Browse the site by resource type and topic.
Our independent and in-depth guides to freelancing
Writing a holiday policy for freelancers — Ensuring you take time off when you're self-employed
Why mental health at work matters more when you're self-employed — Mental health at work is not just for big employers. Here is why looking after your emotional wellbeing matters even more when you work for yourself.
What is mental health? — Understanding what mental health is, and understanding mental health at work for freelancers.
The ABC of freelancing mental health — A simple ABC framework — Active Awareness, Boundaries and Behaviours, and Community and Connection — to help you start a wellbeing plan when you work for yourself.
Taking time off when freelancing — Time off from your business when freelancing can be a challenge, but there are ways to put things in place to help you cope.
Sole-trader or limited company — There are multiple ways of starting a business in the UK. Most will opt for being a sole-trader, but understand the differences before you make a decision.
How did you sleep? — Good sleep health is a foundation of good mental health, but worries and stress can disrupt our sleep patterns, and impact our wellbeing, especially if you're self-employed.
Support for dealing with sexual harassment when you're self-employed — No matter your employment contract, you have the right to work without harassment, abuse and discrimination. Support first, then your rights under UK law.
Self Assessment — Our one page overview on what self-assessment is, how to register, how and when to complete your tax return, and where to find support.
Payment on account — Payment on account surprises many freelancers, and it can be a painful cost you weren't expecting.
Mythbusting — There are lots of perceptions about freelancing - some good, some bad, many false. We help you unpick the truth from the stories.
Juggling half-term and freelancing — How to handle half-term if you're a freelancer
Making tax digital: what freelancers need to know about MTD for income tax self assessment — In April 2026, new rules will come into play for sole-traders to make tax digital and submit their income tax self-assessment. Make sure you're ready.
From redundancy to freelancing — If you are considering freelancing because you have recently lost your job, this guide gives you the basics quickly - no fluff, no hard sell, just pragmatic UK-focused advice.
Quiet Times — Freelancing is rarely consistent in terms of workload, but when you have extended periods of time where there is less work flowing your way, what can you do about it?
Too solo? — Isolation and loneliness can affect freelancers, but working for yourself doesn't have to mean working by yourself.
Late Payments — Almost 50% of all SME invoices are paid late - leading to cash flow issues, wasted time chasing, and a blow to your confidence. What can be done to improve things?
Dealing with bereavement as a freelancer — Whilst no-one wants to plan for such an event, dealing with bereavement is something which can affect all of us.
Contracts — Too many freelancers work without contracts in place - and it leaves both you and your client open to risk. We introduce what concepts are, why they're important, and what you should consider including in them.
Community Matters — Building your own support network is critical - and being part of freelancing communities plays a big part in this.
Back to work — Getting back on track after some time off can seem like really hard work - here are some of our top tips to get back into the swing of things when you're self-employed.
10 things that negatively affect freelancers' mental health — Based upon our annual survey, we've highlighted the most common challenges that freelancers face which negatively affect their mental health, and provide some tips on how to avoid them.
Collections of resources around important themes
Making Tax Digital — Everything you need to know about Making Tax Digital, and how it affects you as a freelancer.
What is Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment? — Everything you need to know about Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment, and how it affects you as a freelancer.
Does Making Tax Digital apply to me? — Understand if Making Tax Digital applies to how you work, and whether you need to get set up.
What does it mean for me? — Understand what the new rules mean for you as a freelancer.
How can I get set up for MTD ITSA? — Get started by learning how to register, and understand what steps you need to take.
Our Freelancing Support x HMRC webinar on Making Tax Digital — Watch our webinar with HMRC to learn more about Making Tax Digital.
What do freelancers think about Making Tax Digital? — Hear from freelancers about their experiences of Making Tax Digital.
Where can I find support and further advice? — Find out where to get support and further advice about Making Tax Digital.
What do we get asked the most often about freelancing.
Why have I been asked to change umbrella company by my client? — New rules are prompting hirers to rethink their approach to working with umbrella companies.
