What is a freelancer?
A freelancer is a self-employed person who offers services, often working on several jobs for multiple clients at one time.
Freelancers usually earn money on a per-job basis, charging hourly or daily rates for their work. Freelance work is usually short-term.
While a freelancer is not officially employed by another company, they can be subcontracted by other businesses. It’s common for freelancers to work on several different jobs or projects at once, but some freelance contracts may restrict who else the freelancer can work for until they complete the project.
Some of the most common freelance jobs are within creative industries such as graphic design, copywriting, website development, or photography; however, freelancers can work in almost any service-based industry, such as translation, consulting, or catering.
Freelancer vs. sole trader
Like sole traders, a freelancer fits under the broad term ‘self-employed’, but while a sole trader is a specific business structure registered with HMRC, the term ‘freelancer’ does not refer to any specific legal status. Instead, it refers to the type of work carried out.
As such, not all sole traders fit the definition of a freelancer, and freelancers are not always sole traders. Although the sole trader business structure is the most common structure for freelancers, freelancers may also choose to register as a limited company or partnership instead.
How to become a freelancer
When you first start working for yourself, you will initially be classified as a sole trader. As a sole trader, you will need to register with HMRC to make sure that you pay the correct Income Tax and National Insurance.
You may also need to register for:
- CIS if you are working as a contractor or subcontractor in the construction industry;
- VAT if you have an annual turnover of more than £85,000.
If you register as a partnership or limited company, you will have some additional responsibilities, such as choosing and registering a company name.
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