David Cameron
Prime Minister
As part of the National Freelancers Day 2011 campaign we have pulled together resources to provide the wider freelance community with a starter pack of online guides and downloadable materials to kick off the freelance knowledge pool for 2011.
We hope you share your experiences in the 'top tips' area and links to content in the comment boxes to create a hub for freelance learning.
Watch this space for more resources in the coming months and details of our 2011 research.
What is Freelancing
What unites freelancers? what is the history behind the term?
How many freelancers are there? How are they referred to in the UK?
Dictionary definition for 'freelance':
1. Free-lance or Free-lancer - a self-employed person working, or available to work, for a number of businesses, rather than be committed to one, and usually hired for a limited period.
Guide to freelancing
PCG's Guide to Freelancing provides a useful source of information to new and established freelancers and small business owners, and offers a wealth of helpful advice about running and nurturing a successful business. It covers:
- Setting up your business, choosing the right structure
- Accounting, banking and insurance
- Tax matters
- Getting paid
- Running your business
- Securing work
- Your personal finances
- Closing a company
Download PCG's Guide to Freelancing here >>
Guide to successful freelancing
PCG's 'Guide to Freelancing' - the ultimate starter and refresher pack for freelancers in the UK
Calling all freelancers, what works for you?
What do you do to make your work more profitable, productive, worthwhile and enjoyable?
Add your top tips for freelance working here and read what others do to manage these issues daily.
All tips are moderated and will be published within 24 hours.
Working with freelancers
How should clients go about finding freelancers? What is a good way to manage the project? What makes for a successful relationship? Any pitfalls to avoid?
Client handling
How do you keep your clients happy? Are some communication styles more effective than others? What are the professional dos and don'ts? How do you handle disagreement? What counts as conflict of interests? What happens when agencies are involved?
Growing the business
How do you get more work? How do you overcome the income ceiling? How can you charge higher fees? Any tips for getting referrals? What business models work for you?
Running the business
Any tips for streamlining the admin side? How can you run an efficient operation that frees you up to concentrate on growing the business? What structure works for you? Any tax, legal or insurance wisdoms to pass on?
Starting Out
How to pluck up the courage? How to get going quickly? What are the basics you need in place? Any pitfalls to avoid? What are the obstacles and how do you get past them?
Engaging Freelancers
Learn from real freelancers and businesses how to engage this resource through our online guide.
There are 1.4 million freelancers in the UK and the flexibility added by this community is contributing some £82 Billion to UK GDP - the value of this resource has never been more significant.
Building a Freelance Career
This report has been produced by PCG, the professional association supporting the interests of freelancers in the UK. It provides an insight into the varied approaches being used by freelancers to achieve their professional and life goals.
