Written by Kevin Ball
IR35 is UK legislation that defines a person’s employment status and can distinguish whether someone is an independent contractor or an employee. Knowledge of this legislation is very important for contractors, the self-employed and freelancers because it can determine how much tax they pay.
Written by David Webster
Freelancers and contractors are well aware of the value and importance of professional help from umbrella companies in managing background administrative tasks related to multiple assignments and clients they usually handle.
Given the number of factors to be considered and the myriad of service providers available in the United Kingdom, it is an arduous task to decide on one best umbrella company in the UK. Instead, one can always evaluate the services of the umbrella company on certain specific parameters and arrive at a conclusion on how best the firm can address specific requirements. Continue reading
Tomorrow is the UK’s second National Freelancers Day, so here is a re-cap of what it is and how you can get involved.
As mentioned in my article last year, the Professional Contractors Group (PCG) have nominated 23rd November as National Freelancers Day with events all over the UK to support and celebrate freelancers and contractors. Continue reading
If you’ve ever wanted to visit a printing press or wanted to know more about the latest and future techniques, here’s your chance. Alderson Print in London is kindly offering just that – free educational visits to it’s West London press:
Alderson are a large commercial printing company located near Hampton Court in West London in the UK. Their range of print manufacturing processes is unique in the UK and they value the opportunity to show creative services people an production people their facility.
A free educational visit to Alderson Print can include an overview of the print sector, its key drivers, and the culture to expect from various sectors, such as web offset, sheetfed, digital and point-of-sale. A demonstration of each process can be combined with a practical insight and a questions and answers session with technical experts on-hand for the more rigorous appraisal of current and future technologies.
Visits can be tailored to one printing method. Or combine a general overview of the various disciplines undertaken on-site. These include:
- Heatset web offset printing
- Sheetfed printing
- Colour digital printing
- Large format (point-of-sale) printing
- Specialist print finishing
- Colour management
- Procurement practices, the rise of print management and market trends
If you’re involved in (or learning about) design for print, this is a fantastic opportunity. Just get in touch with Phil Watts and mention Creative Agency Freelancing to book a visit.
Email phil.watts@aldersonprintgroup.co.uk
Tel 020 8224 0000
Web www.aldersonprintgroup.co.uk
Most freelancers could do without this side to their business, but what if there was a way to make it easier and simpler?
Crunch Accounting provide an online accounting tool specifically for freelancers. It covers your invoicing, expenses, accounts paperwork and tax calculations, all in one place.
It offers a cost effective and simple way to manage all of this through a secure online application – which means you can access your accounts from any computer on the internet. But unlike other online tools you can still have access to a human being when you want to – a very good idea with accounts, as most of us have questions from time to time!
Here are the reactions of two creative freelancers:
Jaime Kensley
Graphic designer and artworker
“After hours spent trawling the internet, calling local accountants and asking fellow freelancers I came across Crunch via Google. Having weighed up my options and the ease of the Crunch system I left my details and was immediately called back.
So far, so good. Every time I email my agent with a request, they respond straight away. This helps as there is obviously a lack of face-to-face contact, which you would normally have with an accountant.
I would definitely recommend it to freelancers who are in control of their finances and like to view an immediate catalogue of all the work they have been involved with.”
Adam Roberts
Photographer – adamroberts.net
“My first thought was ‘Yeah yeah another online accounting app designed by accountants that makes no sense to a creative person’. What I found was a simple clean interface that made sense to me. Things were explained in English not obscure accountants jargon.
It’s taken the frustration out of managing the money side of the business, freeing me up to do what I love.”
In all, there are some very positive things about Crunch which I’m sure will give traditional accountants a run for their money in the freelance market. It will suit and benefit most freelancers and give them a simpler way of running their business. Well worth looking into if you are frustrated by your current system or costs.
If you’re already a user, let us know what you think – please add your feedback in the comments below.
