Resource list for freelancers/home-workers

[FlexibleAccountant]

Hi everyone I've been lurking here for a while and I have been posting on MN in other sections for a while but I've just set up a new name to separate the professional from the personal .

I wanted to introduce myself here before I start posting all over the place.

I'm a chartered accountant and I started working for myself about a year ago. I've got a DS who is 2.7 and he is in nursery M-W.

At the moment I am working as a freelance financial accountant helping finance departments with projects for which they need some extra resource.

I've been lucky to pick up quite a bit of work through contacts from my old job but I will have to start marketing myself soon . I'd like to get back into training which is somehing I did in the past.

I am passionate about helping other people to start working flexibly (either as employed or self-employed). I am planning to eventually start a blog to share some of the things I have learnt setting up my company but in the meantime I thought it would be good to share tips here on MN.

I've noticed that in some of the other MN topics there are lists of useful info which get bumped from time to time.

So I thought I would start one here and I am really hoping that people will add to it.

Resources for freelancers/home-workers

-Business Link

-HMRC - for tax information

-Insurance for your business.

-Use Microsoft Hotmail to get a free website and a free email address [email protected]

-Automatic backup of your computer with Carbonite.

-Organising all your ideas - free Mind Mapping software.

-Really useful book called Smarter Consulting.

-Free Agent - accouting software designed for freelancers - will totally revolutionise your accounting process - using this link will give you 10% off - and you can try for free for 30 days.

-Free time tracking software

-Time management book

Some good resources FA.

I'd add:

TeuxDeux.com - great online resource to keep your to do list

Google Local Business - now called Google Places - make sure to add your business

Shout if you want any marketing advice .

thanks for these links. Have already checked out the time management one.

this might be useful for freelancers in SW London - www.third-door.com - it's a flexible workspace with on-site childcare

Hmm, I think that links to definitive sources of information like Business Link and HMRC are useful, but the rest of them are somewhat subjective.

For instance Carbonite is a good backup product (I have recommended it here in the past), but now I would recommend anyone looking at a backup solution to look at Dropbox.

I think FreeAgent is quite promising, but it doesn't treat VAT on expenses recharged to a client properly so I wouldn't recommend it. I like CashBoard, but FreshBooks is the market leader so is also worth a look.

Paymo is good, but IMHO the best in this market is Harvest, with Replicon the market leader - but if you are using FreshBooks, CashBoard or most of the other billing apps you will probably find that they do all you want as a freelancer for time recording anyway.

For todo lists, surely the best is TaDaList (how many more corny names are there?)

... etc.

Yes of course recommendations are subjective!

I have personally found these types of lists to be very useful in other sections of MN.

Perhaps you could repost and link in your suggestions?

No thanks, as an accountant I take care to only make objective recommendations.

I would certainly never post an affiliate link to an accounting product on a message board, nor make a recommendation without disclosing affiliate/commission arrangements. Doesn't the institute have rules about that sort of thing?

mranchovy - gosh I am not sure what your issue is?

I am trying to be helpful to others who are starting off as freelancers - this thread will probably die off now .

Unless anyone else out there on this thread would like to add their favourite resources.

You're right I should say that if someone clicks on the Freeagent link then I'll get another 10% off my monthly cost - apologies to anyone who might have been mislead - it's not exactly going to make me rich though!

Flexibleaccountant.

Thank you for your links! I think the majority of us appreciate it and understand this thread is helpful.
It's not a big deal and who doesn't want to help other people save money?

If you need any assistance from me just give me a shout! www.virtual-pa-uk.com

Surely www.mumsnet.com/talk is the best resource!!!!!!!!