Why do I keep getting ghosted? — The unfortunate phenomenon of a client you're engaging with suddenly stopping returning your calls.
What should I be including in a post looking for freelancers? — Make sure you're including the bare minimum in posts on LinkedIn looking for freelancers - it saves everyone time!
I've been asked by my client to use Worksome. What is it? — You mght be asked to use Worksome by your client. Here's a short guide to what it is and how it works.
I've received a letter from the ICO saying I need to register - is this a scam? — When you start a new business, you might receive a letter from the ICO asking you to register with them. Let's learn a bit about who the ICO are and what they do.
What is a UTR and how do I get one for freelancing? — A UTR is a unique tax reference number for freelancers. Let's learn a bit about what a UTR is and how to get one.
What do I need to include on my invoice? — A pragmatic list of what UK law requires on an invoice, plus the common mistakes that cause invoices to be held up.
What things do I need to do before April 5th as a freelancer? — April 5th is the end of the UK tax year - a time to make sure you're making the most of your allowances, such as pensions, ISAs and business expenses.
When do I have to become a limited company? — You aren't obliged to become a limited company, but there might be some tax benefits over £50k/year
Should I sign this contract with a non-solicitation clause? — Understanding non-compete and non-solicitation clauses in contracts is essential, to avoid you being prevented from working.
I've got a side hustle - do I need to register with HMRC? — If you're earning money outside of employment, there are rules about when and how you need to tell HMRC. Here's what you need to know.
Should I voluntarily register for VAT? — Exploring the pros and cons of voluntarily registering for VAT.
Should I increase my rates to kick off the new year? — We polled 275 freelancers, and asked whether they're increasing their day rates this month, and the reasons behind their decision
How to deal with quiet spells? — The "feast and famine" of freelancing can be hard to deal with, and periods of no work is always challenging.
What's the difference between a freelancer and a contractor? — Understanding how you're being engaged is essential for any contract
Do I need to pay National Insurance if I am self-employed? — Being self-employed doesn't exempt you from National Insurance. Here's how it works, what you pay, and why it matters for your State Pension.
Do freelancers need professional indemnity insurance? — An introduction to what professional indemnity insurance is, and why its so important for freelancers.
Do freelancers need a business bank account? — A commonly asked question about keeping your finances easy to manage.
What new data protection rules come into force in June 2026? — The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 updates UK data protection law. Here is what it means if you handle client or personal data.
My laptop just died - can I buy a new one via my business? — Accidents happen, things break, new laptops are expensive - can I buy a new laptop via my business?
I've money in my business account - where should I put it? — You can put money in a business savings account, so you can earn interest on it
An evergrowing list of things we wish we'd known when we started freelancing.
15 things to unlearn from employment when you go independent — Based upon conversations with hundreds of freelancers across our communities, here are the top 15 most common things that people need to work on unlearning, when moving from employment into self-employment
The importance of backups — Keeping your files safe is critical - loss of data can be catastrophic, so putting backups in place is non-optional to keep your business sustainable.
I'd need to put money aside for taxes and national insurance — Top 20 ranked "I wish I knew", many new freelancers don't proactively know much to put aside for tax and national insurance.
about payment on account — Payment on account surprises many freelancers, and it can be a painful cost you weren't expecting.
that you'll never truly have a day off — It can be incredibly easy to feel like you have to work all the time, or taking holidays is hard - but with some structure, it doesn't have to the be the case.
that fellow freelancers aren't competitors — Building communities of support with fellow freelancers has more benefits than drawbacks.
that fiverr scams are a risk — Fiverr is a popular platform for freelancers, but it's also a target for scammers. Here's how to spot and avoid them when freelancing.
Get your first two years of freelancing sorted with our copilot course - Flightplan.
1. Considering Freelancing — Some key things to consider before you make the decision to start freelancing.
2. Before you take-off — Essential steps before you're ready to start your business
3. Launching your freelancing business — Mandatory and recommended tasks to officially launch your freelance business
4. Finding work — Finding work is a big part of freelancing - and something you'll need to develop skills and invest time in.
