Successful Contracting

When contractors hire other contractors – a guide

Top 10 considerations for one-person companies who take on the self-employed.

Tax advisor’s timely recipe for accounting success

Tips on how to avoid burning your fingers, this Shrove Tuesday and beyond.

No shirt, no shoes – no service? Dress codes and the IT contractor

In an ideal world, a contractor’s skills would be the only thing they were judged on. The harsh reality is that how you look is just as important as your CV.

Successful contracting: A contractor's view

'Ideal Contractor' checklist: You're not just about technical skills.

Benefits of IT contracting Part 1: A contractor's view

Trudging in to same imagination-stunting corporation day in day out for years on end not float your boat? Then contracting could be for you.

Benefits of IT contracting Part 2: A contractor's view

More pay? In theory, yes, but all things considered, the difference in take home pay may not be so marked, but there are lots of other benefits - including side-stepping office politics.

Benefits of IT contracting Part 3: A contractor's view

Variety is the spice of life: changing roles blows the dust from neglected corners of your brain and enliven dodgy patches of the CV.

Keeping motivated as a contractor - A contractor's view

Motivated by money? Certainly ... among other things.

The IT Contractor Crunch - How to beat it

The IT Coach offers an 'un-ostrich-like' strategy for uncertain times.

More Guides >>

Business Updates

Contractors' Questions: Should I agree to change my invoice?

Money-chasing expert on the old client trick of 'we need your invoice to be amended.'

Contractors' Questions: Should my limited company own Plan B?

Tax tips for a contractor hoping to put Plan B in his limited company's name.

Contractors' Questions: Will Osborne's R&D relief hike help Plan B?

Some contractor businesses may be sitting on a valuable break for R&D.

Contractors' Questions: Is it taxing to use other contractors on bid sites?

'Contractors aren’t obliged about tax on the earnings of self-employed people they take on online.'

Contractors' Questions: What about freelance income before I registered?

Expert tips for self-employed people who sit on freelance income before registering with HMRC.

How to protect your idea for Plan B

As a contractor, your light bulb moment is set to dimmer without a confidentially agreement in place.

Contractors' Questions: Will HMRC tell my employer I'm freelancing?

Expert reassures an enterprising permie yet to tell his employer about freelancing on the side.

Contractors’ Questions: Who’s liable for third-party goods I supply?

Legal aid for when third-party goods that contractors supply aren’t up to scratch.

Keeping quiet when selling-up can be costly

Why staying silent could leave you exposed to significant claims, by technology lawyer Richard Nicholas.

Working with clients

Why IT consulting projects need a time limit

‘It should be contracting, not consulting, if the project runs over three months.’

How to work with offshore teams

Without careful attention, managing an offshore team can turn a cost-saving exercise into an expensive nightmare. Here are some top tips to avoid falling into common traps.

How to make clients think you're good

Businesses do not have a good opinion of IT professionals says a recent survey, so how do you work to impress?

How to write for a non-technical audience

"Two peoples divided by a common language." George Bernard Shaw said this about the British and the Americans, but the same can be said of anoraks and suits. Emails, reports, proposals... Get it right and your clients will love you.

Is more expected of contractors than permies?

Being a quality contractor is all about meeting your client's expectations.

Making a commitment; the pros and cons of providing long-term support

Maximising all available revenue streams is a priority for contractors, but is it time for a fresh look at areas traditionally avoided as contrary to the principles of contracting?

A dangerous thing; do you damage your prospects of future business by selling your knowledge?

As more and more clients demand flexible solutions that they can operate, maintain and even customise without outside support, is the contractor being forced to narrow their own market by selling their knowledge?

Can you trust a contractor at home?

Contractors lag behind the rest of the country when it comes to home working, but half would take a pay cut to do so.

The Contracting Lifestyle

It's dull being an IT contractor

Considering the better money and flexible lifestyle it's a surprise more permies aren't turning to contracting. But there's a good reason why they stay where they are.

Why IT contractors don't always build empires

Making the most of opportunity requires guts, risk and hard work. Do you have what it takes?

Contracting causes relationship strife

Adopting flexible working and keeping in control of finances smoothes contractors' relationships.

Contracting pays for a holiday lifestyle

Forget the pension, there's a whole world waiting to be explored, say IT contractors.

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