Freelance Contractor

A freelance contractor is very different from being in full-time permanent employment. There are more risks, but there are also many advantages.

A freelance contractor trades on their skills, knowledge and experience, and will be selling their time to customers in order to carry out short term assignments, or, assignments of limited duration. A freelance contractor's time can be sold by the hour, by the day, or on a fixed price to cover the completion of an assignment. Once the assignment is complete a freelance contractor will then move on to the next assignment, often working for a new client.

They are more flexible than permanent staff;

They are easier to hire and fire;

They can instantly provide skills that are not available within the company;

They can undertake one off or small tasks that do not require a full time employee.

They can deal effectively with spikes in demand;

Employing a contractor can save administrative time. There is no requirement to pay or administer sick pay, maternity pay, paternity pay, holiday pay, PAYE and National Insurances and redundancy.

Being you own boss - which can be extremely enjoyable and satisfying;

More money - freelancers are usually paid more than employees working alongside them on a project;

Freedom - Freelancers can, to some degree, choose when and where to work, when to take holidays, and when to experience a new avenue of work;

Variety - by moving from contract to contract and company to company, freelancers can develop very varied experience and an impressive CV;

Paying less tax - freelancers who take professional advice can also greatly reduce the amount of tax they pay.