’re capable of. Continuously building on this shows potential clients all the ways in which you can add value through your services, with evidence based on real examples to showcase your work.

This might not always be so simple though, especially in the early days of your freelance careeer, during quieter spells, or if you’ve been working with clients under non-disclosure agreements.

Doing the work on a voluntary basis will allow you to show-off your problem-solving talents without fighting for the work first – hopefully helping you secure the job as a paid gig next time round.

It’s also a great way to test run brand new skills if you are in the process of a complete career transformation without being tied to any long-term employee contracts.

Making contacts

Volunteering in your chosen field means you are opening the door to a whole new world of contacts and opportunities you might otherwise miss.

You’ll be connecting with the right people and gaining access to resources which could help you get ahead.

Volunteer work is also great practice for networking, enabling you to hone in on your interpersonal and communication skills. It will stand you in good stead for future interviews and client meetings! You might even connect with someone who becomes a valuable mentor on your journey.

Employability

It’s common knowledge that the skills gap is still a prominent problem throughout the UK. Extra-curricular work towards learning and adopting new skills can help you stand out from the crowd.

Along with developing your skillset, taking up volunteering work demonstrates willingness, initiative, motivation and a drive to succeed. These are all extremely attractive qualities to prospective employees or clients who will be sifting through applicants or pitches.

Boosting confidence

CV building, contact making and employability are less important to the well-versed retiree who is simply looking to spend their time constructively. However, confidence boosting is vital to almost everybody as great self-esteem contributes to a healthy mind and positive productivity.

A survey by Reach Skills showed that more than one in three volunteers do it to increase their confidence levels and we salute them! Satisfaction, pride, sense of purpose and confidence in your own capabilities are all key ingredients to a happy well-rounded person, and staying motivated.

Good karma

As well as ticking lots of boxes for those of you still working your way up the career ladder, volunteer work will also allow you to rack up some serious good karma points.

If nothing else, altruistic acts of kindness make you feel all fuzzy inside and will give growing businesses the helping hand they need to succeed and we all know that feels, right?

Getting the most out of your volunteering experience

Taking a hiatus from money-making can be nerve-racking, so it’s important you get the most out of your volunteer experience. Be proactive in getting involved and go above and beyond what’s expected of you. Remember, it’s only temporary and one day these skills could be earning you a pretty penny.

If you feel like you aren’t getting enough out of the experience then speak up because volunteer work has to be a mutually beneficial process.

Lastly – ask questions. Be inquisitive to absorb the absolute most out of the situation and the people in it. Wring it dry!

 
Check out our accounting support hub for more help and resources, or to ask a tax question.

The post Will Volunteering Work Help My Freelance Career? appeared first on The Cheap Accountants.

They tend to offer anything from desk space to office pods, meeting rooms, and beyond, and are often equipped with most of the kit you’d expect to find in any office.

They can often be a lifeline for self-employed workers, so in this article we’ll look at the pros and cons.

Should I work from home or use a coworking space?

This is entirely up to you! One one hand, some freelancers and small business owners find working at home is one of the greatest perks of being your own boss.

There’s no time wasted on travelling to work, the coffee in the kitchen is your favourite brand, and you can listen to their favourite music without headphones and or anyone complaining about it. But it’s not for everyone.

The benefits of coworking

You might consider things like:

• Flexibility: Most coworking spaces will allow you to be very flexible with booking. You could even hire space on an hourly basis
• Networking: With other people working around you, from a variety of backgrounds, there are opportunities to meet other entrepreneurs. Some spaces offer business incubators for startups.
• Inspiration: Being surrounded by other people’s conversations and energy can sometimes spark new ideas and opportunities
• Access to facilities: Coworking spaces are usually stocked with all manner of fancy office kit and other resources that might be expensive to set-up privately. Meeting rooms with presentation equipment are a good example.
• Getting into work mode: Some people find it hard to get into work mode when they’re at home or conversely, find it hard to stop work and leave it behind. It can also help you get away from the well-meaning people who miss out on the meaning of ‘working’ from home, and call in for a chat.
• Mental health: Self-employment can be quite a slog at times. It can be nice to know there are other people out there who know what you’re going through.

Potential issues of using coworking spaces

Like everything in life, there are pros and cons to coworking – it all depends on your needs and personal preferences.

