As a freelancer, pensions might not be at the front of your mind, but with an aging population and an increasingly insecure economic outlook, you might want to think again. With an aging population, funding pensions has been front and centre of the government’s agenda in recent years. The advent of auto enrolment represents their attempt to make sure as

Starting a business can be a lonely and stressful experience. That’s why sometimes two heads can be better than one. Launching a new business can be an exciting but lonely process. As a solo founder, there’s a lot of pressure coming onto your shoulders and making the right decision can be difficult. That’s why it can be better to co

Most of us have one but not everyone really understands how it works. Getting to grips with your credit score can be worthwhile. If you’ve ever applied for a loan, mortgage, taken out a mobile phone contract or rented a property, the chances are you’ve had to go through a credit check. These are our digital finger prints which give

Business fraud is becoming more common and more complicated. Here’s how you keep yourself as safe as possible. Has COVID-19 made your business more vulnerable to fraud. According to a recent study over a third of businesses said they had seen an increase in fraud over the previous year and three quarters said they felt more exposed to fraud than

Digital technology has revolutionised the payments industry in a very short time, but you ain’t seen nothing yet. In a relatively short space of time payments has gone from a relatively little considered aspect of financial services to one of the most exciting, diverse and challenging sectors around. Arriving on the scene at the same time has been a number

Local and independent businesses have been amongst the hardest hit during the pandemic. Here’s how you can do your bit to keep them open. The pandemic has been difficult for businesses of all kinds. However, while larger retailers have been able to fall back on ecommerce, the same is not always true for independent retailers and other small local businesses.

Fighting back against the cyber criminals could be easier than you expect if you follow these five steps. Cybercrime is a growing threat with businesses of all sizes coming under the microscope. However, it is small businesses who possibly have most to fear. Firstly, they will be less able to absorb the costs of a cyber attack and, secondly, many

Death and taxes – two things which are unavoidable and two things that often involve an accountant. We can’t help you avoid the former, but we can help you with the latter. Becoming a freelancer comes with all sorts of obstacles. One of the most difficult will be doing your taxes. This can be particularly challenging for a couple of

The first time you fill out a tax return can be daunting, so here are a few tips to make it easier and ensure you don’t end up paying more than you should. It’s the time of year that even seasoned freelancers often dread – tax time. No sooner are you done with new year celebrations than you need to

Remote or hybrid working is becoming the new norm. Here’s how to ensure your business makes the most of it. Even before the pandemic, remote working was on the rise, but COVID-19 turned things up a notch. Overnight, the way we work was transformed and all the signs suggest things will never go back to the way they were. Remote

Groceries will have a significant impact on the environment which is why many people are opening zero waste grocery stores. Here’s why that’s a good idea. Could 2022 be the year of sustainability? While we’ve been saying this every year for as long as we can remember, there is something about the current situation which is focusing people’s minds. From

If you have the financial resources, buying a business can be an exciting adventure, but it can be risky – here are a few questions you should ask first. If your business is expanding and you’re doing well, you may think about expanding by buying up another. This might be to bring in more income, access another market, or simply

Even if there’s just one of you, that might be enough to get started as a single person company. Here’s how to do it. Thinking about starting your own business? You’re not alone. Times of economic uncertainty tend to lead to an increase in the number of people starting out on a new solo adventure. COVID-19 has been no different.

Being a socially responsible business is not just about doing the right thing, it can be very good for your profits. Here’s how to make it work. Corporate social responsibility is nothing new. It’s been with us for decades. Only now, though, does it seem to be taking its rightful place at the centre of corporate strategy. What’s more, what

They guard a huge amount of personal data, but many people are not doing everything they can to keep their passwords safe. Here are some tips to making yours as secure as possible. Every person and business have their own personal kingdom protected by their passwords. These little words can hold the keys to bank accounts, administration systems and other

Your name is your identity and the same goes for your business. Choosing the right one can be difficult but it could be more important than you imagine. What’s in a name? It might be more important than you think. For example, think about what kind of career Marion Morrison might have had if he hadn’t changed his name to

Handling freelance payments can be complicated but getting them paid more quickly will help your business attract the best people. The web is full of articles aimed at freelancers offering ways in which they can ensure they get paid on time. However, there are relatively few aimed at businesses explaining why they should work hard to make sure payments happen

Working from home can be great, but as many find to their costs, it’s not for everyone – here’s how to make your experience rewarding and profitable. It’s the dream of many an office bound employee – to cut loose from the nine to five, ditch the commute and do you work in your pyjamas from your bed. Unfortunately, if

Many freelancers get started unexpectedly on the back of a redundancy notice. If you’re in that position it can be daunting, but this could be the start of an exciting journey. Some people choose freelancing, others have freelancing thrust upon them. Over the past couple of years, thanks to our old friend COVID-19, it’s been a lot of the latter.

Small businesses and freelancers will have to embrace technology to satisfy the government’s Making Tax Digital goals. Over the past few years, the government has been digitising the tax process with the goal of becoming entirely paperless. It started in 2015 with the introduction of personal tax accounts which are designed to make it easier for people and businesses to

Going freelance can be an amazing adventure but it can be a bit of a roller coaster. Here are ten ways to make the transition easier. Freelancer is the new rock and roll – kind of. Okay, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but a lot more people are doing it. With remote work becoming more fashionable and