Life as a Freelancer Paul Davison Mistle Thrush

Life as a Freelancer Paul Davison, Mistle Thrush Ltd n My history and connection with QMUo. L n Aims of this talk n Mistle Thrush Ltd

Becoming a Freelancer n Why did I do it? Wanted more freedom n Needed more technical challenge n Wanted less interference n Less commuting/inflexible work hours n Mistle Thrush Ltd

Becoming a Freelancer n Reasons not to do it: There isn’t a safety net n You have to find the work yourself n What happens if you fall ill? n Less “networking” with colleagues n Need a lot of self-discipline, it’s not for everyone n Mistle Thrush Ltd

Setting it up n Ways of working for yourself Sole Trader/partnership n Limited Company n Umbrella Company n n I chose Limited Company Registration n Accountant n Ongoing liabilities n Mistle Thrush Ltd

Banks n Open a business bank account Need company registration documents n Almost certainly need a business plan n n Raising finance Depends on your plan and your track record n Security n Mistle Thrush Ltd

Accounting n Ongoing accounting needed n n n Sending out bills Receiving payments Running a payroll Dividends VAT n n Voluntary or Compulsory Can be advantageous to register Mistle Thrush Ltd

Insurance n Statutory requirement: Employers Liability n n Minimum £ 5, 000 setting Public Liability n Damage to someone else’s property Professional Indemnity n Tax and VAT investigation insurance n n IR 35 Mistle Thrush Ltd

Finding Work Contacts n Agencies n Online job sites n Local businesses n Web advertising n Paper advertising n Phone calls n Mistle Thrush Ltd

Setting a price Payment per hour n Payment per job n What price to charge? n Offering incentives n Mistle Thrush Ltd

Contracts Setting the basic ground rules n Conditions of payment n Substitution clause n Professional Indemnity n Tailored to client or project n Mistle Thrush Ltd

The UK Marketplace n Viewed as high cost n Overseas software development is becoming popular Large concentration in London and South East n Take a “service” based approach n n Find projects and technologies that require personal involvement, not remotely Mistle Thrush Ltd

Work Examples n R L Davison & Co Ltd Strategic planning and advice n Networking (security and operations) n n VPN/Wireless Email/Web projects n Fileserver maintenance n Linux expertise n Mistle Thrush Ltd

Work Examples n Localeyes UK Ltd My old company n Networking consulting n UNIX consulting n Help with office move project n General technical fallback n Mistle Thrush Ltd

Work Examples n Juniper networks n UNIX help and advice n Mac. OS X Gaming project n Client/server contacts database n Mistle Thrush Ltd

Future Plans Charities n Small companies n Local Businesses n Agencies n Advertising n Mistle Thrush Ltd

Is it a good idea? n Yes, because You are your own boss n You set your own working hours n You have control over your working environment n You have the potential to do very well financially n If you are both determined and lucky, it could be the start of something big n Mistle Thrush Ltd

Is it a good idea? n No, because You are on your own n You have to do everything yourself n There is nobody else to blame when things go wrong n There’s no “cushion” to fall back on n You don’t have colleagues to exchange ideas with n The administration is a nuisance n You need to be self-disciplined to keep your skills up to date and take enough holiday n Mistle Thrush Ltd

The End Thanks and good luck Mistle Thrush Ltd