• Cost: Coworking spaces tend to be cheaper than hiring a private office, but working from home tends to be cheaper again. With either option, you can claim your related work expenses on your tax return.
• Concentration and background noise: You won’t have as much control over your environment in a coworking space as you do working from home. The noise of other people can be infuriating if they’re being inconsiderate
• Privacy and data: Work which involves personal data or sensitive conversations might not be suitable for a coworking space unless you use a private office

 
Check out our accounting support hub for more help and resources, or to ask a tax question.

The post Could a Coworking Space Be Your Ideal Workplace? appeared first on The Cheap Accountants.

Now this could be for a variety of reasons. For example, people may want more freedom and control over their own schedules. Or perhaps the availability of online platforms in this day and age has simply made it easier for people to finally take the leap and go it alone.

Either way, freelance work continues to grow in popularity as more and more companies look to take advantage of the online marketplace and outsource certain tasks to those with specialised skill sets.

Before you take the plunge, it’s crucial to identify your strengths and choose a niche where you can truly shine. After all, focusing on what you do best sets you up for long-term success.
There’s never been a better time to start freelancing – so let’s get into it!

What is a freelancer?

Quite simply, a freelancer is a self-employed professional who offers their services to various clients, usually on a project-by-project basis.

It means you’re your own boss and get to decide when, where, and how you work. This increased flexibility ultimately enables you to be selective when it comes to choosing the projects you want to work on – and the people you want to work for.

Really, though, you don’t work for anyone but yourself.

You can also set your own rates, meaning you’ll potentially earn more than you would in a regular job with a fixed (or long-term) contract.

What taxes do freelancers need to pay?

This largely depends on the business structure you choose, but a freelancer’s tax obligations typically include Income Tax on the profits left over after you deduct any allowable business expenses.

The type of National Insurance self-employed people pay is separate to any NI you might pay as an employee, unlike Income Tax. Class 4 NI contributions are paid as a percentage of any self-employed profits you earn over the £12,570 NI threshold.

You might also need to think about things like Student Loans deductions and, if this is your only source of income, pensions!

How do I pay tax on my freelance income?

As a sole trader you’ll need to submit Self Assessment tax returns to report your earnings although, starting from April 2026, some sole traders will begin using Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax (which will replace Self Assessment if you’re eligible for it).

What are the top freelance jobs?

So, which freelance jobs are on the rise in 2026?

It should come as no surprise that AI or prompt engineers are currently in high demand, with these professionals helping companies to thoughtfully integrate artificial intelligence into their services and business practices.

AI isn’t going anywhere; it’s only going to become more important as technology improves over time. So why not give yourself a head start?

In the same realm, it’s also a good time to be a machine-learning engineer. As one of these, you’re responsible for the development of the actual AI algorithm, training it to behave and respond in the right way.

Alternatively, you could offer your services as a cybersecurity developer, working to assist clients in fending off things like malware and other online threats. This role is crucial in today’s digital world.

Another freelance job on the up is that of financial consultant, where you advise clients on how best to use their valuable assets.

If these roles don’t sound like they match your skillset – classic freelancing roles such as copywriters, digital marketing specialists, virtual assistants and data entry clerks are still thriving into 2026. It’s all about finding what works for you.

Keeping records as a freelancer

Whether you like it or not, bookkeeping is an essential part of managing a business’s financial health. It’s also a requirement!

This process involves recording the daily transactions which take place in your business. This will help you keep track of your income vs. expenses, which is essential for your tax return as well as monitoring what works in your business.

Generally speaking, the amount of tax you pay depends on your profits, which is why it’s important to keep good records.

If you’re a sole trader, there’s no legal distinction between you and your business, so your business’s profits are yours to keep once you’ve paid tax – another reason why it’s so important to keep records!

A good accountant can help make sure you’re doing everything right and operating in the most tax-efficient way possible.

 
Find more help in our online accounting hub, and learn more about how to find the right accountant for your business.

The post Top Freelancing Jobs in the UK appeared first on The Cheap Accountants.

Repeat business is cheaper than finding new clients

Client retention is cheaper and more cost effective than client acquisition for almost any business. Marketing to new clients tends to be more expensive in order to get on their radar in the first place, and it will often be a longer process with more obstacles to get through to win them over.