5. Before you start the project — Before you start work on a client project, here are the things you'll need to have in place to prepare and protect yourself
6. During your first project — Get these things done as soon as you're starting your project, so you can ensure a smooth flight
7. After the first project — Get your invoice in, seek feedback and learn from your early experiences.
8. Three months in — Time to mind the gap, review your first quarter, keep on top of paperwork, and manage your workload.
9. Preparing for downtime — Get ahead of quiet periods, whether its taking time off, or when you're not finding work.
10. Quarterly review — Every three months, get into the habit of some regular tasks you'll need to complete and keep on top of.
11. Dealing with turbulence — Explore some of the more common situations which might happen
12. Nine months in — We're coming to the end of the first year, time to prepare for year end, and consider your financial future.
13. End of your Tax Year / April — Depending on when you've started, you'll need to understand what to do at the end of the financial / tax year.
14. End of your first year of freelancing — Congrats! You've completed 12 months of self-employment - there are things you need to do to wrap up the year.
15. Planning ahead for year two — What's coming ahead for the next year, and what do you need to think about for the future?
16. Graduating Flightplan — You might no longer be on your flightplan, but there's plenty more to think about - graduate to the Fellows programme for ongoing support.
Read stories from fellow freelancers, to hear their experiences of self-employment.
Dealing with Late Payments when freelancing — Tom Rickhuss, a strategist and founder of studio RUCKUS - shares his experience of dealing with late payments, whilst running his own business.
Why DIY isn't always the best approach for freelancers — Tom, a freelance PR and co-founder of Sabot - a freelance collective, shares why he thinks freelancers don't always have to do everything themselves
Freelancing after redundancy — Nicola Kenny shares her experience of freelancing, not by choice, but due to redundancy a day before COVID furloughs.
How contracts saved me from payment issues when freelancing — Lucy is a freelance content writer and copywriter shares her experience of where contracts saved her from a client who was trying not to pay
How I Freelance Well — Lucy Revett, a freelance Senior Copywriter & Editor and creator of Freelance Well, shares how an A to Z guide to wellbeing became a self-accountability project for freelancers.
Freelancing and pregnancy — Anna Sampson, a freelance Strategy Director, shares her personal experience of pregnancy and having a child, as a freelancer
The value of community for freelancers — Louise Wilson, a strategic marketing & communications consultant, shares her experience of networking and finding support in freelancing communities
Deinfluencing Freelancing — Kiana Fathi, a freelance Social and Cultural Strategist, shares her take on why freelancing might need a little definfluencing.
Dealing with Bereavement when freelancing — Justin McDonnell, freelance copywriter, content strategist and editor, shares his personal experience of dealing with bereavement whilst freelancing.
Dealing with Late Payments when freelancing — Ellie Stamouli - a self-employed marketing consultant for climate-tech and mission-driven brands shares her experience of dealing with late payments whilst self-employed.
Dealing with Bereavement when freelancing — Anna Sampson, a freelance Insight and Strategy Consultant, shares her personal experience of dealing with bereavement whilst self-employed.
Loving the doubt — Adrian Ashton, a freelance consultant, facilitator and researcher, shares what more than 20 years of freelancing has changed in how he thinks and works.
Expert views on various topics related to freelancing.
Matthew Knight on Why community matters — Community is one of the most important parts of your support network as a freelancer. Matthew Knight explains why it matters so much.
Gopy on Things to consider before the 2024-2025 tax year end — With the 2024-2025 tax year rapidly approaching, we asked Gopy from AR Tax Accountants to share tips for contractors and freelancers to consider before the April 5th deadline.
Setting your pricing — Pricing can be incredibly challenging to get right, even for the most seasoned of freelancers. Dave Smyth, author of the Freelancing Pricing Guide, shares his views on setting pricing, and why it's not always intuitive.
Niclas Pietsch on GPSR - General Product Safety Regulation — Niclas Pietsch from TerrainQ Solutions gives an overview of what GSPR means for freelancers who are exporting products into the EU and NI.
