Being Freelance

James started freelancing in 2010 after spending a couple of years building a name for himself online. He was still working for an agency during that first couple of years. He’d spend his days working on whatever landed on his desk, and his evenings creating exciting things for clients like MTV. Eventually, the balance tipped and James went freelance full time.By working on his own projects and putting that work out there, James was attracting clients who wanted to pay him for the things he loved doing. And it’s gone that way ever since.“When I was younger, I had an immense frustration with not having my own style,” James says. “That frustration was necessary. If you’re complacent, you’re not evolving. The more you do, the better you get. Don’t let that frustration stop you.” This episode of Being Freelance is supported by Coconut.Coconut is the ultimate accounting and tax tool for self-employed people. With expense tracking, receipt capture, invoicing and tax all in one easy-to-use app, Coconut gives you the

Bored at home when she first became a mum, Diane decided to launch an online shop. She didn’t have money to invest so she got to work DIY-ing the website herself. She barely sold a thing, but she did start getting questions from people who wanted the name of her web designer. And so a new business was born.It’s ten years later now and, as well as running her own web design business, Diane’s teaching others how to use WordPress via her YouTube channel.She’s struggled in the past to know when to stop working. But now, thanks to avoiding distractions during the working day, finding other interests outside of work, increasing her prices and being strict with her boundaries, she’s found a way of balancing things that feels good. Like making Wednesdays just for her. This episode of Being Freelance is supported by Coconut.Coconut is the ultimate accounting and tax tool for self-employed people. With expense tracking, receipt capture, invoicing and tax all in one easy-to-use app, Coconut gives you the power of a fina

Rose is on her second run being freelance after things didn’t work out the first time around. After realising she’d underestimated the amount of work she’d need to put in, Rose took a job at an adult store in London.She’d been a writer at a magazine for years before going freelance and then ending up in retail, so when she found out her new employers were launching a magazine and website, she put herself forward for the work and carved out a full-time writing role.Rose learnt a lot on the job about the differences between journalism and writing as a marketer, and when she moved to Brisbane with her Aussie husband, she ended up freelance once again, and this time with a much better idea of how to make it work.She shares all the lessons she’s picked up along the way, from the things that have gone wrong and those that have gone right, and talks about the one big mindset shift that’s made a crucial difference. This episode of Being Freelance is supported by Coconut.Coconut is the ultimate accounting and tax tool

Ruud launched an illustration studio straight of university in the Netherlands with his then-girlfriend. It started well but the work didn’t keep coming, and he soon took a job as a web designer to help pay the bills.After a move to Scotland, where his girlfriend landed her dream job as a game developer, Ruud took another shot at building the studio. He set up in a co-working space and made friends who inspired him, but after his relationship broke down he eventually moved to Portugal in search of the sun.He’s still there now three and half years later, with a steady flow of commissions coming in via word of mouth and social media. “There’s no magic formula,” says Ruud, “It’s just a matter of time.”This episode of Being Freelance is supported by Coconut.Coconut is the one simple app you need to manage your business finances when you’re self-employed, with banking, bookkeeping, invoicing and tax all in one place.Free yourself from business admin at getcoconut.comLove learning from other freelancers like this?

Julia spent 8 years designing greetings cards in-house at Hallmark and Moonpig before she was “forced into freelancing”. Turning away on-the-side gigs that she just couldn’t fit in around full-time work, Julia realised she was losing money.She went freelance full-time, securing guaranteed work from her former employer for the first year, and continued to teach the calligraphy classes that were helping her get her name out there. She niched from illustration to lettering, rebranding her entire business, and she’s now busy building up multiple income streams.She chats to Steve about the different avenues she’s exploring, how she finds work and builds relationships with art directors, and what her big goals for the future are.This episode of Being Freelance is supported by With JackWith Jack exists to help keep you in business by supporting you financially or legally if you have problems with a client.With Jack is all about giving freelancers the insurance they deserve.Visit withjack.co.uk and be a confident fre