It’s much easier (and therefore cheaper!) to convince someone who already knows what you can do to hire you again, than it is to convince a stranger to hire you for the first time.

Even if the nature of your work means your client won’t need you for the same job again, there are other ways you might be able to extend the relationship. For instance, if you supply and install bespoke fitted wardrobes, are there other joinery projects you might be able to offer?

Encourage client referrals

Familiarity is a valuable thing to tap into. People trust recommendations and reviews – particularly from someone they trust because it’s an independent person and therefore an unbiased opinion. You might:

• Offer a referral incentive which rewards the client
• Give out a discount code for any friends and family they refer within a set time-frame
• Send a link for them to leave a review somewhere like Google or Trustpilot

Communicating well with your clients

Making the client relationship more enjoyable means there’s less stress on both sides. The easiest way to do this? Communicate well, and consider the language you use. You want every contact point to reinforce the value you provide – rather than the transactional nature of what you’re doing!

Keeping in touch throughout the duration of a project can be very reassuring for clients, and in turn helps them feel more positive about your work. For particularly long or ongoing projects, it might help to schedule some catch-up times at the beginning so you keep each other up to date.

Giving them a variety of contact options is also helpful. Some clients will prefer to talk to you on the phone, but others will want to use instant messaging. Clients will appreciate little things like this tailored to their needs, and make them more likely to choose you again in the future.

Ongoing pricing considerations

If you work in any business for long enough, you’ll eventually need to increase your prices.

Working out what to charge is tricky at the best of times, and you obviously might be reluctant to put any existing clients off. There’s always a chance that’s going to happen, but your current clients are also likely to be less price sensitive if they know that you provide value for what you charge.

The best thing to do above all else is to produce quality work on time as this will put you in the best position to ask for repeat business or help in return for your services.

Find more help and resources for your business in our information centre. Looking for an accountant? Compare online services!

The post Maintaining Client Relationships To Build A Stable Income appeared first on The Cheap Accountants.

Price increases can also be a pretty daunting prospect for a number of reasons. The main concern is the risk of losing clients as a result of charging them more – especially regular or long-standing clients who are accustomed to the existing rates.

That shouldn’t mean that you stay on the same price point forever, whilst costs rise around you. We look at tried and tested ways to boost your income through a cost increase while still maintaining great relationships with your clients.

Increasing your prices while keeping customers happy

Your business needs to make enough money to:

• Sustain itself
• Support you financially

You can’t hinder your own profit-making potential because of your existing clients. You want your business to thrive, not just survive, which means raising your prices from time to time is a necessity.

No customer is ever going to be pleased to hear they need to pay more, but there are some things you can do to ensure any price increase runs as smoothly as possible.

Check out what your competitors charge

When deciding what you want your new prices to be, take a close look at what your competitors are doing. If your increased prices are close enough to industry standard or what your competitors charge, your customers will be more willing to accept your new rates and stay loyal to your business.

Be sure before sharing

Raising your rates should never be a knee-jerk reaction. You need to put a plan in place and bide your time. Do your research and finalise your new rates before you even consider what your client communication plan will be. Uncertainty or changes to the rates will only confuse your customers and reflect badly on you.

You also don’t want to pre-warn customers that you’re going to be increasing your rates without knowing what the new prices will be. Being well-prepared will help you deal with the inevitable questions and possible pushback.

Choose your timing wisely

Timing is critical when informing clients that they’re going to have to start paying you more. If you’ve just had a few bad reviews or complaints, for example, it’s probably not the best time.

Plus, don’t spring the news of increased rates on your customers out of the blue. Pre-warn them that the new costs are coming and give them a date, in the future, that they will come into action.

Be honest and transparent

Customers always appreciate honesty, transparency and authenticity. So, if you do decide to raise your rates, be upfront about it and explain why you need to do it.

Let them know you’re doing it so that you can still provide the same level of service and that it’s in response to your own increased outgoings (e.g., supply chain, materials, shipping, overheads, etc.).

The last thing you should do is hide the price increase in sneaky fees, small print, or wrap it up as any kind of benefit to them if it’s not.

Be compassionate and patient

Some customers will accept the new rates and pay their invoices without question. Others might push back or want to know more about the decision. It’s important to be patient and compassionate when responding to the latter.

Be ready to answer questions, personalise your communications as much as possible, and don’t forget to thank all of your clients for their loyalty and understanding.

