Freelancing can seem like a confusing concept and a challenging one to people wanting to begin their self employment journey. For students and recent graduates, freelancing could be a great option in terms of flexibility and freedom, as well as providing an opportunity to grow a network and expand skills. These articles explain the basics of freelance work; what it is, how to begin, and how to advertise and charge for your work.
What is freelancing?
Freelancing is when a person is hired by an employer but works independently and externally. A freelancer is not tied to one employer or company and the types of contracts/commitments used by freelancers can vary from short to long term, depending on what is agreed by both parties. These articles cover the ins and outs of freelancing and who this type of employment suits.
www.theremotehive.com/what-is-freelance-work
What difficulties can I face in freelance work?
Freelancing, like other forms of employment, has its pros and cons. On the one hand you are your own boss and you can set your own schedule, make your own decisions and essentially run your own business how you like. But on the other hand it can be quite a daunting undertaking as money might not be regular, you might not know where your next pay cheque is coming from and you could feel out of your depth with the type of work being asked of you. Knowing when to say no to things is as important as finding the clients in the first place.
Here are some things to consider and get excited about when thinking about freelancing.
www.freelanceuk.com/become/pros-and-cons-freelancing.shtml
www.peppercontent.io/blog/pros-and-cons-of-freelancing
How can I start out?
So you’ve decided that freelancing is suitable and you’d like to begin. But how? Freelancing can be a daunting journey to begin as it’s independent, but starting whilst you are at Uni could be a good safety net for you to test the water. Did you know that the School of Arts has a placement year where you can explore an Enterprise Residency which is essentially you trying out setting up your own business with the mentoring and support of an Enterprise Advisor, Academic Mentor and Industry Mentor. Three people who can help you! To find out more about this opportunity speak to us at Brookes Creative!
Here are some guides on how to start out and be your own best support.
www.freelancing.school/how-to-start-freelancing
www.savethestudent.org/make-money/big-guide-to-freelancing.html
How can I advertise and market my freelance work?
Advertising and networking is very important in the world of freelancing, you are responsible for finding and securing future clients. During your time at Uni the team on your course will introduce you to people you can connect with to start growing your network. There are also lots of tips and advice on the Brookes Creative website on how to go about networking in the field you are looking to enter.
These articles also explain how and what is needed to market, advertise, and create your own portfolio to leave potential employers with the best impression of your work.
www.freelancer.co.uk/community/articles/10-affordable-ways-to-promote-your-freelance-business#
What’s the best way to set up payment and charging for services?
The thought of charging clients, especially larger companies, can feel a bit strange as an individual. Most freelancers will submit an invoice and include their bank details for a bank transfer on their invoice. Sometimes you might have to send larger companies a purchase order and maybe even a quote. This is so they can track the payment through their finance processes. Don’t worry though, it is all simple to do once you have the templates set up. The most important thing to remember is to make sure you agree on your price before you start working, there is nothing more sole destroying than being told after you have completed the work that they will only pay you less than you expected.
These articles will help you price your work and value your skills, and explores the different ways in which freelancers are usually paid so you can decide which is the best payment option and prices for you and your work.
www.creativeboom.com/tips/tips-on-how-much-to-charge-for-freelance-work
How do I know how much to charge?
Do your research and find out what others who are offering the same service as you are charging. For an artist to work on a project, for example, a daily rate of £300 is quite normal. You could charge by the hour if the job is quite small. Have an idea of your hourly rate and your day rate so that you can quote it to your clients before you start the work. And don’t undersell yourself. You have spent all that time at Uni becoming qualified and that wasn’t cheap! You are a professional in your field so charge accordingly.
This is a really great article to help you think about how much to charge:
Can I work in a paid job and do freelance on the side whilst I get established?
Absolutely yes you can. If you have financial commitments that mean you have to guarantee some income in order to get the bills paid then yes you can work as a paid employee for a company as well as run your own freelance business. You will still need to submit your tax return for your self-employed work and you will need to register yourself as self-employed as well. But this is quite simple to do. Understanding tax and knowing if you have to pay any is also a skill you will have to learn and we have more articles and guides on that on the Brookes Creative web pages. So have no fear we can take you through it.
Is there any support from Oxford Brookes if I wanted to start my own freelance business?
YES!!!! We have a fantastic team called Brookes Enterprise Support (BES). They are amazing and have all kinds of great initiatives and programmes you can sign up for. You can also do our Enterprise Residency as a year out in your third year if you would like to, depending on which programme you are on. Speak to your Academic Advisor to double check.
The BES team are there to help you think about starting your own freelance business and can potentially match you with a mentor to get you started.
The most important thing to remember is that there is help out there and you don’t have to do this alone. Brookes Creative are here to help you and find the answers to your problems so always make sure you check in with Lucy Turner or one of the team to find out how we can help.