Discover main tasks, what you need to be able to do and everything you need to understand to achieve these competencies.
Manage your business and working life as a freelancer
- Ensure your record keeping (including receipts), and accounts are kept up-to-date and accurate
- Set up and use effective systems for managing budgets, tax, VAT, and other paperwork
- Estimate and agree realistic fee rates, schedule, and other expenses
- Ensure the contract contains details regarding payment terms and timing with the obligations of all parties clearly communicated
- Ensure that the details of the contract match agreements, and keep a secure print copy of the final signed contract
- Develop and share self-care strategies to manage stress levels and support your mental wellbeing as a freelancer
- How to estimate realistic rates for fees and, if appropriate, resources such as accommodation and expenses
- How to negotiate and agree legal contracts that clearly include expected income, time available and agreed outcomes
- What fair working conditions are and ensure you negotiate these when agreeing to work for a client
- When you need to obtain public liability insurance and how to do so
- When and how to agree staged payments
- Relevant sources of advice that are available on employment, insurance, tax regulations and other small business legislation
- How to keep simple accounts (income, expenditure, and cash flow) and how to invoice and chase late payments
- How to set and manage personal and business budgets
- How to carry out future planning, scheduling and contingencies for your work in order to maintain a viable work and cash flow
- The everyday risk factors or stressors that can impact our mental health from freelance working patterns
Market yourself as a freelancer
- Establish, follow-up and maintain contacts within the industry
- Take part in relevant networks regional or national screen organisations, specialist social media groups or social events to support your career
- Plan how to enhance your professional reputation and promote yourself to potential clients
- Have systems to help identify work opportunities at an early stage
- Build your reputation by sharing current, succinct information about your experience, past work, achievements and availability
- Who is in your networks and how to grow and leverage contacts
- How to find and secure work opportunities within your industry
- Who is likely to hire your services and how to get in front of them
- Effective and creative ways to market yourself and your services in your industry to show you are worth approaching about work
- What are the best and most effective tools to use for self-promotion
Make the most of opportunities to increase your skills and gain experience as a freelancer
- Recognise opportunities to develop your practice
- Identify more experienced colleagues as role models to help you plan your own development and training needs
- Find out who can provide specialist professional support and advice (e.g. financial and legal)
- Identify what might be a next step in developing your career, what skills you might need to gain to achieve this step and how you will gain them.
- The importance of developing your skills throughout your career
- How to check that your career and learning expectations are realistic and achievable
- Available sources of information you need in order to make the most of opportunities
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