Consider offering additional payment options

An effective way to soften the blow of a cost increase could be to provide an additional way to pay, such as a payment plan or instalments, that you didn’t offer previously.

Stay firm on your decision

If customers don’t respond well to the news of a price hike, it can be tempting to revert back to your old rates in order to resolve the friction and retain their custom. Your business won’t grow this way. Keep your goals in mind and stay strong.

You may consider negotiating with individual customers with whom you have a particularly good (or profitable!) relationship – it’s your call, but this might be something you ask them not to share!

What if I lose customers as a result of price increases?

A bigger bill is never going to be good news for anybody. That’s why it’s perfectly normal for a business to lose clients once they announce that prices will be going up.

Some customers just can’t afford it and others are determined to find the cheapest options or best deals on the market, so your new rates might not work for everybody – and that’s okay. You still have options.

Accept it and move on

Unfortunately, there’s not a whole lot you can do if a customer decides they want to part ways following a price increase. You can’t, or shouldn’t, try and force them to stay against their will.

Be gracious, accept the loss, and figure out how you’re going to deal with the gap they leave behind.

But stay in touch

You can let a client go but it’s important to stay in touch (with their consent). Keep them on your mailing list and check in with them in six months or a year’s time.

If they love what you offer but simply can’t afford your new prices, they may be interested to know about special offers. Or, if their own profits increase further down the line, they may be keen to have you back when their cash flow permits.

Figure out how you’re going to attract new clients

If you lose clients and need to replace them, you’ll need to turn your focus to your marketing efforts to generate new leads and convert them into new paying customers.

Invest some time into finding ways you can encourage new clients to come to you, so you don’t have to do all the chasing. This includes:

• Promote retainer rates and/or special rates for clients who provide you with regular work
• Putting a referral scheme in place
• Keeping your website, social media and search engine optimisation (SEO) up to date
• Networking, networking and even more networking

Looking for more expert business support? Head over to our info hub for more news and helpful resources.

The post How Can I Raise my Prices Without Losing Clients? appeared first on The Cheap Accountants.

This time of year is really popular for people to become new business owners, so we wanted to give newbie freelancers a helping hand.

The main things to consider are:

• Income tax
• National Insurance Contributions
• Business expenses
• Self Assessment
• Bookkeeping

If you’ve never had any experience with these things before, don’t panic! This blog post will hopefully clear a few things up for you.
 

Income tax

Let’s start with the main one. Income tax is the same kind of tax you pay as an employee through PAYE, but if you become self-employed, you’ll have to do it differently. It won’t directly come out of your earnings, you’ll have to work it out and do it all yourself.

The percentages are the same as with employment. So, it’s 20% for earnings between £12,570 and £50,270. Between £50,270 to £125,140 is 40% and over that, it’s 45%.

However, please note that these figures can change at the start of a new tax year (every April) – so always check for up to date figures!
 

National Insurance

This is slightly different when you go self-employed. As an employee, you will be used to paying Class 1 NI. However, now it’ll be Class 4.

Class 4 is for profits over £12,570 and under £50,270. This is set at 6% of profits. For earnings over £50,270 it’s 2%.

National Insurance is something that will need to be put on your Self Assessment tax return, along with all details of your income, for Income Tax purposes too.
 

Expenses

Now for the good news. You can reduce your profit figures – but this is a good thing!

If you’re paying a percentage of your profits in tax, naturally having a lower profit figure will equal less tax to pay.

A lot of people get a bit apprehensive about this bit but don’t worry. We’re not talking about dodgy tax dealings, this is just a legitimate way to ensure you’re not paying more tax than you need to. Every business does it, and HMRC expects you to claim for expenses.

Basically, anything you earn that you spend back on the business is not profit. It’s an expense and should therefore be deducted from your profits.

The way it works is: Earnings – expenses = profit

So, it’s really important you keep track of all business expenses and keep receipts and invoices, should HMRC ever ask for them. Just make sure what you’re claiming for is solely for the purpose of doing business. Anything that doesn’t look right could spark a HMRC investigation.
 

Self Assessment

This is how you record all your income and expenses for HMRC. You will need to submit a Self Assessment tax return by January 31^st each year and also pay what you owe by then.

Please don’t wait until the deadline to get everything done though!

