Freelancing:
• Freelancing means working for someone on a short, fixed-term contract, to do a task
before moving on to the next
• 91% of people in the film are freelance
• Freelancing fields in media:
o Film
o TV
o Radio
o Animation
o Graphic design
o Web design
Positives
Negatives
Freelancers usually get paid more than
permanent staff
You have to take responsibility for your finances
(invoicing, tax, etc.)
Freelancers pay less tax
No protection, you don’t get paid when you’re sick
You can ‘be your own boss’
No holiday pay, if you take a break, you make no
income
Easy to get out of bad jobs
No maternity pay
Quicker to get promoted
No pension
Freedom to take time off
Difficult to get credit (mortgage)
Reasons why employers like freelancers:
• They can choose how long they pay people
• They can bring in specialist skills their permanent staff don’t have
• They pay for the job ensuring it gets completed on budget
• They are cheaper than staff because they don’t have to pay sick pay, maternity pay, or
pension
Different types of freelancing:
• Freelance paye:
o You are on a freelance contract but are taxed at the source
o No need to deal with HMR
o You have the insecurity but not the increased pay of other freelancers
o You get some of the benefits:
▪ Sick pay
▪ Holiday pay
• Sole trader:
o You register yourself as self-employed with the HMRC
o It’s the easiest system to set up and manage