Niclas Pietsch on GPSR - General Product Safety Regulation — Niclas Pietsch from TerrainQ Solutions gives an overview of what GSPR means for freelancers who are exporting products into the EU and NI.
Frankie Tortora on Freelancing Parents and Summer - how to cope! — Are you looking forward to summer with your kids - or does it fill you with dread, if you're juggling work and parenting?
Bryn Taylor on Freelance Things — Bryn Taylor is a freelance designer and entrepreneur, and founder of Freelance Things, a directory of the best articles, tools, books, podcasts, communities, and videos specifically for freelancers.
Alex Andrews on Accountability Sessions — Working solo can make keeping yourself focused and accountable a challenge. Alex Andrews of Freelance Friends shares how accountability sessions can help you to stay on track for the day.
Content across the library that's been updated recently.
27 Jun, 2026 — Tax Update 2026 — On 23 June 2026, the government published Tax Update 2026 - 40 measures covering consultations, proposals and confirmed changes. Here is what matters for freelancers, and which consultations are open for your response right now.
24 Jun, 2026 — Could an AI help you chase late payments? — Garfield AI, a platform we have included in our late payments resources, helped a freelancer win a county court case against a business that would not pay. A milestone moment for AI and access to justice?
09 Jun, 2026 — Companies House accounts filing changes — Companies House is changing what small businesses and micro-entities must file each year. Here is what is changing, what it might mean for your limited company, and questions worth asking now.
26 May, 2026 — When WFH is too hot — If working from home is unbearable in the heat, here are five ideas for cooler spaces to dash to for a few hours of focused work.
21 May, 2026 — NDA Consultation Response — Our response to the government's consultation on NDAs, which excludes protections for the self-employed, sole traders and PSC directors.
13 May, 2026 — Kings Speech and Late Payments — Today's Kings speech confirms the government's plans to tackle late payments, new powers for the Small Business Commissioner, and stronger penalties for poor payers. A good day for freelancers.
26 Nov, 2025 — Budget 2025 — The November 2025 budget has a number of announcements which may impact freelancers
27 Oct, 2025 — Take part in the Leapers mental health and freelancing survey — Every year, Leapers asks "How are you doing?", and researches the mental health of the self-employed.
29 Aug, 2025 — High Court Says Whatsapp Messages are Contracts — UK High Court rules that Whatsapp messages are contracts, but don't assume you're protected just yet.
31 Jul, 2025 — New plan for tackling late payments — Positive news for small businesses this week, as the UK government announces its "Plan for Small and Medium Sized businesses", including a package of proposed changes in law to tackle late payments. And they're looking for YOUR feedback on the plans to make sure they're doing the right things.
22 Mar, 2025 — Are we seeing a decline in the quality of freelancers? — There seems to be an increasing volume of people suggesting freelancers are getting worse. But I think it might be more complicated than that.
13 Mar, 2025 — Self-Assessment Reporting Threshold Increase — HMRC announce an increase in the Self-Assessment Reporting Threshold, what does it mean for you?
04 Mar, 2025 — Sick pay for the self-employed? — Matthew spoke to MPs this week about the need for better protections for all workers, not just employees.
13 Feb, 2025 — Are you feeling Überarbeitsglück? — Drömbetalning? Kahvilapaniikki? A collection of (made-up) words from other languages that describe the freelancing experience.
05 Feb, 2025 — New day rate data from YunoJuno — New day-rate data is published today from YunoJuno, but does an increases in day rates actually paint the full picture?
29 Jan, 2025 — What is the "freelancing support ecosystem"?
17 Jan, 2025 — Episode 1 of the Independents Podcast
12 Jan, 2025 — Site Updates - January 12th, 2025
12 Dec, 2024 — Freelancers increasingly turning to overdrafts
04 Dec, 2024 — Independent Impact 50 PR Awards
01 Dec, 2024 — Local Communities and Meetups added to Communities Directory
28 Nov, 2024 — Day rates are not the whole story
15 Nov, 2024 — 50% of the world is not freelancing — Data might show half of the world is in some form of self-employment, but that doesn't mean they're freelancing.