First of all, you’ll need to register for Self Assessment. This needs to be done by October 5^th in your business’ second tax year. It can easily be done online on the government’s website.
 

Bookkeeping

In order to keep track of all your incomings and outgoings, you’ll need to put a bookkeeping system in place. A lot of people still swear by spreadsheets, but we’d definitely recommend trying out some bookkeeping software instead.

Modern bookkeeping software will automate a lot of processes for you, which saves time and reduces errors. Having cloud-based bookkeeping is also handy if you’re on the move a lot because you can access things remotely.

Overall, things are easier than they sound. The most important thing is to get organised and read up on what you need to do. Make sure you keep good records and do everything above board, and you’ll keep on HMRC’s good side.

Do you have any questions about the information above? Are you looking for an accountant who can handle it all for you? Get a free quote for low-cost accountancy services.

The post A Newbie Freelancer’s Guide to Tax, NI and Expenses appeared first on The Cheap Accountants.

A lot of people who work as sole traders simply keep everything in one bank account – their personal one.

At first this might seem all fine, but when it comes to doing your bookkeeping and working how much tax you owe, things get a bit trickier.

The tricky part is expenses. In order to reduce your tax bill, you should claim for business expenses which are deducted from your profits, giving you a lower figure to pay. However, if you’ve got a bank account full of personal and business expenses, it can be a real headache trying to separate them.

The best practice that we would recommend is getting a separate bank account for your freelance business. Everything is a lot neater and organised and you’ll save time doing your bookkeeping, which is always a bonus. 

High street bank or online bank?

The next question you no doubt have is – what bank do you choose? You could opt for a business account at your current bank or you could choose one of the growing numbers of online bank accounts.

With most high street banks, you’ll have to pay a fee each month. With online banks, there are more options that have no or lower account fees. Online banks are also a lot more convenient for some, particularly if you’re dealing with international customers with multiple currencies.

With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of some of the best and most popular online bank accounts for freelancers.

Tide

Tide is an online bank account built for freelancers and small business owners to use whenever and wherever. According to their website, 1 in 12 business current accounts opened in the UK was with Tide.

The key feature is that there are no monthly or annual fees associated with their current account. Instead, they charge a very low fee for bank transfers (20p), cash withdrawals and deposits (both £1). Payments made between Tide accounts are free.

Alongside its main features, there’s also the option to apply for credit – this could be handy for those freelancers whose laptop or printer has just broken down with no warning.

It also features accounting and invoicing features so you can manage your accounts and keep up with cash flow from your clients.

Revolut

Unlike some of the other options, Revolut’s freelancer account is set at £6.99 per month. The price tag may turn some people off, particularly freelancers but it’s still a popular option.

With Revolut, you can spend in over 150 currencies and you can hold, receive and send money in 24 currencies. This is good news for those who work with international clients.

If you use other apps like Slack or bookkeeping software, Revolut can connect to them and also offer discounts on memberships in some cases.

Coconut

Coconut is a bank account made by freelancers for freelancers. They have a free plan for those just starting out and will be launching their Grow plan for £5 a month in the future. The free plan comes with 10 free bank transfers per month (20p each after), so it’s potentially one of the best options out there price wise.

Aside from just being a bank, Coconut’s account aims to help freelancers with their accounting too. Coconut will provide estimates on how much tax you are expected to owe which is handy to give you a real-time view into your finances.

Monese

Monese is another popular online bank account for freelancers, particularly those who are on the move as it allows you to open the account without a UK address.

Monese created their account for freelancers because other banks did not take well to freelancers’ unstable incomes and lack of regular deposits.

The app allows you to manage your money with ease, add payments and it helps with budgeting too – a much-needed helping hand.

They have a few options, some have fees but there is one without a monthly fee, just fees on withdrawals and transfers.

Transferwise

While not quite a bank account, Transferwise is a popular option for those who send and receive money in foreign currencies. Their fees for converting are much lower than Paypal. In fact, their website claims Transferwise’s charges are 14x lower. This is a relief for those who have been stung by high conversion rate charges in the past.

It has a slightly higher bank transfer rate than Tide (50p per transfer), but it may be worth it for the currency exchange charges. You can simply transfer the exchanged money into another bank account for accounting purposes if you wish.