John’s freelance career began in 2009 after he was made redundant from his role as a software tester. Struggling to get an interview, let alone a job, he embarked on a new adventure as a technical writer.Work came via old contacts, family and friends for the first five years, and then John discovered the world of online marketing. He developed his website, began using his skills to create “Relentlessly Helpful” content, and got really good at LinkedIn. “It feels a bit like you’re shouting into the wind at first”, says John, but eventually the referrals and enquiries started coming in.He chats to Steve about building an online presence, speaking at events, writing a book, working with clients, and being a bit rubbish at the whole work-life balance thing.This episode of Being Freelance is supported by With JackWith Jack exists to help keep you in business by supporting you financially or legally if you have problems with a client.With Jack is all about giving freelancers the insurance they deserve.Visit withjac

Anne got into web development in 2010 and eventually found that coding for email was her sweet spot. She worked in permanent roles for years while freelancing on the side, and then her cat got diagnosed with cancer and she went freelance full-time to be with him.It turned out to be great timing for Anne. She’d been involved in ‘Email Geek’ communities online, and by being active, helpful and enthusiastic about her work, her name got around and she was picking up bigger clients.She chats to Steve about where her work comes from now, how she manages her time, her experience of attending and speaking at events, and how she avoids distraction in her work by getting herslef into the ‘Code Zone’.This episode of Being Freelance is supported by With JackWith Jack exists to help keep you in business by supporting you financially or legally if you have problems with a client.With Jack is all about giving freelancers the insurance they deserve.Visit withjack.co.uk and be a confident freelancer.Support also comes from Co

Being Freelance returns on Sunday 12th January with our first guest of season 10, but for now, a bonus episode with Holly June Smith and Andrew and Pete.Both previous guests in the Being Freelance community on Facebook, Holly, Andrew and Pete all joined Steve for Live Q&A sessions, where they answered your burning questions about being freelance.Holly is a life coach who helps people find their sweet spot between productivity and presence.Through their Atomic programme and community, Andrew and Pete help small business owners grow their businesses “the smarter way”.Need advice on how to follow through on the goals you set in January; get comfortable with putting yourself out there; or decide where to focus your time when there’s only so much of it? Holly, Andrew and Pete have you covered. 1:12 - Following through on your January goals, with Holly June Smith3:14 - Following up on proposals or introductions, with Andrew and Pete8:01 - Motivating yourself to win new client work, with Holly June Smith10:17 -

Did you know Steve Folland from Being Freelance also co-hosts another podcast for freelancing parents? It's with Frankie Tortora from the Doing It For The Kids community. Whilst Being Freelance is on its winter break, here's a chance for you to hear what the DIFTK podcast is like. Each episode is just 20 minutes, with a Q&A format. This episode is number 20, all about beating procrastination.Hope you enjoy - if you do, please search it out and hit subscribe or visit doingitforthekids.net for more on all things DIFTK.   JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!The Being Freelance course is made for you!Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership. FREELANCER MERCHGet Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shopLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelanceYouTube - 

It's time for the 200th episode of the Being Freelance podcast. Recorded live at the Underpinned Freelancer's Christmas Party in London. Sharing his story is Kieron Lewis, otherwise known as 'Kay' of Olga & Kay - a collaborative freelancing creative duo. Kay from London, Olga from Latvia. Designer and photographer. Kay shares how he got started freelancing on the side of his full time job and the way he and Olga work together on projects they really care about. This episode is supported by FreeAgent - online accounting software that makes managing your business finances a breeze. With an award-winning UK based support team on hand to help out, it’s easy to stay on top of your expenses, invoices, banking and tax. To claim your 1-month free trial, visit FreeAgent.com/beingfreelance Support also comes from With Jack With Jack exists to help keep you in business by supporting you financially or legally if you have problems with a client. With Jack is all about giving freelancers the insurance they deserve. Vi