14 Nov, 2024 — Help us create the future of Freelancing Suport
05 Nov, 2024 — Late tax payment interest rate changes — HMRC is increasing the interest rate for late tax payments - nothing to worry about if you're paying on time.
11 Nov, 2024 — Bank of England interest rate changes affects freelancers — The Bank of England has dropped its base rate - how does this affect freelancers?
30 Oct, 2024 — October Budget - what it means for freelancers — The new Labour government has announced its first budget - here is our round up of what it means for freelancers.
19 Sep, 2024 — New policies tackling late payments
08 Sep, 2024 — Returning to employment isn't a failure of freelancing
05 Aug, 2024 — Racism on the streets, and in the hiring process.
28 Jul, 2024 — Move fast and break things.
24 Jul, 2024 — Do we need to rebrand freelancing?
10 Jul, 2024 — Freelancing isn't free
06 Jul, 2024 — Henley Business School on Side Hustling
06 Jul, 2024 — Seth Godin on freelancing rates
05 Jul, 2024 — LSE on 'trapped' feeling of self-employed
26 Nov, 2024 — Introducing our Freelancing Supporters
Our weekly assemblies, where we discuss the week's topics and share our experiences.
Me or More? — The label you choose might shape client expectations before you've said anything. Solo identity, niche, or brand
Where do you get your creative inspiration from? — Staying creatively energised as a freelancer takes more than consuming more content. Sometimes it means consuming less.
How do you keep your motivation and accountability levels up when working solo? — Working solo can be challenging and finding the energy to keep going or knowing where to focus can be tough.
How do you get comfortable showing up in your own marketing? — Visibility is part of the job, but showing up in your own marketing doesn't come naturally to all
How do you invest in your own development? — When you're self-employed, learning and development all falls on you. How do you make sure you're keeping on top of things?
How do you juggle multiple projects? — When you're a freelancer, you often have to manage multiple projects at once. How do you manage your workload, and what's the best way to approach it?
How do you deal with a project going wrong? — Projects can go off the rails when you're a freelancer, and learning how to identify, navigate and react is a skill you can develop.
How do you deal with feeling overwhelmed?
How does imposter syndrome affect you?
What do you do when you've not got work?
Keep on top of the critical dates and moments in the year for freelancers.
31 January: Self-assessment return deadline (online) — Your tax return must be submitted and any tax owed must be paid to HMRC by midnight.
31 January: First payment on account due — If your tax bill is over £1,000, HMRC will also ask you to pay half of next year's estimated bill on the same date.
1 February: Late filing penalties begin — Miss the 31 January deadline and automatic penalties start the following day, increasing the longer the return remains outstanding.
7 February: MTD quarterly update due (3rd) — If MTD for Income Tax applies to you, submit your cumulative update for the tax year through 5 January using MTD-compatible software.
1 April: Companies House accounts filing changes take effect — New rules for small companies and micro-entities: profit and loss filings, software-only submission, and no more abridged accounts. Plan ahead if you run a limited company.
5 April: End of the tax year — The current tax year closes. ISA allowances and pension contribution limits reset from this date.
6 April: Start of the new tax year — New tax rates and thresholds take effect. Any changes to National Insurance or income tax bands apply from today.
19 April: PAYE and payroll deadline (limited companies) — If you run a limited company and pay yourself a salary, payroll submissions and payments to HMRC are due here. If you're paying electronically, you've got until April 22 to pay.
7 May: MTD quarterly update due (4th) — If MTD for Income Tax applies to you, submit your cumulative update for the full tax year through 5 April using MTD-compatible software.
31 July: Second payment on account due — The second instalment of your advance tax payment for the current year is due.
7 August: MTD quarterly update due (1st) — If MTD for Income Tax applies to you, submit your first cumulative update for the tax year (through 5 July) using MTD-compatible software.
5 October: Self-assessment registration deadline — If you became self-employed in the previous tax year and haven't yet registered with HMRC, this is the deadline to do so.
31 October: Paper self-assessment return deadline — If you file a paper return rather than online, this is your cut-off, three months earlier than the online deadline.