We hope this list has helped you choose the right bank for you. All of the above are highly rated, so it all depends on your particular circumstances. If you’re UK-based and only working with UK companies, something like Tide or Coconut could be ideal for their low fees. Revolut and Transferwise may be better for those working internationally, particularly the digital nomads out there.

Have you used any of the above online banks? Would you recommend another? Please share your thoughts below.

The post Which Online Bank Account is Best for Freelancers? appeared first on The Cheap Accountants.

So, how can you help yourself tackle those not-so-good days?

1.      Know where to start

By planning your work schedule, you can make sure that you never hit your desk in the morning wondering what to start on first. By keeping track of deadlines, the hours each project will require and the brainpower they will require (something not to be ignored), you can develop a work schedule that prevents too much work building up at one time and provides a balance of easier and more intensive tasks throughout your day and week. And yes, it will stop you dithering about what to do next!

2.      Factor in downtime

It’s safer to always expect the unexpected. A week where you can just about fit in all your work if everything goes to perfection and you’re feeling as chirpy as Tinkerbell and as fit as Mo Farah is not, as you may think, a well-planned week. It’s a week that’s setting you up to fail if as much as one tiny thing goes wrong, runs late, takes longer than expected, doesn’t arrive, does arrive…

Unexpected visitors, mistimed deliveries, unexpected (and unwelcome!) illnesses, sick family members that need your attention; there are so many things that can disrupt your week. So don’t pack your schedule so tightly that there’s no space to breathe if things go wrong. That will just result in panic, late-night working, a lack of sleep, stress and potentially, missed deadlines and lost clients.

None of these are great motivators, and the more stressed you are, the more likely it is that you’ll be paralysed by the feeling you’ll never get everything done, creating a vicious circle.

3.      Don’t procrastinate about that task

You know the one I mean. The one you dread because it’s difficult or boring (or both). Spending the whole day or week dreading it will just cast a shadow over everything else you do, and, not to state the obvious, it will still be sitting there waiting for you. So instead of a small period of misery, you’ve delivered yourself a whole week of it by putting that unwelcome task off until Friday afternoon.

Tackle it first, and if you really can’t bear to, give yourself an hour to work on something easier and warm your brain up. Then be firm with yourself! Turn your attention to that ‘frog’ and go for it!

4.      Make time your friend, not your enemy

I’m a great advocate of timers and I’m not alone. FlyLady swears by them for her time and home-management system and many people love the Pomodoro system. Timers can motivate you to see how much you can get done in the time you’ve set, help you divide your time between multiple projects, help you track how long you’ve spent on a task and help you make deals with yourself. “I really don’t want to do this, but I can bear to give it my best shot for 30 minutes.” “I’ll do 45 minutes on this, then I’ll have a break.”

It works. They help. And you don’t have to buy a ye olde kitchen timer anymore (unless you want to) or even use an app on your phone (which is probably a good thing; phones can be distracting). There are plenty of timers you can use on your laptop, PC or tablet. Check out Five Free Timer Tools to Keep You Focused for some suggestions.

5.      Give yourself a break

Prolonged sitting has been proven to be bad for your health and research also shows our concentration is better if we don’t try to work for too long and take regular short breaks. Not only are breaks good for our body and mind, they’re good for our motivation too. They give us something to look forward to and the chance to stop before we overdo it and go into a concentration slump. If we get up and get moving in our break time, it stimulates our circulation, too, helping to deliver more of that much-needed oxygen to our brain.

A small snack and a drink can help rejuvenate us too; dehydration and erratic blood sugar levels are not friends of razor-sharp though and mental stamina! It’s also a good idea to make sure some of those breaks involve a change of scenery and/or some human interaction. This can revitalise and re-inspire us, and just generally cheer us up, reminding us that while we may work alone, it doesn’t mean we are alone – and that’s one of the best motivators of all!

What motivates (and demotivates) you? Let us know!

The post Freelancers: Five Ways to Stay Motivated appeared first on The Cheap Accountants.

Wouldn’t it be nice if clients came to you?

While we would never suggest stopping your pitches and queries to potentials altogether, there are some things you can do to make finding clients easier – by encouraging them to come to you.  

Advertise regular rates/retainers

The best thing you can do is to find clients who need regular work. The less time you spend finding new clients, the more time you can spend actually doing client work and therefore earning money. Having regular work is ideal for this.