When she was burnt out from teaching and stuck in a funk, Maddie’s husband asked her “What is it you really want to do?” Suddenly it became clear - Maddie realised she wanted to create picture books for children. She phoned her boss that night to give notice and, within a month, she had an agent. Maddie hit the ground running from there, taking on small projects and saying yes to everything that landed in her inbox. Over time, she was able to build up her portfolio and develop her own style. Now, as well as illustrating books for others, Maddie’s created 4 of her own. She chats to Steve about how she made it happen, how she balances her time, promotes her work and makes space in her life for hobbies. This episode is supported by FreeAgent - online accounting software that makes managing your business finances a breeze. With an award-winning UK based support team on hand to help out, it’s easy to stay on top of your expenses, invoices, banking and tax. To claim your 1-month free trial, visit FreeAgent.com/bein

Ketan left his full-time role as a graphic designer with 2 or 3 freelance clients lined up. Within a couple of years he had enough work to hire a second designer, but when they lost a big client the following year, Ketan had to let his employee go. Ketan went on to co-found his own agency in Manchester before moving to Australia with his wife and son. He worked remotely for a year before the agency folded and he found himself freelance once again. He chats to Steve about the lessons he’s learnt along the way, including the difficulties involved in taking on employees and the benefits of being a solo freelancer. This episode is supported by FreeAgent - online accounting software that makes managing your business finances a breeze. With an award-winning UK based support team on hand to help out, it’s easy to stay on top of your expenses, invoices, banking and tax. To claim your 1-month free trial, visit FreeAgent.com/beingfreelance Support also comes from With Jack With Jack exists to help keep you in business

Joe’s been making music forever, but his first real-world project came during an internship he took after leaving school. He freelanced on the side after that while waiting tables, and then landed a corporate sales job which he really, really hated. With help from a friend, Joe found his way back to music and began studying for his masters and picking up freelance work once again. He had a stint in-house before taking his freelance business full-time, and eventually, when an office in-joke caught on, he rebranded from Joe Basille Music to The Chicken. He chats to Steve about finding work, building a network, attending events, and diversifying his income. This episode is supported by FreeAgent - online accounting software that makes managing your business finances a breeze. With an award-winning UK based support team on hand to help out, it’s easy to stay on top of your expenses, invoices, banking and tax. To claim your 1-month free trial, visit FreeAgent.com/beingfreelance Support also comes from With Jack W

Stanley’s first break came when he was doodling on a bit of paper in the fish and chip shop he worked in. The customer he was serving was an art buyer, and he set Stanley up with an interview that landed him an agent. Later, back in the days of MySpace, when Stanley first began building a profile online, he got a 3am phone call from The White Stripes’ management team. They’d seen his illustrations online and they wanted to commission him. Fast-forward to today and Stanley has his own studio as well as a booming print shop, and he’s worked with every dream client he had on his list. “You spend so many years slaving away, not really knowing what direction you’re gonna head in,” says Stanley, “and then 10, 11 years down the line, you realise things have actually worked out really well.” This episode is supported by FreeAgent - online accounting software that makes managing your business finances a breeze. With an award-winning UK based support team on hand to help out, it’s easy to stay on top of your expenses,

Ready for a career change in her mid-30s, Nik landed an internship with a local design company. She took a risk and went freelance soon after, with only 1 client on her books and no cash to back her up. It worked for a while, and then Nik ended up back in employment with a boss she didn’t respect. It didn’t take long for her to return to the freelance world, and this time she came to it with fresh eyes. Through working with a life coach to overcome burnout and tackle the psychological challenges that self-employment throws up, Nik’s found a way to make freelancing work for her. It turns out you don’t need to wear shoes at home to trick your brain into thinking you’re at work. You just need to learn to say no. This episode is supported by FreeAgent - online accounting software that makes managing your business finances a breeze. With an award-winning UK based support team on hand to help out, it’s easy to stay on top of your expenses, invoices, banking and tax. To claim your 1-month free trial, visit FreeAgent