7 November: MTD quarterly update due (2nd) — If MTD for Income Tax applies to you, submit your cumulative update for the tax year through 5 October using MTD-compatible software.
Self-assessment deadline — October 5th is the deadline for registering for self-assessment, if you've become self-employed in the previous tax year.
Self-assessment Tax Return Deadline (for paper returns) — October 31st is the deadline for paper self-assessment tax returns.
MTD quarterly update deadlines — Four fixed dates each tax year when sole traders and landlords in scope for Making Tax Digital must submit cumulative income and expense summaries to HMRC.
GPSR comes into force — December 13 2024 sees the introduction of new rules for businesses selling into the EU and NI
Companies House accounts filing changes take effect — From April 2028, new rules apply to how small companies and micro-entities file annual accounts with Companies House.
Standalone resource pages.
Creative sector industry bodies — A directory of UK trade bodies, unions, sector skills councils and support charities for freelancers working in the creative industries — from advertising and design to film, music, theatre and games.
UK Freelance Day Rate Benchmarks 2026 — Our view on the 2026 H1 market, and its impact on day rates for freelancers. Plus links to industry benchmark data and sector reports to inform your pricing.
Day Rate Benchmarks — A number of helpful organisations publish regular data on day rates and pricing for freelancers in the UK. This is a list of those we've found, to help you establish your pricing baselines.
Dealing with racism, and the effects of the racism-fuelled violence this summer — Signposting to a number of resources you may find helpful if you've been affected by recent racist violent action in the UK.
Every possible phrase you might have heard about freelancing, explained.
Breadcrumbing — a client leading you on, with potential offers of work, but never signing the contract.
Companies House — Companies House is the UK registrar of limited companies. It maintains the public register and handles company filings such as incorporation, confirmation statements, and annual accounts.
Corporation Tax — Tax you pay on business profits, when registered as a limited company.
Freelancer — An individual working in self-employment, providing services to a client on a project by project basis.
FSCS protection — FSCS protects customers of financial services firms that have failed, to help keep your business funds safe.
GDPR - General Data Protection Regulation — GDPR is the law that sets out how businesses must handle personal data — who can collect it, what they can do with it, and how they must keep it safe.
Ghosting — being ignored by a client, despite having things to resolve.
GPSR - General Product Safety Regulation — EU regulation designed to ensure all products sold in the EU are safe and meet certain standards.
HMRC — HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is the tax authority of the U.K. government.
ICO — The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) is the UK's data privacy watchdog.
Income Tax — Tax due payable to anyone earning over a certain income in the UK, and the primary tax you'll pay when you're self-employed
IPSE — The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed, membership body dedicated to the self-employed.
IR35 — Tax law designed to level the amount of tax paid by those in employment and self-employment.
Limited Company — A limited company is one of the legal formations of a business in the UK. Whilst you're not technically self-employed if you're a limited company director, many sole-owners of limited companies describe themselves as self-employed.
Making Tax Digital — A UK government initiative to digitize tax reporting, requiring businesses and individuals to use software to submit tax returns online.
National Insurance — National Insurance is a tax on earnings and self-employed profits. There are different types of National Insurance, you'll need to understand the differences.
NDA — A Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) is a legal contract that prevents one or both parties from sharing confidential information.
Office of the Small Business Commissioner — An independent body, set up to help small businesses deal with late paying larger companies.
Payment on Account — Paying your income tax in advance, as is mostly commonly required by the self-employed.
Self Assessment — The process of calculating and reporting your income and expenses to HRMC each year, rather than being taxed at source.
Side-Hustle — A side-hustle is additional paid work done alongside regular employment, often as a way of earning extra income or testing out self-employment.
Sole Trader — A sole trader is considered to be ‘self-employed', and is the singular owner of a business, entitled to keep all profits but liable for all losses.
UTR — Universal Tax Reference - a unique identifier for you, when you're completing your Self Assessment tax return.
VAT — Value Added Tax, additional tax you'll be charging your customers and liable to pay to HMRC, when your turnover is over £90,000