If applicable, ensure you make it clear on your website that you provide regular work assignments. When you’re quoting for one-off projects it might be useful to give a figure for regular work too, possibly with a special offer. They might not have even considered it otherwise.

Referrals

Stay in your clients’ good books and check in with them after you’ve completed work. You can ask for a testimonial to put on your website and also whether they have anyone they could refer to you. The more contacts you have, the better.

Even if you are dropped by client due to budget cuts, get in contact with them a few months later. You can see whether they require your services again or whether they know anyone else who might be interested.

While this isn’t exactly waiting for them to come to you, you could make this part of your usual process with minimal extra effort. Make a follow up email part of your typical process and ask for referrals and testimonials there.

Ensure your website is selling your best self

To make your website highly effective in converting clients we’d recommend including a solid, well-presented portfolio of work, testimonials from clients, an interesting blog and a clear way to contact you.

Your website is often where first impressions are formed so it’s important that it’s reflective of your professionalism and talent.

Boost your marketing efforts

Clients won’t come to you if they don’t know who you are. That’s why marketing and self-promotion is so important for those who work online. It’s really not something you can afford to neglect.

This means getting onto social media and interacting with people and brands. It may also mean setting up a blog where you write about your industry, work or give handy tips to readers. A blog can pull over traffic to your website from those potentially interested in your services. It can also boost your website in the search engine rankings because search engines like websites that are regularly updated with fresh content.

Interact with other freelancers

You may think that they’re the competition, but other freelancers can help your business. They may require your services themselves, they may know other clients who could benefit from your services or they could pass over recommendations on your behalf. Make sure you reciprocate and help them out too!

How do you win new clients? Do you go to them or do they come to you? Let us know your thoughts below.  

The post How to Encourage New Freelancing Clients to Come to You appeared first on The Cheap Accountants.

The best advice is always to get an accountant to steer you through these unfamiliar waters, making sure you fulfil your obligations and don’t incur fines for late or incorrect tax submissions. Even better, an accountant can ensure you keep as much of your hard-earned money as possible by claiming for allowances and applying for grants you may not even know about.

But if you’re going it alone (or have an accountant but want to understand more about this side of your business yourself), then HMRC provides a wealth of information to help.

Find out about:

Starting out in self-employment

HMRC’s helpful online guide, Starting Your Own Business, contains information on:

• Choosing the right structure for your business, explaining your options for the legal structure of your business and what constitutes ‘self-employment’
• How to inform HMRC about your self-employment, including information on tax registration
• Keeping business records and claiming expenses – what records you need to keep and your options for how to do this
• Filing your tax returns and sending HMRC payments, including understanding your tax bill

There is also a series of videos about starting your own business on HMRC’s YouTube channel.

Business expenses

Also on HMRC’s YouTube channel, you’ll find a series of recorded webinars on Business Expenses for the Self-Employed, beginning with Part 1: What are allowable business expenses?

If you would rather join a live webinar and get some of your questions answered via on on-screen text box, there is a webinar on 24^th July, 11.00 PM to 12.00 PM. about Capital Allowances for the self-employed.

This webinar is aimed at those who use traditional accounting, showing them how to claim for longer life items they buy for their business such as vans, tools or machinery.

Record keeping, tax and self assessment

Another useful upcoming webinar is Record Keeping for the Self-Employed, taking place on Thursday 5^th July, 11.00 AM – 12.00 PM and Wednesday 18^th July, 4.00 PM – 5.00 PM. This is aimed at sole traders and partnerships (but not LLPs nor limited companies) and will give you an introduction to the basic principles of keeping good business records, what HMRC expects from you, how you can get into good habits from the start and about the recording keeping apps available for mobile devices.

If your Self Assessment tax bill is causing you concern, then HMRC’s video, Paying your Self Assessment Tax Bill, might be helpful. There’s also a host of other videos about self assessment, tax, deadlines and payment.

The Government’s website has a self-employment page with numerous links to guides on working for yourself, setting up a business, handling the financial side of your business and sources of further support and information. So start reading (or watching!) and get better informed about running your business – whether that’s founding a business empire or organising yourself and your freelancing. Let us know how you get on!

The post HMRC’s Helpful Hints for Freelancers & Entrepreneurs appeared first on The Cheap Accountants.