When a 20-year-old Ira flew to the UK in search of his biological father, he had no idea a new life awaited him. Ira met his partner on that trip, and after 4 years long distance, he moved to London to be with him. Ira had freelanced in the Philippines before his move, and he now runs freelance photography agency Ventana. He chats to Steve about finding and keeping clients - by building relationships and being great to work with - and tells the story behind his decision to rebrand as an agency. This episode is supported by FreeAgent - online accounting software that makes managing your business finances a breeze. With an award-winning UK based support team on hand to help out, it’s easy to stay on top of your expenses, invoices, banking and tax. To claim your 1-month free trial, visit FreeAgent.com/beingfreelance Love learning from other freelancers like this? Check out the website beingfreelance.com, be part of the Being Freelance Community! You'll also find useful links for this episode. That's beingfreelan

Hayley felt trapped working in-house on projects that didn’t inspire her, and although she moved from a sports broadcasting company to work with Google’s internal production team, she didn’t quite find the spark she was looking for. Since going freelance, Hayley’s found a way to attract the kind of projects that matter to her, and she’s produced work for both the Bill Gates Foundation and the United Nations. She’s also found time for her own projects, including Motion Hatch, a podcast and online learning hub for freelance motion designers and animators. “When I was younger, I felt like I didn't have as much control over my own destiny as I do now,” says Hayley. “Now I know that I can do anything I want if I try hard enough.” This episode is supported by FreeAgent - online accounting software that makes managing your business finances a breeze. With an award-winning UK based support team on hand to help out, it’s easy to stay on top of your expenses, invoices, banking and tax. To claim your 1-month free trial,

Over the last 15 years, Rachel’s gone from unhappy administrator to IPSE’s Freelancer of the Year. Rachel teaches 1 on 1, she mentors choirs, she’s performed around the world and appeared as a judge on a SKY 1 TV show, and she runs workshops in schools and communities. And that’s not even everything. By taking her talent and finding plenty of different ways to apply it, Rachel’s been able to build a successful portfolio career with multiple income streams. “Clients are buying into you when they hire you, “ says Rachel. “As freelancers, we are the product.” This episode is supported by FreeAgent - online accounting software that makes managing your business finances a breeze. With an award-winning UK based support team on hand to help out, it’s easy to stay on top of your expenses, invoices, banking and tax. To claim your 1-month free trial, visit FreeAgent.com/beingfreelance Love learning from other freelancers like this? Check out the website beingfreelance.com, be part of the Being Freelance Community! You'

Ready for a change, Seattle-based Evan and his wife bought one-way tickets to Argentina, and Evan went freelance full-time. That’s a sizeable change. Especially with 4 daughters under 10 in tow. Evan had never been to Argentina, but he did have some experience being freelance. He’d done it on the side of permanent jobs for years, always with the idea that he’d freelance full-time one day. Evan chats to Steve about relocating his family, going freelance full-time in a new country without a financial safety net, and finding his way with the tough stuff, like accounting and work-life balance. This episode is supported by FreeAgent - online accounting software that makes managing your business finances a breeze. With an award-winning UK based support team on hand to help out, it’s easy to stay on top of your expenses, invoices, banking and tax. To claim your 1-month free trial, visit FreeAgent.com/beingfreelance Love learning from other freelancers like this? Check out the website beingfreelance.com, be part of t

“I’m working way too hard for way too little money. How do I fix this?” That’s the question that triggered a series of business model shifts in just a few years. From charging hourly and then daily, to focusing on retainers for a while, Hillary tested what worked and kept refining it as she went. She now takes on high-ticket project work, and it’s giving her the freedom she’d been looking for. Hillary’s shaping her business to work for her, and she calls entrepreneurship the Thunderdome of personal development. “Success means being able to be the person you want to be while doing the work you want to do,” says Hillary. Hear her tell Steve how she’s striving for both. This episode is supported by FreeAgent - online accounting software that makes managing your business finances a breeze. With an award-winning UK based support team on hand to help out, it’s easy to stay on top of your expenses, invoices, banking and tax. To claim your 1-month free trial, visit FreeAgent.com/beingfreelance Love learning from othe